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About / FAQs
What is TECHKNOWLEDGEY Academy?
The TECHKNOWLEDGEY Academy is a staff development course designed to help teachers integrate technology with curricular objectives and Virginia SOLs.
The course consists of:
10 individual training sessions delivered by satellite that teach participants to use basic software applications or technologies and integrate them with content from core curriculum areas
Online communication, monitoring, posting of assignments and acquisition of course materials at http://techacademy.pwnet.org
TECHKNOWLEDGEY Academy is FREE to all educators in the state of Virginia and is endorsed by the Virginia Department of Education. Teachers may register for one or more of the individual sessions.
Session Dates: Mondays beginning October 1, 2001 and concluding December 3, 2001.
Broadcast Times: 3:30-5:00pm
What are the requirements for participation?
All educators in Virginia are eligible to take any or all of the TECHKNOWLEDGEY Academy sessions. School divisions are responsible for providing facilitators. Contact the instructional technology coordinator for your division to determine if a facilitator is available. Interested individuals must register online at http://techacademy.pwnet.org and must have an e-mail address to participate. Participants must have access to a satellite downlink and access to the Internet. Participants may view the sessions live or record the sessions and view later. Each lesson assignment will be scored by a facilitator (one will be assigned to you) as "Meets or Exceeds Requirements"or "Does Not Meet Requirements". Participants may join one of the discussion groups that are available on the web site. Upon completion of one or more of the sessions, a certificate of completion will be awarded electronically.
How can I receive the sessions?
The 10 training sessions are received by satellite. Please check with the Media Specialist in your school to see whether you have satellite downlink capabilities at your site. If you do, provide that person with the dates and satellite coordinates listed on the web site and ask that he or she download these sessions for you. You are encouraged to view them live with a computer on-hand so that you may follow along as the instructors provide demonstrations. You will also want to record the sessions.
If you do not have a satellite downlink at your site, proceed as follows:- Contact your school division's media center and see if a representative can download the sessions for you
- Contact your local cable company and see if a representative can download the sessions for you and air them on an access channel you can receive at your school
- Contact another school in your area where the TECHKNOWLEDGEY Academy is being offered
Can I view the sessions on the web site?
No. Although there are online components to this course, the sessions themselves are only broadcast by satellite. The web site provides the materials needed for this course, communication opportunities with facilitators, instructors and other participants, posting of assignments, satellite information, and registration information.
Will I earn recertification points?
The Virginia Department of Education recommends that each session be worth 3 recertification points with successful completion of the entire Academy worth 30 points. Please check with your school administrator or the appropriate person in your school division since recertification points are awarded at the discretion of local school divisions.
How do I register?
Registration for the TECHKNOWLEDGEY Academy is done on-line only. Go to http://techacademy.pwnet.org You must fill out the registration form completely in order to gain further access into the TECHKNOWLEDGEY ACADEMY web site. Once you have been registered you will be informed by e-mail that you have been registered and will be given a login and password to participate.
Helpful Hints:- Fill in all fields or your registration will not be accepted.
- You must have an e-mail address to participate. Make sure you enter the correct address in the E-mail field or you will not receive confirmation or correspondence.
- Arrange how you will receive the programs (i.e. Satellite, Cable Company) before you register. If you have arranged with your cable company to receive the programs, make sure you have the name of the cable company and the phone number when you register.
- If you enter incorrect information, DO NOT REGISTER AGAIN. Instead, contact the web site administrator by e-mail at info@pwnet.org and indicate the changes you want made. The administrator will make those changes and notify you that your registration has been modified.
How do I become a facilitator? How are facilitators assigned?
Facilitators must have knowledge of the technology and software used in this course. Please refer to the Facilitators page http://techacademy.pwnet.org/facilitators.htm on the web site for requirements and responsibilities. If you are interested in becoming a facilitator, please e-mail Pat Donahue at donahuep@pwcs.edu. Indicate that you would like to be a facilitator, provide a paragraph stating your qualifications, and include the name and phone number of your supervisor. Once you have been approved, you will need to register on the web site http://techacademy.pwnet.org in the section marked Facilitators. Once all participants have registered, they will be assigned to a facilitator. No more than 20 participants will be assigned to a facilitator. Participants can expect to receive information regarding their assigned facilitator prior to the first lesson.
Can I record and view the sessions even if I do not want or need recertification points?
You may record the programs and use them as resources. If you do not want recertification points, please do not register. You may still access the satellite information on the web site, but because you will not have a user name and password, access to materials and other information will be denied.
Can I record the programs and get credit or recertification points by viewing the sessions and completing the assignments later?
No. You must view sessions and turn in assignments according to the set deadlines for this Fall course in order to receive recertification points.
Can I receive college credit for successful completion of the TECHKNOWLEDGEY Academy?
No. At this time, college credit is not awarded for completing this course.
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