Frequently Asked Questions for Participants
  1. Account Information
  2. Course Information
  3. Pricing Information
  4. Course Credit Information

Account Information

How do I create a new account?
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Choose New Account? , located at the lower left-hand corner of the LOGIN pop-up menu.
  • Choose your district; then click Submit.
  • Fill in your name, e-mail, choose a password, school, and job; then click Submit.
  • A confirmation e-mail will be sent to your e-mail account.
  • Click on the link in the e-mail to activate your account.
  • If the confirmation e-mail does not arrive, login with your e-mail and password at www.BeaconEducator.com.
  • Click Send E-mail Again or type in the e-mail address; then click Change E-mail and Send.

    • Note: If your district has a contract with Beacon, the district may create the account for you.
What if I forgot my password?
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Click Forgot Password? , located at the lower right-hand corner of the LOGIN pop-up menu.
  • Enter your e-mail address that you used to setup your registration.
  • Your password will then be sent to your registered e-mail.
How do I change my password?
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Login using your e-mail address and the password you would like to change.
  • Click Edit Account.
  • Change your password; then click Submit.
  • Use the new password for all future Logins.
How do I change my e-mail?
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Login using your e-mail you would like to change and your password.
  • Click Edit Account.
  • Change your e-mail; then click Submit.
  • A confirmation e-mail will be sent to your new e-mail account.
  • Click on the link in the e-mail to activate your new e-mail.
  • If the confirmation e-mail does not arrive, Login with your new e-mail and password at www.BeaconEducator.com.
  • Click Send E-mail Again or type in the e-mail address; then click Change E-mail and Send.
How do I change my name, school, or job?
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Login using your e-mail and your password.
  • Click Edit Account, located in the menu bar on the left side of the My Courses page.
  • Edit your first name, last name, school, or job; then click Submit.
How do I change my school district?
    To change your school district, e-mail a request to Beam@BeaconEducator.com including your name, your last school district, and your new school district in the message.

Course Information

I made a request to enroll in a course through my district, but I am not enrolled in the course. What should I do?

Contact your district contact person (contract manager) to verify your enrollment.

I received notification that I am registered for a course, but when I log in to Beacon, the course is not there. What's the problem?
  • You may have two Beacon accounts under two different e-mail addresses or you may be using the incorrect e-mail address if you have more than one e-mail account. Try logging in using your other e-mail address. If you suspect that you have two Beacon accounts, please notify Beacon, Beam@BeaconEducator.com, so that one can be deleted.
  • You may have withdrawn yourself from the course, or your district contact may have withdrawn you.
  • You may have been automatically withdrawn for not submitting a course log exercise prior to the final week of the course. If you have been enrolled through your district and this occurs, contact the appropriate person in your district for future enrollment options. No course charges have been incurred. Alternately, if you are a participant who enrolled using Beacon's individual enrollment option, re-register on the site.
How do I register for a course if I intend to pay personally?
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Login using your e-mail and your password.
  • Choose Registration from the menu bar on the left side of page.
  • Click Individual Enrollment on the Registration page.
  • Choose the course offerings section that applies to the course you wish to take.
  • Locate the Course Section and Date that you would like to join; then choose the corresponding Register on the right side of the page.
  • Review the date and pricing information.
  • Click the button Continue to Secure Payment Form to enter your credit or debit card information. Complete the form and information required marked by the asterisks. A receipt will be emailed to you.
How do I verify that I'm registered for a course?
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Login using your e-mail and your password.
  • The My Courses page will display the courses in which you are currently enrolled.
How do I withdraw from a Beacon course?

A participant may withdraw from a course if no Course Log assessment has been submitted.

To withdraw:
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Login using your e-mail and your password.
  • The My Courses page will display the courses in which you are currently enrolled.
  • Click the Remove Registration link that appears next to the desired course title.
Note: If you are a participant that is personally paying for the course, you will be unable to withdraw yourself once Beacon has received payment for your course. Contact Beacon for assistance.

