If you have any questions about the updates listed here, please go to the
Contact Us page and send us your comments or questions. The Thinkfinity
team is committed to supporting trainers as changes take place, and we are
happy to help in any way.
New Thinkfinity 21st Century Kid Mini-Poster Available
(Posted May 4, 2009)
Thinkfinity has just released our new Thinkfinity "21st Century Kid" poster, featuring artwork by noted author, illustrator and educator Peter Reynolds of FableVision--and we would like your help getting it into the hands of educators.
Training participants who create a myThinkfinity account as a part of the rostering process will have access to a free download of the 81/2" x 11" mini-poster on the last page of their profile. The mini-poster will also be available to those who review/update their myThinkfinity profile. If training participants cannot be online to create an account or review their profile during your training session, they can do so at any time and still roster into your session for up to two weeks after the training is complete. Look for the "Roster Instructions" document in the Trainer Toolbox for directions on capturing this important information. Please also feel free to download the instructions document and place it on your own site or provide it as a handout to your trainees.
If you have any questions or concerns related to any of the 4 data collection steps, we invite you to attend our free "How to Manage Your Training Data" Webinar. For more details and to register for the training, visit our Free Training page.
Thinkfinity
Field Trainers: Earning and Maintaining Field Trainer Status
(Posted Dec. 8, 2008)
Thinkfinity's revised Professional Development paradigm was launched on
November 1, 2007, and since then our trainers have spread the Thinkfinity word
to over 20,000 people across the country! Congratulations and thank you,
Thinkfinity Trainers!
Now that we are about to enter a new year, and the 2nd year of our new training
paradigm, we want to take this opportunity to review a few components of the
new paradigm with you.
MAINTAINING FIELD TRAINER STATUS (CREDENTIALS)
To maintain Field Trainer status:
-
Field Trainers*** must conduct at least one official* Thinkfinity Training for
at least 5 total attendees (can be in multiple sessions), and receive a survey
average** of at least 4.0 out of 5.0 within the previous 12 months for each
session counted.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR STATUS (CREDENTIALS)
We encourage you to check your status (credentials) in the Thinkfinity
Professional Development Database, myThinkfinity:
-
Login to myThinkfinity and click on the "View
My Credentials" link in the Credentials section on the right.
-
You will see your Active Credentials, any Expired Credentials that you have,
the Renewal Requirements for your current credential, what the next credential
level is, and how to achieve that next credential level.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR STATUS (CREDENTIALS)
-
In order to earn Field Trainer status, an educator must successfully complete
the on-site Thinkfinity Train-the-Trainer Basic session (TRN-1)
conducted by a Thinkfinity Certified Trainer or Cadre Trainer. Upon successful
completion, Field Trainers earn a Field Trainer 1 credential, which is
recorded within the Thinkfinity database.
-
Field Trainers who successfully complete the (optional) on-site Thinkfinity
Train-the-Trainer Advanced session (TRN-2), conducted by a Thinkfinity
Certified Trainer or Cadre Trainer, earn a Field Trainer 2 credential,
recorded in the Thinkfinity database.
NOTE: Field Trainers who successfully complete the online Train-the-Trainer
session (TRN-O), which is the equivalent of the on-site TRN-1 and TRN-2,
automatically earn a Field Trainer 2 credential.
-
Field Trainers who successfully complete TRN-1 and TRN-2, or TRN-O, and also
meet the following requirements, earn a Field Trainer 3*** credential,
which qualifies them for participation in Thinkfinity Certified Trainer
workshop.
After completing TRN-2 OR TRN-O, successfully deliver at least two official*
sessions to a minimum total of 10 teachers and earn a Trainer Score** minimum
of 4.5 out of 5.0 for each session counted.
NOTE: Additional steps are required to become a Thinkfinity Certified Trainer;
interested Field Trainers should contact their State Education Partner Training
Administrator for details.
QUESTIONS???
After checking your status (credentials), if you have any questions, please
contact us and select "Training Questions."
