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2 Need help? Call 1.844.447.4441 or email [email protected]

Table of Contents

Introduction 3 Step 1. Register in the PDIS 4 Step 2. E-Learning Courses 13 Step 3. Early Childhood Professional Credential 2.0

17

Step 4. Competencies Self-Assessment 30 Step 5. Individual Professional Development Plan

33


The purpose of this guide is to provide a step-by-step ‘how to’ for the Professional Development Information System (PDIS). There are a few things to note before you get started:

• You must have an email account to register in the PDIS--your email address will be your User Name in the PDIS.

• This site works best if you use Google Chrome as your browser. If you don’t have it, you can download it for free at https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/.

• If you get stuck or have any questions, feel free to contact us. You can call us at 1.844.447.4441 or email us at [email protected]

• Feel free to reproduce any part of this guide. • The most recent version of this guide will always be the most helpful. The most

recent version can be found at http://ecpd.costartstrong.org/ets/pages/?p=resources

https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/

mailto:[email protected]

http://ecpd.costartstrong.org/ets/pages/?p=resources


• Go to ecpd.costartstrong.org • Find the ‘REGISTER HERE’ text (below the top photo) and click on the ‘Read More’

link to register


• Complete all of the information in the ‘Account Details’ section (Note: All of the items with red asterisks by them are required fields)


• Read through the information on the ‘Release Statement’ screen • Click on the ‘PDIS Terms of Service’ link and the ‘Release Statement Details’ link for

additional information

• Press the ‘I ACCEPT the PDIS Terms of Service’ button • If you decide to not accept the PDIS Terms of Service, you will not be able to go any

further in the PDIS • Press the ‘Next’ button


• Complete all of the information in the ‘Demographics’ screen • Press the ‘Next’ button

• Select your ‘Employment Status’


• If you choose ‘Unemployed’ or ‘Retired’, your next step is to choose your home county


• If you choose ‘Employed’, your next step is to choose ‘Employer Type’. If you work in a licensed or early childhood program (including family child care programs), you should choose ‘Early Childhood Program’. (Note: If you work in an unlicensed early childhood program, you can choose ‘Other Employer Type’)


• Select the ‘County’ you are employed in

• Click the arrow under ‘Early Childhood Program’ and you will see a list of all of the licensed early childhood programs in the selected county.

• You can begin typing the name of your program into this field and the PDIS will start to bring up all programs that have those words in their name.

• The name that is on your program’s license will be the name of your program in PDIS. • Complete ‘Position Title’, ‘Age Group Worked With’, ‘Date of Hire’, ‘Wage Type’,

‘Wage’, ‘Hours Worked per Week’, ‘Months Worked per Year’


• You can add another employer by clicking the ‘Add Another’ button at the end of the ‘Current Employment’ section

• In the ‘Professional Role’ screen, click ‘Add New’ (Note: This field is important because this is how the PDIS connects you to the appropriate Competencies. This affects which Competency Self-Assessment you take and your Individual Professional Development Plan recommendations.)


• Complete all of the information and press the ‘Save’ button


• Log in to the PDIS • Go to the ‘Course Catalog’

• When you decide on which course you want to take, press the ‘Get Item’ button


• Press the ‘Selected’ button

• Press the ‘Finish’ button


• Click the name of the course

• View and download the course handouts in the ‘Downloads’ tab

• Click on the first module in the course


• Proceed through the module according to the directions provided at the beginning

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

• Most of these courses have narration so be sure your computer speakers are on • You must view every slide to complete the course • You must complete the evaluation before the course will show as complete • To return to a course that is in progress, go to ‘My Dashboard’ in the Site Navigation

Menu on the left side of your screen

• Under the ‘My Courses’ heading, you will see all of your courses that are in progress. Click on the one you want to resume.