Do Beacon courses require me to purchase textbooks?

All Beacon courses are self-contained. All required content is found within the courses. No textbooks are required.

How do I get started?
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Login using your e-mail and password. (For first time users, the default password is educator. You will be asked to change this and log in again, using the new password.)
  • Click the title of the course.
  • Click the desired session title.
  • Click Course Log to begin the exercises for the session.
What if I am a New User or I need a tutorial of Beacon's Online Courses?
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Login using your e-mail and your password.
  • Click Courses Tour on the left menu bar of the My Courses page.
  • The Courses Tour explains the main elements found in Beacon's online courses.
How do I contact my facilitator?
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Login using your e-mail and your password.
  • Click the title of the course.
  • Click Facilitator, located on the menu bar within the course.
How do I retrieve my course syllabus?
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Login using your e-mail and your password.
  • Click the title of the course.
  • Click Syllabus.
How do I find the beginning and end dates of a course?
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Login using your e-mail and your password.
  • The beginning and ending dates of the course will appear next to the course title.
Can I start working on my course exercises prior to the start date?
  • As soon as you are registered for a course, you can log in to your Beacon account and begin reading.
  • You can even view the assessments and prepare answers in a word processing program.
  • However, you cannot submit responses online until the start date of the course.
How long do I have access to my course?
  • You have access to the course until the posted end date, as long as you submit Course Log exercises prior to the automatic withdrawal date.
  • Some course sections provide access for an additional 7 days. Your facilitator will let you know this information for your course.
  • Participants are automatically withdrawn if no course log exercises are submitted according to the following schedule:
    • 3 weeks prior to the end date for long courses. (10 weeks or more)
    • 1 week prior to the end date for regular courses. (3 to 9 weeks)
    • 3 days prior to the end date of short courses. (2 weeks or less)
What is the difference between the Check Your Understanding activities and the Course Log assignments?
  • The Check Your Understanding activities are formative assessments that are embedded throughout the course. Automatic feedback is displayed as soon as you click the Submit button. These activities are not tracked or reviewed by the facilitator.
  • The Course Log assignments are the summative assessments that are reviewed by the facilitator. Facilitators provide individual feedback, which may include pointing out areas in need of revision. Responses must meet identified criteria prior to approval.
When do I submit my exercises?
  • You cannot submit responses online until the start date of the course.
  • You may submit course log exercises throughout the course, as long as you begin prior to the automatic withdrawal schedule. (See "How long do I have access to my course?)
  • The normal pacing is one session per week; however, you are somewhat free to deviate from this schedule. We highly recommend that you submit your exercises in a timely manner to avoid losing access prior to successful completion.
  • Do not submit more than two exercises in the final week of the course. (i.e., If you are taking a course with six exercises, then you must have four exercises submitted before the final week of the course.)
  • Some courses have specific time lines for submissions, due to the complexity of the required submissions and/or the length of the course. These would be found at the beginning of the course.
How will I know if my Course Log response was submitted successfully?
  • When you submit a Course Log response, a check mark automatically appears in the Submitted box for that exercise on your Course Log page. Additionally, you receive an immediate confirmation of successful submission.
How will I know when a Course Log exercise has been reviewed and/or approved?
  • When the facilitator has reviewed your Course Log response, a check mark automatically appears in the Comments box on your Course Log page.
  • When the response has been approved, a check mark is displayed in the Approved box.
  • If you see a check in the Comments box but not in the Approved box, then revisions are required. Read the facilitator feedback for more information.
  • Even when an exercise is approved, facilitators often make comments on your response, check for those as well.
Will I have the opportunity to revise my Course Log responses?
  • If a Course Log response does not meet the criteria, the facilitator provides feedback indicating the problem areas.
  • You revise the response based on the feedback and then resubmit.
  • This process can be repeated; however, Beacon reserves the right to limit the rounds of feedback provided.
  • All Course Log exercises must be approved.
How do I enter a Discussion Group?
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Login using your e-mail and your password.
  • Click the title of the course.
  • Click Discussion, located on the menu bar within the course.
  • Click the topic you would like to discuss.
  • Then choose Add Topic or the title of an already active topic and Add Reply.
How do I print my course materials?
  • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
  • Login using your e-mail and your password.
  • Click the title of the course.
  • Click Print All, located on the menu bar within the course.
  • Click the Click to Print button in the upper right corner.
  • You will lose access to the course materials when the course ends.
What if I need technical assistance?
  • First, choose Tech Support from the menu bar at the top left of the page. Most questions can be answered within this section.
  • If you cannot find an answer within the Tech Support section and need additional assistance, e-mail Beam@BeaconEducator.com or call 1-866-936-7352.