And if your Field Trainer status has lapsed due to not meeting the training
requirement, don't worry! Keep an eye on Thinkfinity.org's "FREE Training Page"
for "Field Trainer Refresher" training, which will be open for free
registration in early 2009.
This information and more is discussed in the FREE 1-Hour Webinar-"How
to Manage Your Training Data"-which we encourage you to register for to
learn more about using the new Thinkfinity Professional Development Management
System (inside of myThinkfinity). To sign up for the Webinar:
-
Click on FREE Training from any
Thinkfinity Web page
-
Click on the "Register" link for "How to Manage Your Training Data"
-
Select the desired date and time (times listed in Eastern time zone) and click
the "Webinar" link
-
Log in to myThinkfinity using your Field Trainer or Certified Trainer login
-
Click the "Roster" button
ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT EARNING AND MAINTAINING
FIELD TRAINER CREDENTIALS
* Official Field Trainings are defined as Awareness Sessions, TCH-P or,
TCH-C sessions that have the following components:
-
Trainer has Registered the session.
-
Attendees have completed the Roster within two weeks of the session end date.
-
Attendees have completed the Survey within two weeks of the session end date.
-
Trainer has completed the Trainer Follow-up Form no later than two weeks before
his/her credential expiration date.
** Training Session Survey Averages
Survey requirements state that the training session survey average must be at
least 4.0 out of 5.0 for Field Trainer 1 and 2 credentials, and 4.5 out of 5.0
for Field Trainer 3 credentials.
The Trainer Score average for all TCH sessions is calculated by
averaging the scores from all participants for the following survey questions:
-
How effectively did the trainer design and facilitate activities throughout the
training?
-
Please rate the trainer's presentation skills.
-
How effective was the trainer at providing useful answers to direct questions?
-
How effective was the trainer at creating energy and enthusiasm for
Thinkfinity?
The Trainer Score average for Awareness Sessions is calculated by
averaging the scores from all participants for the following question:
-
Please evaluate the effectiveness of the trainer.
*** Field Trainer 3s must conduct at least one official* Thinkfinity
Training for at least 5 total attendees (can be in multiple sessions), and
receive a survey average** of at least 4.5 out of 5.0 within the previous 12
months for each session counted to keep their credential current. If the
session(s) conducted have only a 4.0 out of 5.0 survey average, the Field
Trainer 3 credential will expire and the Field Trainer 2 credential renew.
June
21-22, 2008 - Thinkfinity Training Database Out-of-Service
(Posted June 13, 2008)
Thinkfinity's Professional Development Management Database, also/previously
known as Rusticello, will be temporarily unavailable as it undergoes an upgrade
the weekend of June 21-22, 2008. Therefore, trainers will not be able to
register sessions or complete Follow-up Forms on those days, and attendees will
not be able to roster in to sessions or take the training survey. In addition,
the Trainer Toolbox will not be accessible on those days.
Due to these restrictions, Certified Trainers will not be able to conduct TRN
sessions on June 21-22.
We also recommend Field Trainers and Certified Trainers not schedule any TCH or
Awareness sessions on these dates, however, if a TCH or Awareness session on
June 21-22 cannot be rescheduled, please use the following work-arounds:
-
Register the session ahead of time for the correct date.
-
"Quick roster" participants after June 22nd.
NOTE: You will need to collect a name, e-mail address, and an identifying city
and state for each attendee in your session.
NOTE: Directions for "quick rostering" will be available from the Training
Materials area of the Trainer Toolbox after June 22nd. Look for a
document named "Four Step Process How-To's."
-
Once your attendees have been rostered into the session, they will be sent an
email with a link to the training survey.
NOTE: Training surveys are only accepted for 2 weeks after the session has
taken place. It is vital that you quick roster your attendees as soon as
possible beginning on June 23rd.
-
4. Make sure that all training materials needed for your session are downloaded
and saved on your personal computer prior to June 21st.
