Presenters: Barb Rolston

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• Presenter(s) Barb Rolston
• Sally Schroeder
• Affiliation Independent Consultant, Sheldon,
  Iowa
• Department of Education, Des Moines, Iowa
• Topic TOPSpro/NRS Training

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TOPSpro Certified National TrainerBarb Rolston
Providing technical support and training for
TOPSpro in Iowa.
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Who receives training?

• TOPSpro Record Specialists
• ABE Administrators
• Teachers

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What kind of training is available?
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• For TOPSpro Record Specialists
• TOPSpro Basics
• TOPSpro Beyond the Basics
• Training for new specialists
• Software installation
• New release information
• NRS related data collection requirements

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For Administrators

• Coding requirements for NRS
• Creating reports for
• Using TOPSpro for program improvement
• Agency summary reports
• Teacher training
• Analyzing benchmarks

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For Teachers

• Coding requirements for NRS
• Reports for class performance
• Reports for student performance
• Reports for learning gains
• Reports suggesting most appropriate assessment

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TOPSpro Training

• Continuous ..
• Technical support is available for any TOPSpro
  user by phone or email throughout the program
  year.
• Telenet trainings address the changes in new
  releases of TOPSpro.

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Iowa Training

• Average of one state wide hands-on TOPSpro Basics
  training annually.
• Past training topics have included Basics, Proxy,
  Using Query Maker, Replication
• Tele-nets scheduled whenever a new release of
  TOPSpro has many new functions or changes.
• TOPSpro issues are discussed at the NRS Workshops
  held at three locations in the state typically in
  the fall and spring.
• Individualized training is provided by telephone
  or on-site if requested or needed.

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Training - National

• TOPSpro Basics for Ohio corrections personnel.
  Hands-on training for approximately 40 new
  TOPSpro users at Columbus, Ohio training
  facility.
• TOPSpro Beyond the Basics lead trainer at CASAS
  Summer Institute, San Diego, CA. Hands-on
  training for approximately 25 experience TOPSpro
  users.

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Distance Training

• Worked with CASAS to develop distance learning
  modules for TOPSpro. Available for all registered
  TOPSpro users at www.casas.org

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Related TOPSpro Activity

• Communicate directly on a regular basis with
  TOPSpro programmers to make suggestions for
  improvements to programs based on input from the
  field. All communication is done electronically.

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Related TOPSpro Activity (cont.)

• Examples of changes and improvements that
  resulted from this communication
• Proxy added alternative methods for Iowa
• Certificate wizard better tracking of awarded
  certificates
• Improvements to various reports
• HELP function in TOPSpro

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Future Training Needs

• State wide hands-on training for new TOPSpro
  Record Specialists
• Telenet release of TOPSpro 4.4
• TOPSpro Beyond the Basics to follow-up on
  Basics held March 2004
• Updating TOPSpro Coding Tips document to reflect
  addition of Listening assessment
• Training for any new TOPSpro personnel in the
  state