Teacher Training

The ACT Foundation organizes teacher training workshops for schools during the initial program set-up.

Following program set-up, ACT is happy to assist where possible with arranging for teacher refresher training and for the training of new teachers.

The Teacher Training Program prepares teachers to teach the four-hour Heart Saver Level A CPR and AED course to students. The CPR agency that provides the initial Teacher Workshop is encouraged to act as a long-term “mentor” for teachers in the ACT High School CPR & AED Program. The Teacher Training Program builds on the success of the original Ottawa program. It was developed by the ACT Foundation with guidance from CPR Instructor Trainers from St. John Ambulance, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, the Red Cross, high school teachers and school board curriculum consultants. High school teachers interested in extending their CPR instructor qualifications to teach beyond the school program and more extensively in the community should consult their local CPR agency for details on additional training requirements.

This program will provide teachers with a Heartsaver Level A CPR and AED certification, along with teaching tools and resources to teach the Heartsaver Level A program to students. Taught by CPR agency Instructor Trainers, the content takes into account the teaching expertise of high school teachers and is designed to prepare teachers for delivery of the ACT High School CPR & AED Program in the school environment.

Objectives – New Teachers
Objective #1: Teach teachers Heartsaver Level A CPR and how to use a defibrillator.
Objective #2: Teach teachers strategies for teaching and evaluating students in Heartsaver Level A CPR and how to use a defibrillator.
Frequency and Who organizes-Teacher Training refresher
  • Teacher training refresher needed every three years to review skills and knowledge and learn of guideline updates.
  • Schools are responsible to make arrangements directly with their local teacher training agency for training of new teachers and refresher training for those who have already taken the initial training set up by the ACT Foundation.
CPR agency role and long-term support
  • The CPR agency provides a long-term support role for high school teachers following the Teacher Training Workshop (e.g. providing new information, standard/protocol updates, availability of designated liaison for “hotline” assistance and advice, and contacting schools on an as-needed basis to ensure refresher-training needs are met). Following the Teacher Training Workshop, the CPR agency should send an instructor into the classroom for a peer teaching session with high school teachers if requested, during one of the initial practical sessions with students. The CPR agency will keep a roster of all teachers who are participating in the program and notify all teachers of expectations regarding a refresher updates every three years.
  • The refresher workshops should be arranged directly by and between the school/school board and their local CPR agency. The CPR agency should keep a roster of teachers who participate in the Teacher Training Program and notify the school/school board and the teachers when they are due for their three-year refresher update. Schools/school boards and teachers are responsible for assuring three-year updates are maintained.
CPR Instructor/Teacher Ratio
  • Heartsaver Level A CPR and AED Course: Morning
    Taught by a CPR Instructor Trainer or a CPR Instructor.
    Minimum 1:10 (another CPR Instructor Trainer/CPR Instructor should be added when the number of high school teachers is more than 10).
  • Teacher Training Workshop: Afternoon
    Taught by a CPR Instructor Trainer.
    Minimum 1:15 (another Instructor Trainer should be added when the number of high school teachers is more than 15).
    Note: A CPR Instructor may teach the Level A CPR and AED (taught in the morning). A CPR Instructor Trainer delivers the Teacher Training Workshop (afternoon).
Length and Venue
One-day workshop. Usually held at a venue arranged by the schools/school board.
Scheduling
The one-day workshop is often held during exam time to avoid the extra expense to schools of supply teachers. It is also sometimes held on a professional development day or during an after-hours workshop.
Cost
One-Day Workshop: to be determined.
Program Materials
  • Provided by ACT:
    ACT School-Based Model (provided by the ACT Foundation, the School-Based Model (SBM) has been designed specifically for high school teachers and complements the ACT Student Manual: Appendix J, SBM).
    ACT Student Manual (Appendix J, SBM).
    ACT teacher certificate (sent post workshop).
  • Provided by agency:
    Heartsaver Level A certificate.
Certification
  • Heartsaver Level A CPR and AED Course (Morning): Standard Heartsaver Level A CPR course certificate is provided by the CPR agency/instructor for each high school teacher.
  • Teacher Training Session (Afternoon): ACT High School CPR & AED Program teacher certificates will be mailed by ACT to the Instructor Trainer post workshop with stamped, addressed envelopes for each teacher’s school. The Instructor Trainer signs and mails the certificates. The CPR agency’s name appears on the certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Q. Does a teacher who is already trained in Level A CPR and AED need to take it again or can they just attend the Teacher Training Session in the afternoon?
  • A. Many physical and health education teachers will have learned CPR at some point in the past. Given issues surrounding skill retention and guideline/protocol updates, CPR agencies recommend that all teachers attend the Level A course taught in the morning. The course will act as a refresher for those previously trained, in preparation for the Teacher Training Session in the afternoon.
  • Q. Does a teacher who is already a current, certified CPR Instructor or Instructor Trainer need to attend any portion of the Teacher Training Workshop?
  • A. A teacher who is a current, certified CPR Instructor or Instructor Trainer must provide a copy of their certification to the teacher training agency, who will decide if attending the morning Level A course is required. All teachers, regardless of the level of past CPR training and current certification must attend the Teacher Training Session in the afternoon. This portion is modified from the standard CPR agency Instructor Trainer program and addresses issues relating to the school program and environment. Teachers who are already certified CPR Instructors/Instructor Trainers can also enhance the session with their expertise.
  • Q. Could a teacher who has not taught the program for a lengthy period of time (e.g. six months) continue teaching the program without taking a teacher training workshop?
  • A. In cases where a teacher receives their initial Teacher Training Workshop but then does not teach for a lengthy period of time (i.e. six months), they should make arrangements with a training agency to have their skills evaluated prior to teaching CPR & AED. This also applies to teachers teaching the program only once per year.
  • Q. Could a teacher who has not taught a minimum of two CPR & AED courses in one year continue teaching the program without taking a teacher training workshop?
  • A. Teachers who have attended the Teacher Training Workshop but have not taught a minimum of two CPR & AED courses in one year should team teach with an active instructor to refresh their CPR & AED teaching skills, or attend a refresher workshop prior to teaching again. These expectations have been outlined by St. John Ambulance.
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The ACT Foundation

379 Holland Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
K1Y 0Y9

Toll Free: 1-800-465-9111
act@actfoundation.ca