When the new PD Management Database launches on June 23, 2008, the look will be
significantly different from the current Rusticello. While all of the Training
Materials currently available in the Trainer Toolbox may not be updated to
reflect the new system by the 23rd, an updated "User's Guide" will be available
as soon as possible after the new system launches, as well as an updated
version of the "Four Steps" PPT, used to walk trainers and participants through
the process of registering, rostering, surveying and reporting on training
sessions.
If you have any additional questions, please use the Contact Us link from the
Thinkfinity homepage.
Science
NetLinks Scheduled Outage (Posted June 11, 2008)
Science NetLinks has an outage scheduled for Friday, August 15th -
Sunday, August 17th, 2008
.
We highly encourage you to schedule any TCH-C, TRN, or science-specific training
sessions around this outage.
ReadWriteThink
Re-Launches Summer Activities Page (Posted May 1, 2008)
ReadWriteThink is proud to announce the relaunch of Learning Beyond the
Classroom, which was designed to help children continue to build on their
literacy learning outside of school. Please visit the site by clicking on the
logo on the ReadWriteThink homepage (http://www.readwritethink.org)
or directly at
http://www.readwritethink.org/beyondtheclassroom/summer/
.
Here you will find a collection of 50 summer activities for children and teens.
New activities have been added since last summer as well as podcasts and
videos, which can be accessed at
http://www.readwritethink.org/beyondtheclassroom/summer/podcastsvideos/index.asp.
A flyer about the Summer Activities page explaining the importance of summer
learning and a link to the site is available for download - great for those who
want to share this site with others!
http://www.readwritethink.org/beyondtheclassroom/summer/research/index.asp
New
Site Redesign Launches in February! (Posted January 23,
2007)
As part of our Program enhancements, Thinkfinity will launch a new and improved
Thinkfinity.org Web site in early February! The high-quality content (lesson
plans, interactives, resources, etc.) you have come to know and love will not
change, however the look, feel, and functionality of the site will be greatly
improved and will feature:
-
Additional content the redesigned site will include the addition of 21st
Century Skills, as well as content and resources for students, parents, and
afterschool programs.
-
An updated "look and feel" user-friendly and intuitive navigation will allow
users to get where they want to go more quickly and simply. Fewer text pages
and additional graphics will provide more information in a cleaner format.
-
An enhanced search engine an improved user interface will add the ability to
see related content more easily. The search results will be improved with
easier-to-read information, including clearly defined grade level and resource
type information, as well as an icon-based view to see other types of related
assets.
-
Integration of resources resources from the Thinkfinity Literacy Network will
be seamlessly integrated into all areas.
Due to this redesign of the Thinkfinity.org site that will launch in early
February:
-
We are recommending that you postpone any Thinkfinity sessions that you
have scheduled for late January and early February to the last week of February
or later, as appropriate. However, you will be able to deliver
training during the redesign period, so feel free to make the professional
decision to continue with scheduled training if you feel the redesign will not
negatively impact your session. In March we will be posting a link to a
self-guided tour of the redesigned site that will familiarize youe with the new
navigation and features.
-
Certified Trainers can edit training session dates by e-mailing your training
administrator, requesting the change
-
Field Trainers can edit training session dates in Rusticello
http://rusticello.mped.org/PDS/pds_login.asp
-
Bridge Training will be revised and updated. If you are registered for
Bridge Training:
-
Section 3 (Jan. 16, 2008) You MAY withdraw from the Jan. 16
section and re-register for a later section of Bridge Training
that will be revised to include components from the new and improved
Thinkfinity Web site. You MAY stay in the Bridge Training 3
section, if you wish, but please be aware that it will not reflect the Web site
redesign changes.
-
Section 4 & 5 (Jan. 30 and Feb. 13, 2008) please re-register
for a later section of Bridge Training as these two sections have been
cancelled.
In March, we will post a link to a video tour of the redesigned site that will
familiarize you with the new navigation and features.
We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause you and hope that you
are able to make any changes that work best for your schedule and training
needs.
If you have any further questions, please use the Contact Us link from the
Thinkfinity homepage.
