Technical Assistance (TA)
What is Technical Assistance?
Technical Assistance (TA) is a collaborative effort to facilitate change, build capacity, improve practices, and reach common outcomes.
The I-Team model promotes building the capacity of the local team based on shared outcomes. It uses a combination of consultation, coaching, and training of the individuals who regularly interact with the student.
The Technical Assistance section of the Student Services menu defines the term technical assistance and then offers details specifically about the I-Team’s TA services. Teams can check out the TA Topics, TA Activities, and TA Format Options sections linked in the sidebar. See all the ways that the I-Team can individualize our support of your work with students with complex profiles.
Technical Assistance Services
Technical Assistance is a term used in many fields, including eduction, and broadly means providing specific support to a team with a need or a problem. The I-Team’s TA model promotes building the capacity of local teams based on shared outcomes. We use a combination of consultation, coaching and training of the individuals who regularly interact with students.
I-Team TA
The I-Team’s Technical Assistance process focuses on identifying outcomes and services that are well-matched to teams’ resources and needs. The 3-step process below is aligned with state priorities and best practices in education and Technical Assistance support.
Step 1 Enrollment focuses on the completion of the Student Application and connected documents. The Student Application is a short online form for recording basic student data and contact information about key team members. When the application and signature documents have been received the file is marked complete and the assigned consultant is able to communicate with the liaison and plan for the initial contact.
The team liaison will be contacted by the I-Team Regional Educational Consultant (REC) once the application is complete. The REC will arrange for an in-person or remote meeting to collect more detailed information about the student’s needs and the team’s request for Technical Assistance.
During the initial contact, information about the I-Team and our TA process is shared and information about the Team and Student is collected. An informal Intake Profile captures important information about needs and opportunities for the TA Plan.
The last part of the Intake Step is the creation of the TA Plan. This is the document that spells out of all the planned components of the TA and guides our work. The plan integrates information from the first step (Service Application) and the third step (Implementation).
Most of the year will be spent in the implementation of Technical Assistance by the I-Team and local team, following the TA Plan and including appropriate documentation. The TA Plan can be adjusted as needed based on progress and feedback.
Vermont I-Team Services
Questions? Contact Caleb Serra:
- Email: caleb.serra@uvm.edu
- Phone: (802) 656-7122
- Contact Form