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Quick start guide for teachers

FAQ and Help Document 

Welcome to the Mindfulness Standard! We have created this Help document as a resource to refer to as you get started!

Reference terms for this document: 

Programs - Programs are Mindfulness based program cycles that you are teaching

Templates - Template for curriculum for each type of program you will teach

Forms - These are different forms you will use in your class (e.g. informed consent, midway assessments, etc)

Getting Started: 

If you are a mindfulness teacher that would like to sign up for a free profile please go to:

https://www.mindfulnessstandard.com/teacher-platform/pricing

From this page you will see a menu you can click on whichever option you prefer and based on that will be prompted to create an account as Step 1. 

 

Step 2. During the account creation process you will apply for your listing.  This step is here to ensure that teachers are qualified or certified through organizations that adhere to Standards of Practice.  Your application will be submitted for review and we will send you an email after that is confirmed.  That will activate the public profile.  After you submit the application you will be taken to your dashboard.  The dashboard will include upcoming programs that support you as a mindfulness teacher. 

On the left as shown above you will see your tool bar.  If you click on the circle with the picture or your initials at the bottom left corner you will have the option to switch to student view.  This is where you can view any classes that you are taking. You also logout from there. 

If you would like to switch back to teacher mode after you have switched to participant mode you would click on your initials or picture in the top right corner and click on the switch back to teacher mode button. 

 

When you are on the teacher side of the platform you will have many options on the left sidebar:

  • Starting from the bottom you will see ‘User Setting’ if you click on this 

    • Add any information you would like to include about you and your preferences. You can drag in a profile picture or click to select from your files on your computer.

    • The ‘Email’ tab allows you to change your account to a new preferred email if you decide to change it after initial onboarding.

    • The ‘Security’ tab allows you to change your password if needed.

  • If you go to ‘Manage Account’ on Left side menu bar. You will see

  

  • You automatically land on the first tab - the ‘Account Options Tab’ and will give you options for the type of currency you will use for billing.

  • The next tab teacher application will give you the status of your application.

  • The ‘Billing Account’ tab in the upper menu bar will be where you can set up an account with Stripe directly through our platform. *You are not required to use Stripe if you have a third party account (e.g. Paypal, etc). We encourage you to use this feature as it will make the process more streamlined for you and everything will be contained on this platform.

    • Click on the ‘Create New Account’ blue button. This will lead you to the ‘Get Started with Stripe’ page. Enter your email and begin the process to create a free account. (* if you do not finish with setup you will get a notice that you cannot yet accept payment with this account)

  • The last tab integrations is a place where you can add code that will allow people who see your profile on the mindfulness standard to sign up for your newsletter.

PUBLIC TEACHER PROFILE

  • This will allow you to create a Teacher Profile page. 

  • Begin to enter information in appropriate boxes under ‘Details’ tab (see example below).

 

  • Next click ‘Branding’ tab on the profile page toolbar. You can enter a photo of yourself here by clicking in the gray box. Add a photo for your profile page by dragging the image or clicking to search from files. 

  • Next click ‘About’ tab in the profile page toolbar. Here you can enter a video if you would like and enter any information you would like to share about yourself in the ‘About You’ box. (see example below)

  • Last, click ‘Resources’ tab in the profile page toolbar. Add any links to podcasts, articles and research, books and cds, or any links to additional resources you may want to use.

  • You must click the lower blue button ‘Save’ for this to be saved correctly.

 

Below is the finished product from the student end:

 

How to set up an MBSR template in order to create future class programs. 

FORMS

  • Click on ‘Forms’ on Left side menu bar. This is where you enter your own forms for MBSR programs.  You also have the option to click on the ‘Public Forms’ button to see any pre-populated forms you may want to use and modify. 

    • Registration Forms: These are forms you want to have filled out before the class starts

    • Pre-screening forms

    • Informed Consent 

    • Assessment and Evaluation Form:These are forms that you want to have participants complete during the program 

    • Midway Assessment: Form that participants fill out midway through a program 

  • Click on the ‘Add Form’ button in Upper Right corner. 

