Think Small Institute FAQ
Find quick answers to questions about enrollment, eLearnings, and Think Small Institute! Minnesota educators will find additional FAQ uniquely applicable to Child Care Aware of Minnesota professional development opportunities.
General FAQ
How do I contact Think Small Institute (TSI) for questions about e-learning courses?
Email: institute@thinksmall.org
Phone: 651-233-2263
International telephone: 651-641-0508
When leaving a voice mail or sending an email, please share the participant’s full name and email address as they are registered in our Learning Center. Include the exact name of the course / CDA / Learning Plan you are referring to. This helps us locate your information and get back to you promptly.
How do I create an account or log in?
Visit institute.thinksmall.org and click “SIGN IN” in the top right corner.
How do I reset my password?
Visit institute.thinksmall.org and click “SIGN IN” in the top right corner. In the “Sign In” window, click on the “Forgot your password?” link to receive a reset password email in your email box. This email will direct you on how to reset your password.
What do I need an account for?
All participants who want to register for Think Small Institute courses (including Child Care Aware of MN trainings and ILTs for Minnesota providers) must have a free account to register for and participate in online training courses.
How do I access the catalog of courses offered by TSI?
Visit institute.thinksmall.org to view our online course catalog.
What type of credit do I receive and when will I receive it for my course?
You will be able to download a certificate of participation that includes CEU credit hours if applicable. Users are responsible for submitting their own clock hours. (Minnesota educators should refer to information below regarding credit and posting to their Develop Learning Center.) Certificates of participation act only as proof of attendance and/or completion. Learners are responsible for submitting their own clock hours and confirming they qualify for clock hour credit in their state or province.
What is a CEU?
IACET (International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training), along with the U.S. Department of Education Task Force, has defined the CEU standard of measurement as 1 CEU = 10 contact hours. So, a two-hour course would only earn .2 CEU (not 2 CEUs). If you would like more information about how CEUs are calculated, you can visit the IACET website.
Is Think Small Institute IACET Certified?
Yes, Think Small Institute is accredited through IACET (International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training).
How do I know if a course is eligible for CEU Credits/Clock Hours?
Credit hours are listed for each course in the course description in the course catalog. Other information, such as CDA Competency Area, MN KCF Content Area, Level, and State Approval are also part of every course description in the course catalog.
How do I access my eLearning course?
After purchasing a course, you will find your On-Demand eLearning courses in your Learning Center’s “My Courses” column.
How do I see the list of all the courses I have enrolled in?
Please sign in to your account to access your personalized dashboard to view in your Learning Center. You may see the list of courses you are enrolled in under the “My Courses” column.
What is the best device to access eLearning courses?
Devices such as desktop and laptop computers are strongly recommended for the best learning experience. Be sure to use the most up-to-date version of Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge to access the Learning Center.
What is your refund policy for training?
All registrations are final. We are unable to offer refunds or transfers. Please carefully review the date and title of your session for accuracy before registering.
What if my training is canceled?
If training is cancelled for any reason, Think Small Institute will notify participants as soon as possible and refund the full training fee.
Can I purchase courses for my team in bulk?
Yes, we can help you with that! Please contact support to coordinate and set that up.
How long do I have access to my courses?
Our self-paced courses allow for professional growth and knowledge building at a pace that works for you. You may save progress and resume at a later time, and you have three months from the first access of the course to complete it
How many times can I re-take the course?
Learners will only receive credit for each course only once. However, you may review the course content after completion by clicking “Start Learning Now” which will take you back into the learning view.
FAQ for Minnesota Educators
Are my TSI account and Develop account the same?
Your TSI account is separate from Develop. Child Care Aware of MN trainings offered by TSI may be found by visiting either institute.thinksmall.org or the Develop website.
I have a Develop Account. Where can I put my Develop ID on my TSI account profile?
Log in to your TSI account by visiting institute.thinksmall.org and click SIGN IN. You may be prompted to Update Your Profile. If you are not prompted, when you are in your Learning Center, expand the menu to the left of the Think Small Institute logo. Click on the pencil next to your name and email address to open the “My Profile” window. Add your Develop ID to the field labeled “Registry/Develop ID”. Click SAVE CHANGES at the bottom of the window.
How do I know if a course is eligible for KCF’s, CEU Credits or Clock Hours?
Credit hours are listed for each course in their description in the course catalog. Other key information like CDA Competency Area, Minnesota KCF Content Area and Level, are also part of the descriptions in the course catalog.
How do I receive credit in Develop for my training?
A Develop account and Develop ID are required to receive credit for training. Make sure your Develop ID is entered into your profile in your Learning Center. For Instructor-Led training, you must be present for the duration of the training and be actively participating to receive credit for the training hours in order to be posted to your Develop Learning Record. If you miss 15 minutes or more during any point of the training, you will not receive training hours. eLearning courses will be marked complete after successfully passing the post-course quiz.
When do I receive credit in Develop?
Please allow three business days after the completion date for course attendance to appear on your Develop Learning Record. If you have not received credit, please refer to our training policy and contact support.
How do I know what KCF a course covers?
KCF credit hours are listed in the course description in the course catalog.
How do I access my eLearning course?
After you purchase a course, you will find your On-Demand eLearning in the “My Courses” column in your Learning Center.
Do I need a Zoom account to participate in an online ILT training?
An account is not required but highly recommended. You will be prompted to download Zoom when you click the “Join Meeting” button in the course session. All ILT or online synchronous times are in the Central Time Zone (CST).
Are Instructor-Led Training (ILTs) sessions recorded?
ILT trainings are recorded for continuous quality improvement but not distributed to participants.
What are the registration deadlines and refund policy for training?
Registration for Child Care Aware of MN training courses closes seven days prior to training start date. No registrations will be accepted after the course registration closes.
All registrations are final. We are unable to offer refunds or transfers. Please carefully review the date and title of your session for accuracy before registering.
What if my training is canceled?
If training is cancelled for any reason, Think Small Institute will notify participants as soon as possible and refund the full training fee.
Can I purchase courses for my team in bulk?
Yes, we can help you with that! Please contact support to coordinate and set that up.
Which trainings do I need in Minnesota as a family child care provider?
Family child care licensing is handled by each county, and you may find county licensing contact information on the MN Dept. of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) website along with other licensing information. You will work with your county office for the application process, orientation, and pre-licensing training, as well as connecting to professional and business development opportunities through Think Small and other providers. Already licensed, serving families, and want to achieve Parent Aware Star-level ratings? Here is a quick guide to Parent Aware Training Requirements, or visit the Parent Aware website for more information and connect to resources.
Which trainings do I need in Minnesota as a child care center provider?
Child care center licensing is handled by the MN Dept. of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Information about applying for a license, orientation requirements and training, ongoing training requirements, and more can be found on the DCYF website. They may be contacted by calling 651-431-6000 or emailing DCYF.ccc.licensing@state.mn.us Already licensed, serving families, and want to achieve Parent Aware Star-level ratings? Here is a quick guide to Parent Aware Training Requirements, or visit the Parent Aware website for more information and connect to resources.
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