IDLA has partnered with the State Board of Education in offering a FREE online training opportunity, and we would like to invite you to participate.
The Collaborative Counselor Training Initiative (CCTI) is designed for middle and high school counselors. The mission is to help improve counselor effectiveness in preparing all students for college — especially those from low-income families and those who would be first-generation college students. Participants have the option to earn 3 college credits. Find more specific information below.
Please share this opportunity with other guidance counselors at your school.
Course Description: Strategies for School Counselors in Career and Academic Counseling:
CCTI is divided into three modules. The modules incorporate a learning community approach, which has proven effective for delivering online professional development for educators. Under this approach, school counselors participate in the online courses as a “cohort” — or group — and in structured online discussions with their colleagues and the instructor during each of the online module sessions. Each module includes:
- goals for learning
- online readings
- explorations of online resources for students, such as test preparation, scholarships and interactive college-choice Web sites
- practical online or off-line activities, including building a bank of resources to assist students with career or college choices
- focused online discussion prompts to guide each session’s discussions with other counselors
- short videos of actual counselors demonstrating effective practices
- a culminating project that enables counselors to demonstrate what they have learned during the module, and
- resources counselors can incorporate into their work with students immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the cost of the course?
A. The College Access Challenge Grant provides CCTI at no cost to the participant.
Q. What is the time commitment?
A. Each module is five weeks in duration.
Q. Must I take all three modules in succession?
A. Though we encourage individuals to participate in and complete all three modules in succession, the modules were designed to stand alone and may be taken at any time they are offered. We attempted to make these modules available at times during the year when relevant activities are taking place (e.g. college admissions activities, college entrance examinations, financial aid activities, etc.).
Q. What types of credit can I receive by participating in CCTI?
A. We are working with two postsecondary institutions to provide one credit per module completed to participants. Upon completing the three modules, the participant will be eligible to receive three (3) graduate professional development credits from an accredited Idaho institution. The cost for transcripting the credits will be at the expense of the participant.
Q. Are LPC continuing education credits available?
A. At least one of the institutions has an established relationship with the Idaho Board of Occupational Licensing and will be able to offer a certificate at small cost to document LPC credits.
Q. What special equipment do I need in order to participate in the online portion of the course?
A. You will need access to a computer with high speed internet, as well as a current email account.
Q. Will I have to travel anywhere to complete different parts of the course(s)?
A. No. While dialogue is expected and encouraged among the members of the cohort, the course can be completed where you live and work. Discussion takes place online and makes the course a much richer experience.
Q. Is this course a requirement for certification?
A. No. At this time this course is not required for certification, nor do we anticipate it being a requirement in the near future.
Q. Is this training unique to Idaho?
A. While the training that will be delivered in Idaho has elements that are specific to Idaho, the foundation and structure of this training is the product of the Southern Regional Education Board and several of its member states. The structure and content of the modules allowed us to customize them to include the Idaho School Counseling Model, elements of CIS, and more.
For questions or concerns about registration please contact Jenn Weddel at IDLA via email jenn.weddel@idla.k12.id.us or by phone 208-342-0207 ext. 2162.