CLASP Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a question about CLASP? Follow our links to find more information about CLASP and you will be either sent to another page within our site, sent to another page in the Mass Networks site or be taken directly to a question and answer list compiled by our staff. If you still have a question that we have not answered, feel free to contact us and we will do our best to better inform you about the project.

CLASP Project | CST 2.0 Software | Consulting | Staff | Becoming a Participant | The CLASP / VES Connection | Mass Networks

CST 2.0 Software FAQ's

Q: What does CST stand for? I thought the software was called CLASP...
A: The software that the CLASP (Curriculum Library Alignment and Sharing Project) project uses to help districts share curriculum and access the Massachusetts frameworks is called the Curriculum Sharing Tool. The CLASP project is focused on professional development, strategic curriculum planning and providing districts with opportunities to meet and discuss curricular issues facing them. As such, there is a misconception that the software somehow is the focal point of the project.

Q: How much does the CST cost?
A: Nothing. Districts who sign a participation agreement and become a member of the CLASP project enjoy unlimited access to and use of the CST 2.0 in exchange for sharing curriculum generated using the CST. In the spirit of sharing and collaboration, districts are encouraged to submit curriculum to be shared in the CST once they feel it is ready to be contributed.

Q: Who developed the CST?
A: The CST was originally created by Kimberly Joyce, a former 4th grade teacher in the North Andover Public Schools. It is currently maintained by Leslie Hazle Bussey, the former CLASP project director.

Q: What are the technical specifications of the CST?
A: The CST is developed using the FileMaker Pro 4 Developer Tools, and is a stand-alone run-time database that works on both Windows OS and Macintosh OS-based computers. It is NOT currently a web-based tool, users install a copy of the CST on their own machine.

Q: How can I obtain a copy of the CST?
A: The CST is available to be downloaded from our website (downloads page) and is password-protected to ensure that only participating districts can get copies.

Q: How can I learn how to use the CST?
A: There are many ways, the most simple of which is to download our user manuals and read them carefully. We do provide some training at Regional User Group events, Statewide Conferences and other workshops. You may wish to consider consulting options if you have a grant and want to engage in some longer-term training and facilitation.

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CLASP Staff FAQ's

Q: How many staff work on the CLASP project?
A: There are only 2.6 staff members responsible for the CLASP project at the moment.

Q: How can so few staff run such a wide-reaching project?
A: We do our best to strategically apply ourselves to work that yields maximum results for our efforts.

• We try to provide as many self-serve options as possible to support districts in using the CST and in planning curriculum change in their ditricts. These include materials, user manuals and the CST software available to download on our website.
• In order to facilitiate curriculum sharing and professional development among participating districts, we have hosted four statewide conferences every year that include strategy sessions, breakout sessions and hands-on training in one central location. We plan to offer regional meetings and one statewide conference next year. This approach allows us to maximize the impact of the project to participants across the state.
• We have recently created four "Regional User Groups" across the state in an effort to provide peer-based support of the CLASP project and to foster more local ownership of the project.
• When we do agree to on-site strategic consulting, we enjoy relationships with districts who have sustainable, long-term and clearly articulated curriculum goals and objectives. This allows us to focus our efforts on districts with whom we can fully engage in deep, change-oriented consulting over long periods, avoiding episodic and superficial trainings that are less likely to effect meaningful change.

Q: What are the backgrounds of the CLASP staff?
A: CLASP is run by former teachers who have additional training and qualifications in curriculum development, educational technology and educational administration. Our experience includes K-12, higher education and spans a variety of disciplines, affording us the flexibility and diversity to serve a broad range of consulting needs.

Q: Who maintains the CST?
A: Leslie Hazle Bussey maintains the CST and will continue to support revisions of the CST until VES Online includes "CLASP Educational Tools" later in 2001.

Q: How long does it take to get in touch with CLASP?
A: The answer depends on our travel schedule! We often find ourselves traveling for more than one day at a time, and as such we try our level best to respond to emails and phone calls as promptly as we can. Click here for our contact page. As a policy, we aim to respond to emails or phone calls within 3-5 business days.

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The CLASP / VES Connection FAQ's

Q: What is the connection between CLASP and VES (Virtual Education Space)?
A: CLASP is a project founded by Kimberly Joyce, a former fourth grade teacher from North Andover Public Schools. Kim brought us the CST software, and when the project grew so quickly, it became apparent that an off-line, stand-alone software database would not be robust enought to handle the demands of the project statewide.

So, Kim began VES Inc. (Virtual Education Space) to put the CLASP project and its database on-line, using industrial strength software and a centralized web-based interface. VES Inc. is now in contract negotiations with the vendors that will creat the CLASP Educational Tools as part of the VES Online suite of teacher tools.