Faculty Credentials
Qualifications, Orientation and Training (CONTINUED)
Annual Curriculum Sharing Event: NWTC/K-12 Spring Summit
The NWTC/K-12 Spring Summit is the annual curriculum sharing event offered to high school instructors
that are planning to offer transcripted credit for the following academic year. The Summit is held annually
to provide professional development to new and existing high school instructors that offer NWTC
coursework at their high school. NWTC faculty offer curriculum sharing sessions and broader professional
development is provided to update high school instructors on curriculum, labor market, assessments,
NWTC curriculum products, career pathways, etc. This is a required event and helps in creating the
mentorship between NWTC faculty and high school instructors.
K-12 Train the Trainer Courses
History & Purpose: The Summer Train the Trainer
Program has been offered since 2009 and has
grown each year. The purpose of this program is
to provide high school instructors the professional
training in NWTC coursework to be prepared to
duplicate the coursework in transcripted credit
agreements at their respective high schools. NWTC
wants to provide more in depth training to best
prepare our high school instructors in our content
areas. This will then reinforce the rigor of NWTC
curriculum as well as student preparedness.
Course Delivery: The Summer Train the Trainer
coursework is meant to be delivered in an
accelerated mode of instruction with the ability
to still cover all competencies and provide
adequate lab time. The coursework can be
delivered in this manner because instructors will
come with solid foundational knowledge.
Grading & Assessments: As of Spring 2015, the
expectation for Summer Train the Trainer courses
will include the same grading and assessment
expectations as our adult learners. In order to
teach the coursework as transcripted credit, the
high school instructor will need to earn a minimum
of a “B” grade in the course. This will reinforce our
instructor preparedness and also give them an
understanding of student assessments included
in the transcripted coursework. Additionally,
maintaining the course specific assessment tools will
provide evidence of our instructor training for our
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) expectations.
Mentorship/Relationship Building: In addition
to the content expertise delivered by NWTC
Faculty through the Train the Trainer coursework,
relationships naturally develop with high
school instructors. High school instructors can
significantly influence student career planning.
Increasing instructor knowledge of NWTC
academic programs and labor market needs helps
high school students understand marketable
career choices for their future. This mentor
relationship becomes a springboard for further
connectivity to assist with curriculum questions
and post-secondary transitions.
Instructor Tuition & Textbooks: With support
of K-12 grants and NWTC leadership, NWTC has
been able to waive the tuition of the Summer Train
the Trainer programming. Learning Solutions: K12
Relations handles the enrollment process for these
instructors and coordina tes the class set up and
offerings based upon interest. Instructors and/or
school districts will need to cover the costs of any
textbooks, personal protective equipment, tools,
etc. that might be needed during the Summer Train
the Trainer coursework.
NWTC also tries to accommodate high school
instructor enrollment requests outside of the
Train the Trainer series through enrollment
into regular NWTC scheduled course sections.
K-12 Instructors can contact our K-12 Relations
Specialist who will process enrollment requests
and waive tuition if the course enrollment is
related to a future transcribed credit agreement.
High School Instructors’ Credits: High school
instructors will earn post-secondary college
credit at NWTC at the successful completion of
their Summer Train the Trainer coursework. K-12
Relations will also work with other post-secondary
institutions at instructor request if they are
interested in graduate course credits.
The involved post-secondary institution will
determine any additional costs and credit value
related to these courses.
Learner Feedback: With a goal of continuous
improvement, NWTC invites and encourages learner
feedback from our high school instructors. Learner
feedback surveys will be distributed at the end of
each class and will be reviewed by K-12 Relations
Manager and appropriate NWTC Learning Division.
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