INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT

INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT

1. EDUCATION / TRAINING

   • Gatherings
     • * Weekend events * Webinars * National Conference
   • Mentors
     • Mentors are assigned as requested by new/ongoing instructors to lead/advise on creating lesson content, learning platforms, slide presentations and provide feedback/follow-up. Mentors are individually selected from the instructor pool and have proven experience and knowledge of the program. (see Staffing Mentors)
   • Course
     • For non-alumni: * On-site * Online * Offer "certification" for sections
   • Training Content
     • * Handbook * Creating Effective Slides * Communication Techniques * Learning Initiatives & Activities * Toolbox of Prep methods *

2. CERTIFICATION

   • Memorandum of Understanding
     • This memorandum of understanding will include an agreement to teach the course content as laid out in the instructor guidelines (stewardship), an agreement to the Lausanne Covenant and PSP intellectual property rights.  Instructors who cannot agree to this MOU will not be invited to teach in our classrooms.
   • Lausanne Covenant
     • The Lausanne Covenant is the Perspectives purpose statement. We ask that instructors read and agree to the Lausanne Covenant in order to teach in the Perspectives Class.
   • Instructor Guidelines Check
     • Instructors will be required to sign off on the lesson guidelines and general guidelines each time they teach that lesson.  They will also be asked to sign off on updates.  "Sign-off" simply means that they have read the IGs and agree to teach the lesson accordingly. Instructors can sign-off on one or all guidelines. 
   • Alumni
     • * Instructors should have taken the course with a certificate or credit status. * National office is investigating incentives/opportunities for instructors to go through the course which may include discounts, rebates or online
   • Account Update
     • Instructors should update their account profile regularly and be sure their BIO is correct. 

3. STAFFING

   • All staff is volunteer, however, we should consider those who could be part of the national team (such as the instructor relations manager, IT and admin).
   • Administration
     • This person will work in the department to handle all administrative tasks and details
   • Instructor Relations Manager
     • Will work to install and manage volunteers among the regions and areas who will resource and develop instructors in those areas. Will also be involved in communication between national office and regional staff.  May also be part of a training/certification program for instructors
     • Instructor Liaisons
       • Instructor Liaisons will be installed in the regions and areas and will resource, update, maintain instructors.  Will work with CTeams to understand class needs, advise and/or install instructors for classes. 
   • IT
     • We may consider installing an IT person, however, what's needed is someone to help clean up database and assist with reconstruction of Instructor Tab.  This may include uploading videos, installing interactive training platforms, and a dedicated line for support (e.g. online chat). 
   • Mentors
     • Mentors are assigned as requested by new/ongoing instructors to lead/advise on creating lesson content, learning platforms, slide presentations and provide feedback/follow-up. Mentors are individually selected from the instructor pool and have proven experience and knowledge of the program. (See Training)

4. FUNDING

   • Body Builders
     • Angela to attend end-June event
   • National Funding Portal
     • Work with Mike Bain

5. COMMUNICATION

   • Instructor Newsletter
     • * When: Every two months or quarterly * Who: Provisional and approved instructors, RDs, Natl Ofc * How: Email * Content: Encouragement/Mentoring content, training/certification information, events, developing issues, etc. 
     • Schedule
       • Fall 2015 - James Mason Spring 2016 - Sue Patt Summer 2016 - Steve Hawthorne Fall 2016 - Bruce Koch
   • Online Chat
   • Interactive Blog (?)
   • FAQ Sheet
     • Frequently asked questions can be downloaded from the Instructor Tab

6. SURVEY

   • Surveys are kept simple but will be used to determine field's desires for national instructor development program.  Surveys will be part of initial development and, therefore, impact some of the items on this list. We anticipate making changes or adding categories after receiving and reviewing field surveys.
   • Regional Directors
   • Coordinators
   • Instructors

7. ROLL OUT PLAN

   • (1) Database
     • Begin clean-up of instructor database.  Ongoing until complete.
   • (2) Surveys
     • Work with national team to develop surveys. Review and report findings.  Determine next steps.  Completion goal: before RDC
   • (3) Communication
     • First newsletter launch: Fall 2015 or Spring 2016
   • Dissolve Star Rating (ongoing)
     • The star rating system has run its course and is somewhat disabling to our program.  It prevents qualified but non-starred instructors from teaching and, for various reasons, is biased. We want to give coordinators more power in choosing instructors and enable them to make informed decisions. At first, coordinators will place instructors from the certification list as well as pulling from their own resources. However, our goal is to add instructor liaisons to each region/area to work with coordinators in making choices based on their class need, location and environment. See Staffing for more information.

8. QUESTIONS

   • * How much of this should be handled nationally and regionally? * Are new instructors treated with the same protocol as seasoned instructors? * Should we open the online application for any applicant? Suggestion is that new applicants are dropped into an "application review" status.