Home Prof. Development   Pilot Program   PDS with ISU   Webmaster Program   T.I.P.S.   Teacher Academy Tech Academy		Search | Sitemap | Feedback | Guestbook Registration: Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis and will be coordinated by the Tech Center. Walk in registration is not permitted.  Attendance: Staff members are responsible for signing in at each session attended. Participants are expected to attend all sessions of a course series. If a participant misses any session or is unable to complete the entire course, accumulated clock hours can be held until attendance at another session of the same course or other arrangements can be made. Since courses will follow a developmental curriculum, participants who miss sessions must contact the instructor and determine if the instruction missed, as a result of an absence, would hinder continued successful learning of new knowledge and skills. Nonattendance at the first session of a course will result in cancellation of registration for that course. To obtain full credit, the expectation is that all staff arrive on time and remain for each class session. Courses which are part of this program may not be repeated for credit. Full credit course hours may be added and converted to one credit hour per sixteen clock hours of instruction. Incentive options other than salary credit hours are being considered.  Class Size: In order to maximize learning, most hands-on technology staff development classes will not exceed the number of work stations in the training lab. In most cases, low enrollment in a class will result in cancellation and rescheduling due to financial considerations.  Location of Class Sessions: Every effort will be made to hold classes at all sites. Some courses will have to be scheduled at certain buildings due to availability of equipment, facilities, instructors and other restrictions. Staff will be able to attend classes in any building where a course is offered. Summer courses will be held in buildings with air conditioning, if possible. Time of classes: Courses may be offered after school, evenings, Saturdays, vacations, and summer. The course schedules will be published on a regular basis as courses are established and instructors become available.  Prerequisites: Many courses will state prerequisites to assure that the course activities are meaningful to the participants. Therefore, participants are encouraged to strictly adhere to the prerequisites for the course. These prerequisites have been established to allow the instructors to provide maximum learning experiences.  Out-of-District  Course Credit:  Participants in the voluntary program are encouraged to take courses through the district offerings. This allows district staff to interact, collaborate, and develop support systems within each school. Staff, however, may fulfill up to 10 hours outside the district. Technology staff development activities may include workshops attended on non-contract time. Prior approval through the office of the Assistant Superintendent is necessary.  Instructors/Leaders: Approved technology staff development leaders may apply up to 48 clock hours of training time toward credit hours per salary lane. Leaders will be compensated at an appropriate hourly rate for instructing classes.  Proposing Courses: It is possible for staff members to propose a course related to technology. Proposals should increase the technology knowledge base and skills of staff rather than focus on curriculum/instructional development. Proposal forms are available in pdf format or can be obtained at each principal's office and the Tech Center. Incentives Participants can apply tech academy hour towards their salary schedule. Sixteen clock hours is equivalent to one credit hour on the pay scale. Instructors have the option to take credit hours on the salary scale or pay at a reasonable $/hr. Evaluation At the end of each course, participants will be asked to fill out an evaluation. Continuous evaluation will help us determine necessary changes and revisions. Tech Academy Evaluation [webpage] [pdf] Teacher Tech Curriculum In order to help teachers decide on appropriate class offerings, we have established a suggested teacher tech curriculum. It identifies the technology skills that are most relevant to different grade level teachers. Student Tech Curriculum Another source of guidance is our student technology curriculum, which specifies tech skills and applications used through out K-8.
		Pekin Public Schools District 108 501 Washington Street Pekin, IL 61554 Phone: 309.477.4740 Fax: 309.477.4701 pekin@pekin.net