Bridge
Training for Field Trainers - Now Open for Registration (Posted
December 11, 2007)
Throughout 2007, the Verizon Foundation has been leading the charge to
transition MarcoPolo to the new and improved Thinkfinity paradigm! This online
course, Bridge Training for Field Trainers, will guide you through all of the
changes and upgrades to Thinkfinity content and the Professional Development
Program, and provide you with information that will help you effectively train
end users. By completing this course, you will retain your Field Trainer status
and "cross the bridge" from being a MarcoPolo Field Trainer to being a
Thinkfinity Field Trainer. All Field Trainers interested in retaining trainer
status will be required to participate in Bridge Training prior to April 1,
2008.
The online course Bridge Training for Field Trainers is now accepting
registrations.
To register for Bridge Training:
-
Click on FREE Training
from the Thinkfinity home page.
-
Locate the Bridge Training for Field Trainers course and click on the link to
register.
-
You will then be asked to log in. Please use your Field Trainer login (e-mail
address).
NOTE: If you dont remember your password, first try the Forgot Password link. If
you are still unable to log in, click on contact us at the top of the page, and
select Technical Support from the drop down list.
This course is self-paced and self-moderated. Each course section is open for
two weeks and participants can expect to spend 5-15 hours to complete the
course. Questions? Contact thinkfinitytraining@verizon.com
Thinkfinity
Trainer and State Administrator Logins (Posted October 25,
2007)
Effective Friday, October 26, 2007, a Thinkfinity trainer and/or state
administrator login will be required to access our Trainer Resource Center. To
access the Trainer Resource Center from the Thinkfinity.org homepage, please
click on the Trainer Resource Center!
As we re-launch our Professional Development program, we are excited about
providing a trainer/administrator-only section to our Web site. This new
section of our site is aimed at providing trainers and administrators with the
most current training materials and information. The newest items in our
Trainer Resource Center include flyers to announce your training sessions, a
Thinkfinity Awareness Session PowerPoint and Facilitator Guide (for conducting
15, 30, or 45 minute awareness sessions), and a revised PowerPoint containing
our registration, roster, survey and follow-up procedures. In the upcoming
months, we will continue to add new worksheets, PowerPoint presentations,
instructional Flash-based tutorials and more! We hope you will enjoy this newly
revised trainer/administrator-only section and continually check back in to see
what has been added!
Specific
Trainers for Specific Audiences (Posted August 1, 2007)
One change on the horizon will affect Field Trainers eligibility to train
various audiences. Starting October 1, 2007, Field Trainers will be eligible to
conduct Field Training of end users only. Field Trainers will no longer be
eligible to train other Field Trainers. However, Certified Trainers and
Certified Trainer Candidates will be eligible to train both end users (TCH) and
Field Trainers (TRN).
We feel that this change will streamline the role of Field Trainers and that the
content and quality of training that Field Trainers receive will be much more
consistent across the board. This change will ensure that all end users receive
a high quality training experience from Field Trainers who are best equipped to
deliver Thinkfinity training.
If any Certified Trainers or Certified Trainer Candidates have planned to
conduct any Field Trainer training (TRN) this summer or fall, we ask that you
please communicate to your attendees that they will be eligible to train end
users only, and that you make revisions to your training agenda, as
appropriate, to reflect this change.
Crossing
the Bridge (Posted August 1, 2007)
In late fall, you will receive additional communication, regarding the launch
of the new Thinkfinity training curriculum, including new content, site
redesign and Rusticello redesign. At that time, Field Trainers who are
interested in continuing as Thinkfinity Field Trainers of end users, will have
the opportunity to take "Bridge Training" which will provide all the necessary
updates for Field Trainers to "cross the bridge" from training using the old
curriculum and MarcoPolo site to using the new curriculum with the
Thinkfinity.org site. This Bridge Training will be free of charge and will be
delivered in a self-paced online format.
Similarly, Certified Trainers and Certified Trainer Candidates will be asked to
take "Bridge Training", to receive updates on both end user curriculum (TCH)
and Field Trainer training (TRN).
More specific information about Bridge Training will be provided as late fall
approaches.