Pricing Information

Why do you charge?
    Beacon Educator is a self-supporting enterprise of Bay District Schools, a Florida Public School System. Income generated is used to pay for development, facilitation, administration, and technical support of the online professional development programs.
Are your courses facilitated?
    Beacon courses are facilitated by trained content area specialists. However, there are two types of facilitators who provide quality feedback and guidance to online course participants. The first type of facilitator is hired or contracted by Beacon Educator. The second type of facilitator is selected by the local school district and trained by Beacon Educator staff.

    The Beacon On Demand modules are non-facilitated. These modules contain a computer-scored exit exam.
What is the price for an individual?
    For pricing information contact Cathy Starling at 1-800-311-6437 or Beam@BeaconEducator.com

    Note: Schools, districts, or groups may receive a discount.

    During the registration process you will be provided information concerning any discount that may be available.
What is the price for a school, district, or group?
    The Beacon pricing structure offers volume discounts. The price depends on the model you select.

    Option A: Beacon-facilitated

    In the Beacon-facilitated model, we provide full access to the content, consistent quality facilitation, evaluation with guidance, and follow-up for the course.

    Option B: Locally-facilitated

    Another model is the train-the-facilitator model called Locally-facilitated. For this model, a local district selects educators with content area knowledge and Beacon provides professional development in online facilitation. Access to the content and tools to assist the facilitators are provided by Beacon. The local district is responsible for paying facilitators in this model.

    For pricing information contact Cathy Starling at 1-800-311-6437 or Beam@BeaconEducator.com
Can I request a special schedule?
    For a school, district, or group of 10 or more people, we can schedule courses to meet your needs. The start date and the length of the course can be customized. While we have a "suggested" length of time for a course, it can be modified for groups of 10 or more. We ask that requests or customizations are made seven days before a course is to start.

Course Credit Information

How do I receive credit for a Beacon Online Course?
    While our courses comply with the National Staff Development Standards and Florida Protocol Standards, it is important that you check with your district staff development office to ensure they will accept Beacon Educator courses. It may be helpful to provide the office with the following documents:

    Letter of Introduction

    Course Syllabi - To print:

    • From www.BeaconEducator.com, select Programs.
    • Select the desired program.
    • Select Course Overview at the bottom of the page.
    • Next, click Quick Look for the desired section.
    • Select Click to Print link.
How do I provide verification of completion?
    If you are part of a district that contracts with Beacon, your district has access to reports to document your completion.

    If you are asked to provide documentation, you will have access to a transcript that documents completion of the course. To access your transcript:

    • From www.BeaconEducator.com click LOGIN.
    • Login using your e-mail and your password.
    • Click My Transcript, located in the menu bar on the left side of the My Courses page.

    If additional information is needed, contact Beam@BeaconEducator.com or call 1-800-311-6437.
When will a course appear on my Beacon transcript?
  • As soon as all Course Log exercises have been approved, the facilitator marks the course complete. At that point, the course appears on the Beacon transcript, even if it is prior to the posted end date.
 
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