Participating in an eMINTS program provides membership within the larger eMINTS community, as well as within smaller communities, such as the eMINTS Educators Facebook group. Our programs have a clearly defined professional-development schedule supported by scheduled in-classroom visits with an eMINTS Affiliate Facilitator, to attain the common goal of increasing student achievement through STEM-focused Design Experiences supported by technology. In addition, educators participating in eMINTS programs receive collegial support and develop professional connections with cohort members during professional-development sessions and from members of the larger eMINTS community through participation in the eMINTS Educators Facebook group. Members of the eMINTS community work collaboratively to develop high-quality learning experiences for their students.
Classroom Visits eMINTS Affiliate Facilitators conduct a minimum of seven in-classroom visits to eMINTS teachers’ classrooms during each year of participation in the program. The purpose of the classroom visit is to support teachers as they implement concepts and strategies covered during professional-development sessions. The support provided by the eMINTS Affilitate Facilitator varies. There are times when the participant may ask the facilitator to assist with an extra pair of hands as the students begin using the computer as a tool for learning. Other times, the participant may want the facilitator to model concepts, strategies or technology with students. A participant may ask to meet with the facilitator during the participant’s planning time for additional help with software or to review concepts and principles covered during the professional-development sessions.
The facilitator will serve as a coach for participants as they begin developing and implementing Design Through Inquiry experiences supported with technology. Coaching sessions may occur prior to the implementation of a lesson in which the facilitator and participant will discuss the lesson plan, or following the implementation of a lesson when the eMINTS Affiliate Facilitator will guide the participant through a reflective conversation. The role of an eMINTS Affiliate Facilitator is to support and coach the participant as concepts and strategies are implemented in the classroom—not to evaluate implementation.