• Log in to the PDIS • In left navigation, click on ‘My Profile’

• In ‘My Profile’ click on ‘Colorado EC Professional Credential 2.0’


• Click the arrow and choose ‘Colorado Early Childhood Professional Credential 2.0’

• Click the ‘Apply’ link

• In the ‘Experience’ section, click on the ‘Experience Documentation Worksheet’ and complete

• Note the number in the ‘Total years of Experience Toward Your Credential’ box


• Click the ‘Add New’ button

• Insert the number that was in the ‘Total years of Experience Toward Your Credential’ box in the Excel worksheet to the ‘Years Experience in Early Childhood Education’ field


• Save the Excel worksheet to your computer and then Press the ‘Upload’ button to upload it to the PDIS


• Click the ‘Save’ button

• In the Formal Education section, click the ‘Add New Diploma/Degree’ link if you are uploading a transcript with a completed degree

Privacy Tip: If your transcript contains your Social Security Number, use a black marker to cover the number.


• Complete all of the information


• Click the ‘Upload’ button to upload your transcript

• Double click on the file you’d like to upload • Wait until the upload is complete (a green dot next to the file name indicates a

complete file upload)

• Click ‘Save’


• You can do this multiple times if you have multiple transcripts • If you are adding transcripts with coursework only (no degree), click the ‘Add New

Academic Coursework’ link

• Fill in the necessary information

• Double click on the file you’d like to upload • Wait until the upload is complete (a green dot next to the file name indicates a



• Click ‘Save’

• In the ‘Professional Development’ section, you can upload your training certificates by clicking on the ‘Click here’ link

• Read all of the instructions provided on the page and press the ‘Upload’ button


• Double click on the file you’d like to upload

• Wait until the upload is complete (a green dot next to the file name indicates a complete file upload)

• Press the ‘Save’ button


• For Credentials, Licenses, and Endorsements, click the ‘Add New’ link

• Complete all information


• Click the ‘Upload’ button to upload a document

• Double click on the file you want to upload • Wait until the upload is complete (a green dot next to the file name indicates a


• Click the ‘Save’ button


• For the ‘Demonstrated Competencies’ section, an observer must complete the ‘Demonstrated Competencies Scoring Submission Form’. It also needs to be signed by the teacher/co-teachers. It is available at http://ecpd.costartstrong.org/ets/pages/?p=demonstrated_competencies_. The observer will then submit it to the PDIS Help Desk along with a copy of the scoresheets from the observation and documentation of observer qualifications. Email the PDIS Help Desk at [email protected] or you can mail it to:

PDIS Help Desk 201 E. Colfax #106 Denver, CO 80203

• Click ‘Update Information’

Now Available!

http://ecpd.costartstrong.org/ets/pages/?p=demonstrated_competencies_

mailto:[email protected]


• Log in to the PDIS • Click on ‘My Dashboard’ in the Site Navigation menu on the left side of your screen

• Click on the ‘My Professional Development Plan’ under ‘My Learning Path’


• Click the ‘Update Self-Assessment’ button

• Read through the introduction and directions


• Click the ‘Expand All’ button

• Click on the button next to the statement that best describes your ability


• When you have completed all 128 questions, click on the ‘Save and Exit’ button in the lower right portion of your screen. (Note: You do not need to complete all of these in one sitting. We suggest completing one domain at a time!)


• Log in to the PDIS • Go to ‘My Dashboard’ in left navigation

• Click on ‘My Professional Development Plan’ under ‘My Learning Path’


• Click on the ‘Add a New Goal’ button

• After considering your own goals for professional development, choose one of the goal statements

• Click the ‘Add New Action’ link to add an action to the goal


• Complete the Action Step by filling in all of the information and click ‘Save Changes’

• You can create multiple Action Steps by clicking the ‘Add New Action’ link again • You can create multiple Goals by again clicking the blue ‘Add a New Goal’ button • View the ‘Professional Development Options’ that the PDIS has recommended for you • Click on the Option if you would like to know more about it

need help? call 1.844.447.4441 or email …...2 need help? call 1.844.447.4441 or email...

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