TTL Professional FAQs
- I would like to attend TTL, but I will have to miss several days for a ------ event. Will this affect my TTL acceptance?
- I am a teacher’s assistant (aide). Am I eligible to attend TTL?
- I have been accepted into TTL this coming Summer. However, I’ve now accepted a position with a different school district. Is there anything that I need to do?
- I am currently attending the TTL Summer Academy and have just accepted a position with a new school district. What should I do?
- I recently completed the TTL Summer Academy and have now accepted employment with a new school district. Is there anything that I need to do?
- What happens if I should have to drop out of the Academy after it has started? Do I loose the opportunity to attend in the future?
- I still get into the Academy if I don’t have a partner from my district?
- I just want to learn how to operate a computer and a few programs. Should I attend TTL?
- I already have good technology skills. Is TTL appropriate for me?
- What can I buy with my $1000 support allocation?
- I attended TTL and subsequently bought several peripherals with my support allocation. I am now being transferred to another school within the district. Should my district have to transfer all of the peripherals to my new school with me?
- I am scheduled for a session (location) this summer, but would like to change to the other session (or different location). Can I do that?
- When will I receive my stipend?
- What deductions should be taken from my stipend?
- Why is there no support allocation this year?
- Because of the change of focus in the basic TTL, can past participants attend the Professional TTL? And will they receive the stipend?
- If I have already taken the basic TTL for credit OR renewal/recertification and want to take the TTL Professional can I take it for credit for purposes of renewal?
- How much do participants get paid to attend a TTL?
- I am a para professional can I attend the TTL Professional academy?
- What is the stipend I will receive for attending the Professional TTL?
- I am a first year teacher who is interested in taking the TTL-Professional Academy. Would TTL Professional be appropriate-since a person must teach for 3 years before applying to become Nationally Board Certified?
Q: I would like to attend TTL, but I will have to miss several days for a ------ event. Will this affect my TTL acceptance?
A: Due to the intensity of the Academy training, absence is not permissable. Also, since participants are paid for Academy involvement, it is expected that they will participate fully. The only reasons for non-participation/non-attendance that are generally acceptable are illness or a family emergency. No more than two days of absence is allowed no matter what the reason.
Q: I am a teacher’s assistant (aide). Am I eligible to attend TTL?
A: You are not eligible for regular TTL. However, this year (2003) a special TTL session especially intended for educational paraprofessionals is being held. You should apply for the paraprofessional session.
Q: I have been accepted into TTL this coming Summer. However, I’ve now accepted a position with a different school district. Is there anything that I need to do?
A: Yes. Immediately notify the TTL project Manager, Harris Haupt (hhaupt@tie.net). Give complete details of your changed situation. Be sure to include your telephone number and e-mail address so the manager can contact you if necessary.
Follow all directions that result from this contact. Failure to do so will cause delays in payment of your stipend.
Q: I am currently attending the TTL Summer Academy and have just accepted a position with a new school district. What should I do?
A: Immediately notify the TTL project Manager, Harris Haupt (hhaupt@tie.net). Give complete details of your changed situation. Be sure to include your telephone number and e-mail address so the manager can contact you if necessary.
Follow all directions that result from this contact. Failure to do so will cause delays in payment of your stipend.
Q: I recently completed the TTL Summer Academy and have now accepted employment with a new school district. Is there anything that I need to do?
A: Yes. Immediately notify the TTL project Manager, Harris Haupt (hhaupt@tie.net). Give complete details of your changed situation. Be sure to include your telephone number and e-mail address so the manager can contact you if necessary.
Follow all directions that result from this contact. Failure to do so will cause delays in payment of your stipend.
Q: What happens if I should have to drop out of the Academy after it has started? Do I loose the opportunity to attend in the future?
A: If you drop out due to unforeseen emergency reasons (health, family emergency, etc.), your chances for future attendance will not be impaired. However, if you drop out for light and transient reasons, doubt may be cast on your chances for future acceptance. If you foresee any circumstances that may prevent you from completing the Academy once you start and meeting the attendance requirements, it may be better that you opt to not apply during the current year.
Q: Can I still get into the Academy if I don’t have a partner from my district?
A: Team applications are no longer required.
Q: I just want to learn how to operate a computer and a few programs. Should I attend TTL?
A: The TTL Academy’s major emphasis is on the integration of technology into teaching and learning and on creation of new teaching/learning environments that are possible through the use of technology. Some time is allotted and numerous opportunities are available during TTL for acquiring and honing technology operation skills and knowledge. However, those who are open to exploring new pedagogical opportunities gain a great deal more from the TTL experience. If your only motivation for attending TTL is to learn how to operate technology, you should seek other opportunities rather than TTL.