    • Enter the name of the form which you wish to create. 

    • Enter what type of program it is for. 

    • Click ‘Add Question’. Here you can enter a brief description of what participants should do when they get this form. If the form is not required you can click the box to ‘allow the participants to opt-out.’  You can also include an estimated amount of time this will take.  ***We recommend saving as you go.

    • Next you can click on the button to add a question.

 

  • You can insert your question under the question heading and then choose the type of question under the type dropdown menu.  

  • Once you have entered your data hit the blue ‘Add question’ button on the bottom left to continue to add more questions. Make sure to hit blue ‘save’ button on lower right throughout.

  • Note: The add title and description button is an option if you want Subsections with different titles.

  • Click blue ‘save changes’ button on lower right when complete.

  • Add all of the required forms needed for your programs and once completed go to the next step. **Must click Actions button on upper right of page and select Publish for Form to be added to the list.

COURSE TEMPLATES

  • Next go to ‘Course Templates’ tab on the Left side menu bar. This is where you will create the template for your curriculum for each type of program that you teach.  For example you may have an MBSR course template and if you teach another type of program like MBCT you may have a different template for that.. Click on the ‘Add Course Template’ blue button in Upper Right corner. You also have the option to click on the ‘Public Courses’ tab in upper menu bar to see any pre-populated forms you may want to use and modify. Here you can preview or customize to add.

  • Add what you want to call it. Enter what type of program. Hit ‘Start Editing Content’ button. The information to complete the steps will be listed on the Left side menu bar. 

    • First you will see content.  This will be any content that you would like participants to see when they get to their course dashboard.  There is an example below:

  • Next you will see notifications.  This is a place where you can schedule any emails that you would like to be sent to participants on a particular date.

 

  • The next section is Orientation.  If you are having an orientation connected to this course you can add the orientation by clicking the box.  This will give you a space to write about that event.

  • The next section is forms here you can: 

    • Here you will see forms that can be included in your participants registration process.  Those should be put under the Registration Form.

    • Program Forms are for your course's pre- and post-assessments and will be available for participants to fill out during and after the course. 

    • Simply click on the ‘add registration form’ or ‘add program form’ then select from the forms that you have created and published.  Only published forms will be seen in the drop down. 

Meditations

  • Next you will add your meditation recordings by clicking the ‘Meditations’ tab in the Course Template Left side menu bar. You can drag and drop or click ‘Select Meditations’ button to upload files from your computer. You can drag and drop to change the order of the meditations listed.

Settings

  • The settings section has a check list of settings you may want or may not want to use for any given class.  Simply check disable on any that you do not want to use.  The descriptions are as follows:

    • Discussions - This would be for a discussion topic you would like for people to be able to write in a class session. Please note should you choose this option you must monitor the discussion for appropriate content and ask people to remove anything not appropriate.

    • Files and attachments - This is for files (the best files to attach are PDFs)  that you want to add for your class to see.  For example the nine dots in week 1 of MBSR. 

    • Forms - If you have created any forms for registration or to be filled out before or after the program ends this should be on and not disabled.

    • Meditations - If you course has meditations you need to have this on and not disabled.

    • Meetings - If you have filled out the meeting sections (this will come later in the instructions) this will give your participants reminders for the class on the day of class. 

    • Reflections - This is for participants to fill out if you have asked them to send you a reflection in a particular week.  You and the participant will be the only people who can see this.

    • Submissions - This is a place where you can ask participants to upload something and send it to you.  

    • Videos - If you have included any videos in your session this should not be disabled. 

Sessions

  • Add class sessions by clicking the button ‘Add session.’. You are able to add as many sessions as you would like. After you add a session you will need to click on the button “EDIT’ on the right side of the session you added. From there you can click on the Untitled Session to add a name for example Week 1. If you would like you can also add overview and content.  Put the homework or any other content you would like students to see for each session. You can add text boxes, links, images, videos and file attachments. There is an option to add reflections (e.g. ‘pleasant events for the week’, where you can include templates if needed). There is an option to add discussion topics for the week. The ‘add submission’ button has an option for people to send you something (e.g. ‘please include a copy of your pleasant events calendar). Make sure to push ‘save’ after to make sure all information is included. Continue completing these steps until you’ve completed class sessions.

