Questions

• Will adequate training for all stakeholders be provided before going live?
• Will the trainers have a strong understanding of content as well as functionality of the SIS?
• Will staff be trained to the point they feel comfortable and confident with their access and be able to input data?

Questions & Answers

Q: Will adequate training for all stakeholders be provided before going live?

A:Training is always a huge concern when implementing new systems and much thought has been put into this component of the plan.

The vendor who wins the contract will have a proven track record having successfully delivered training to hundreds of districts while helping staff transfer their existing skills and knowledge from their current SIS to their product. We acknowledge, training will take time and effort but the rewards will be a robust set of features and access to data in new and exciting ways.

Your district will play a key role in the training plan. Who attends the vendor train-the-trainer sessions and who the power users will be in different areas of the SIS will be decided by decision-makers in your district. Training for these stakeholders in the district is included in the implementation cost which has been included in the budget dollars DPI has appropriated to this project budget.

Additional training will be available on a regular basis assisting staff in learning even more about the product and all it can do. Training options will be "district driven" with some assistance from DPI. Options will include train-the-trainer, On Demand, vendor led sessions and collaborations with staff from other districts in similar positions.

Q: Will the trainers have a strong understanding of content as well as functionality of the SIS?

A: Trainers will be a blend of vendor staff and school district staff that have been trained to train others (train-the-trainer - T3) and will have a strong understanding of the functions and how they related to the various staff positions. Districts selecting their own staff to be trainers will allow people that are actually doing those jobs to train their peers and interject their first-hand experience into the sessions. This approach also develops and will provide local "experts" that are available on an ongoing basis.

Q: Will staff be trained to the point they feel comfortable and confident with their access and be able to input data?

A: The training component of the project will be district driven but DPI will be able to assist districts if they want or need help in designing a program to meet the needs of their staff. There will be numerous opportunities to learn the new applications beyond the initial training sessions. DPI's vision is to facilitate collaborative opportunities between districts and cohort groups. The vendor who wins the contract will participate in statewide conferences with sessions at all levels and on all topics. We anticipate district staff participating in a variety of online forums and groups related to specific functions and positions within the district.