Q: I already have good technology skills. Is TTL appropriate for me?
A: It may be. The major emphasis of TTL is on integration of technology into teaching and on pedagogical practices that allow creation of new teaching and learning environments that are possible through the use of technology. Some time is allotted for instruction geared toward building technology, operating skills. During these times, students who already possess advanced skills are encouraged to work independently to extend their skill with the specified programs and/or pursue independent projects using the subject applications.
Q: What can I buy with my $1000 support allocation?
A: Participants in TTL 2003 will not receive a support allocation.
Q: I attended TTL and subsequently bought several peripherals with my support allocation. I am now being transferred to another school within the district. Should my district have to transfer all of the peripherals to my new school with me?
A: While it may not be feasible to transfer the actual items that were purchased with the support allocation to your new school, reason would dictate that the school district should insure that you have similar technology tools available in your new location. In this way, you can continue to build upon the skills and knowledge that you acquired as part of your TTL experience and continue using these skills and knowledge to benefit students in your school district. You can also continue to serve as a model for other teachers who have not yet benefited from TTL.
Q: I am scheduled for a session (location) this summer, but would like to change to the other session (or different location). Can I do that?
A: Requested changes from session to session or from one location to another will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Such change requests will be granted only if space and budgetary constraints permit.
No changes will be granted within two weeks preceding the start of a session.
All changes must be coordinated through the program manager, Harris Haupt (hhaupt@tie.net). Notify the manager IMMEDIATELY when changes are Necessary
Q: When will I receive my stipend?
A: The money to pay your stipend will be sent to your school district within three to four weeks after completion of the session that you attend. Additional time is required for local processing and school board approval.
Q: What deductions should be taken from my stipend?
A: The amount of the participant’s school district for payment through regular pay channels. However, the stipend is not part of the teacher’s negotiated payroll. Therefore, the stipend is subject to only customary and ordinary deductions.
Q: Why is there no support allocation this year?
A: When the TTL academies first started, school technology resources were very limited. Recent statewide technology initiatives have drastically improved those resources in the schools. Consequently, the support allocation is no longer deemed necessary.
Q: Because of the change of focus in the basic TTL, can past participants attend the Professional TTL? And will they receive the stipend?
A: Because the focus of the TTL Professional is now on the National Professional Teaching Standards those teachers that have attended a previous basic TTL can also attend the TTL Professional Academy. Past participants should consider attending with the understanding that although the academy will now focus on the National Professional Teaching Standards to guide the curricular portion of the academy, there will still be basic technology skills that will be taught to support the curriculum development. These skills will be the same as those presented in the previous basic TTLs.
Yes, repeat participants will be eligible for the stipend.
Q: If I have already taken the basic TTL for credit OR renewal/recertification and want to take the TTL Professional can I take it for credit for purposes of renewal?
A: No, you can not. The same course numbers will be used for the TTL Professional as was used for the basic TTL in the past (graduate and recertification). When DECA’s Office of Teacher Certification reviews your certificate renewal request, they will consider the courses as being identical and only one set of credits will be allowable regardless of whether they were graduate hours or recertification. You may, however, want to check with your district to see if they will consider your repeat TTL participation on their teacher payscale.
Q: How much do participants get paid to attend a TTL?
A: Participants will be paid a stipend of $50/day for their participation, this includes all of the TTLs sponsored by DECA except for the TTL-SA. The assumption in the past has been that the administrators were already under contract.
Q: I am a para professional can I attend the TTL Professional academy?
A: If the paraprofessional holds a current South Dakota Teaching Certificate, then YES, TTL Professional is the only academy they can attend. Otherwise NO, the only TTL designed for paraprofessionals is the Para Professional TTL academy.
Q: What is the stipend I will receive for attending
the Professional TTL?
A: $1000 Stipend
Q: I am a first year teacher who is interested in taking the TTL-Professional Academy. Would TTL Professional be appropriate-since a person must teach for 3 years before applying to become Nationally Board Certified?
A: Yes, This academy is a good first step toward the National Certification goal for a teacher. The academy focuses on good instructional practices. Practices that introduce teachers to the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, incorporation of technology into the curriculum, as well as awareness of the National Certification process. This would be ideal for them. It would provide them with some necessary skills and yet allow time for the teacher to use those skills before they are eligible to become Nationally Board Certified. Thus, improving their use of the process should they choose to become board certified in a few years.