Prefield education planning is a critical element of setting families up for success as they serve overseas. Parents need information and coaching in order to create a family education plan that allows for the successful transition of every family member as they move, and longevity on the field over time.
In order to equip education consultants to meet this need, PACE has offered an online course since 2010 to help consultants guide the families they serve through the information and tools they need to create education plans and prepare for educating their children on the field.
“Education Planning for Families in Transition” provides an environment in which an education consultant is able to train a family regarding TCK issues and the educational options available in their area of service, and to walk alongside them as they develop an education plan for their family.
By the end of the course:
- Parents have learned about TCK issues and how to better help their children in transitioning to the field or between fields.
- TCK/MK Education Consultants and families have cultivated a supportive relationship that will provide a platform for future interactions as issues arise.
- Families have a well-researched and practical plan for educating their children overseas.
Another feature of this course is that PACE can tailor the course to fit your agency’s needs. There may be materials or forms required of a family regarding their children’s education, and these can be easily incorporated into the course.
Why an online course?
Providing this resource online gives couples time to connect with the field and explore the options that will be available to the family, as well as time to reflect on their learning together as they develop their family’s education plan. As the course can be completed in just several hours a week over six weeks, this may better suit the schedule of some families who are preparing to leave for the field.
Sending agencies who want to prepare their families using this tool receive several benefits:
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free training in facilitating the online course
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discounted tuition for education consultants to take the “Introduction to Education Consulting” course
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discounted registration for their families
The process is simple.
- Contact PACE to arrange a free Preview Week. You’ll get a chance to view the overall format and course modules. You’ll also interact with the course developers as they show you how to use some of the course tools optimally.
- Facilitator Training Courses are offered several times a year. This course is mandatory for anyone that will be guiding families through the course, and is free for any education consultant whose agency has committed to taking families through the course. During this course, we’ll take the facilitators through all of the course material, discuss the principles of quality online facilitation, and explain how to tailor the course for your agency.
Note: In order to assure that facilitators (education consultants) are equipped to lead the course both in terms of content and technology, we require that facilitators complete PACE’s Introduction to Education Consulting course prior to leading families through Education Planning for Families in Transition.
Your agency’s education consultants can begin taking families through the online course almost immediately after completing the Facilitator Training Course. The course is comprised of six modules which can be completed in a time frame determined by you. Up to five families at a time can go through the course together, or the facilitator may work with families one at a time.
What’s next? Contact us at EducationPlanning@TCKConsultant.org. We can answer your questions and enroll you for the upcoming Preview Week.
We’re looking forward to working together with you to see that families are able to educate their children well on the field!