Basic Skills Assessment Prior to developing training for faculty or staff, some type of basic skills assessment is necessary. This may be done through brief skills tasks, observations, or evidence of work—such as electronic portfolios. Some states require teachers to demonstrate basic technology skills, and portfolios developed for these state-mandated requirements may be helpful in determining the skill levels of your faculty and staff. Be cautious about asking for self-assessment data on a paper-and-pencil instrument. Having participants complete a short sample activity is more accurate than having them estimate their skill level. Select from a variety of strategies when presenting training to groups of various skill levels. You can use the "Basic Skills Assessment" on the Principal Connections CD when appropriate, or try one of the following options. Pre-training. Hold a low-level or refresher session that focuses on integration, preferably several weeks prior to the main training session so participants have an opportunity to practice new skills. Pre-training held too close to the primary training may frustrate participants and reduce the effectiveness of the session. Grouping. If a number of faculty or staff will participate in training, group people by skill level, and offer those building basic skills longer sessions, additional follow-up, or fewer skills to master. Collaboration. Try pairing participants of different levels in one session so they can help one another. However, this strategy may lead to some frustration on the part of the higher-skilled partner, who may not receive the same benefit from the training. Participants at different skill levels may also be paired as peer support groups after rather than during the training. This may allow people with more skills to obtain greatest benefit and their follow-up support may actually serve as review. Support. Using additional personnel to support a primary presenter can allow those having difficulty to receive additional support on an "as needed" basis without too much disruption to the main activity. Faculty with more advanced skills can attend the earliest training sessions and serve as support in later sessions. Getting There Insert and begin Principal Connections. From the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen, select the first on the left labeled "Principal." This will take you to the section titled "You're the Leader." Select the clipboard toward the right of the desk.