|
| |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is CoSN?
What is CoSN’s mission?
I thought CoSN was for technology leaders, why is the mission so broad?
Who are CoSN’s members?
What are the different membership categories?
How much does it cost to belong to CoSN?
What are the benefits of membership?
How many people from my team can receive these benefits?
What does it mean to be a “voting member” and how is that different from an “affiliate member”?
Why is the team approach to membership valuable?
Who should I include from my team?
I see that there is a CoSN State Chapter in my state. What benefits do I get for joining the Chapter?
Why do I have to pay an additional State Chapter fee?
How do I get involved in the work of CoSN?
Who is CoSN?
Founded in 1992, the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) is the premier professional association for school district technology leaders. CoSN is committed to providing the leadership, community, and advocacy tools essential for the success of these leaders.
[Back to Top]
What is CoSN’s mission?
CoSN’s mission is to empower educational leaders to leverage technology to realize engaging learning environments.
[Back to Top]
I thought CoSN was for technology leaders, why is the mission so broad?
CoSN believes that technology plays an important role and function across all disciplines in a school system and therefore is integral to the work of all educational leaders.
[Back to Top]
Who are CoSN’s members?
CoSN is unique blend of education and technology leaders, policy makers, and decision makers from the public and private sectors. We are:
- Key technology leaders (Chief Technology Officers [CTOs], Chief Information Officers [CIOs], Technology Directors, etc.) from school districts; state/regional education agencies; and independent, parochial, and charter schools.
- Educational leaders such as superintendents, heads of curriculum (CAO), heads of professional development, and others responsible for improving teaching and learning in their districts or states.
- Policy makers committed to providing students with 21st century skills necessary for success.
- Private sector leaders who seek a deeper understanding of the K-12 market and the use of technology in the learning and administrative process.
[Back to Top]
What are the different membership categories?
CoSN has three different membership categories and different fees associated with them. They are:
- Institutional Membership is for school districts, educational service agencies, charter or private schools, state departments of education, colleges and universities, and other non-profit education groups and associations.
- Corporate Membership is for private sector companies looking to receive significant benefits in terms of their own professional development, as well as access to district education leaders.
- Individual Membership is for individuals such as recent retirees, graduate students, or ed tech consultants who have an interest in educational technology issues. (Note: this membership category is not available to those who are currently working for a school district, educational service agency, charter or private school, state department of education, or other association. In this case, you must join CoSN as an Institutional Member.)
[Back to Top]
How much does it cost to belong to CoSN?
- Institutional Membership – The cost of membership in this category depends on the number of students your school system serves. Non-profit organizations and SEAs are considered large institutions.
a. Large Institutions (15,000+ students) – $1,000
b. Medium Institutions (2,500-14,999 students) – $750
c. Small Institutions (under 2,500 students) – $250
- Corporate Membership – $4,500
- Individual Membership – $250
[Back to Top]
What are the benefits of membership?
Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of CoSN Institutional and Corporate Membership is that your entire team can take advantages of the full range of membership – for free!
Additional benefits are:
- Members Bulletin – A twice-monthly email with the latest news related to the education technology field.
- Washington Update – A monthly email with the latest news about legislative and funding issues.
- Publications – Including EdTechNext Report, our Compendium series, and whitepapers
- Webinar series – Offered six times per year and are free to members and all of their affiliates. (Individual members receive two of the six for free.)
- Networking opportunities – Designed for ed tech leaders and educational leaders committed to the effective use of technology in education environments.
- Discounted rates for the CoSN Annual Conference and the new Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL)sm certification program.
[Back to Top]
How many people from my team can receive these benefits?
There is no limit to the number of people you can subscribe to CoSN’s many benefits. There is only one stipulation and that is you can only designate 10 individuals from your team as voting members.
[Back to Top]
What does it mean to be a “voting member” and how is that different from an “affiliate member”?
There is no difference in the benefits received. The only difference is that a voting member can cast a single vote during the annual Board of Directors election.
[Back to Top]
Why is the team approach to membership valuable?
With the many free or discounted professional development materials and activities available to each and every one of your team members, a CoSN Institutional Membership essentially pays for itself.
An Institutional Membership also allows you to include members from all areas of your district – the technology staff, the education staff, and the administrative staff. The team approach to membership ensures that engagement and professional development around key education technology initiatives occurs at the many layers of your organization and across disciplines. Not only are you ensuring that your education technology leader has the information and training necessary to succeed in this ever-evolving world, but you are helping cultivate the next generation of leaders. Perhaps one of the greatest benefits is that the membership always stays with your organization no matter if changes in personnel occur.
[Back to Top]
Who should I include from my team?
The final decision is up to you. In addition to the CTO, current members have included their school administrators, IT/IS support staff, curriculum development staff, and other senior decision makers as part of their team. You may also want to offer these benefits to stakeholders engaged in creating and implementing your school system’s technology plan.
[Back to Top]
I see that there is a CoSN State Chapter in my state. What benefits do I get for joining the Chapter?
State Chapters provide resources, professional development sessions, and does advocacy work geared toward meeting the specific needs of their state members. This strong national/state professional development coalition involving CoSN and the State Chapter is a winning combination.
[Back to Top]
Why do I have to pay an additional State Chapter fee?
Much like CoSN’s membership dues, State Chapter fees are used to develop and provide you with state-specific member benefits. Without these additional funds, the Chapters would not be able to provide these resources.
[Back to Top]
How do I get involved in the work of CoSN?
CoSN invites you to join one of our dynamic Committees, Councils, or Educator Advisory panels. These members-only opportunities allow you to share your expertise and provide input as well as learn best practices from other ed tech leaders. Sign up today at www.cosn.org/volunteer.
[Back to Top]
|
|