 

This is the last step in completing your template as soon as you complete the sessions click on the actions button on the top right and select publish.  Only published documents will be available to be added to programs. 

 

CREATING A NEW PROGRAM

  • Once you have completed the previous steps and created course templates and forms you can start to create a new program. 

  • Go to the side bar and click the ‘Programs & Events’ tab.

    • Click the blue button in the upper right corner ‘Add Program.’  Programs are Mindfulness based program cycles that you are teaching.  You should create a unique program for each of them.

      • First: provide a name, then below select the program type from icons.  From here you can also create a program from scratch not using an existing template.  After the program is created you can then save it as a course template for future use if you would like to.  Once you have chosen what you would like, then click the blue button ‘Add Program’.

      • On the left side bar you will see ‘Manage your program.’ Then click ‘Basic Info” - Add program name (this is the name students will see when search if shared publicly). Choose if you want it Private (viewed by invitation only) or publicly listed on the Mindfulness Standard and your own website to the public. Choose event type and experience level.  Then you will enter the contact email where participants can reach out to you.  The next dropdown ‘Category’ should have the course templates you created.

      • Location - Select how the event will be hosted. This will prompt you for further details.

        • Date and Time: - Click on the first box for the calendar. Scroll through and click on the date.  If this is a one day event click the box on the right side that says ‘start and end on same date’

 

  • For the ‘Main Image’ box enter a picture (background image) this will be your public listing that will appear on the Mindfulness Standard program listing page for students searching for teachers and programs.

  • Under Summary - Provide an overview to market your event on its public listing page. Then hit ‘Save and Continue’ button. Under ‘About this program’ you can enter any other information you would like.

  • Registration and Cost: If you haven’t already added forms for this class you can add them at the top of the page.  If you are using a course template that had forms already included they will show at the top of the page. 

    •  Enter the date registration closes on if you choose. Please note - students will not be able to register for the program after the registration date closes. We recommend you keep it open for One Full Week after your program starts. You can also choose to limit the number of attendees by clicking the box. 

    • Program Cost Type: Enter the program cost type from the following choices - Free or Paid

    • Under Prices and Discounts you will enter the price(s) by clicking the ‘Add Price’ button.

    • Choose what currency you will be using.

    • Another feature is the discount codes option. This discount code can be used for people who you’d like to give a discount to but you don't want to be shown publicly. Examples: 100% means they will get the class for free. 50% will discount the program by 50%.

    • Payment methods - Choose the desired method. You have two options. If you have connected your stripe account you can click ‘Stripe Connect’. If you have a Stripe account click the dropdown menu to enable stripe payments. Click the ‘save and continue’ button at the lower right. If you have a third party billing system (e.g. Paypal or other) click Third Party. ** After you have finished this hit ‘Save & Continue’

Meetings: The meetings section is designed so that your participants will get a reminder about the class each week with the zoom link for the program.  We found that this really helps with attendance and last minute tech questions from participants before they come to the class. This section is not required but a benefit to participants.  To use this section simply click on ‘Add Meeting’you can add the title for example ‘Week 1’ then select the session linked with it.  Next you will enter the start date and the time at the bottom of the box. You will enter the end date and time as well. If you have already included a link for the session if the course is online that will show up automatically. You can add a description if you would like but this is not required.  Hit save to finish.  Add a meeting for each class date that you have.

Notifications: The notifications section is a way to pre-populate messages that you will send to your participants and have the auto sent.  The title is just for you and won’t be seen by participants.  It might be first class reminder email for example.  Then you can put in the date you want it sent and the message then hit save. 

Orientation: If you have an orientation and it was included in your template that will automatically show up here.  You will just need to fill in date time and location.  

  • Course Content Section: If you have created a template all of your course content will automatically populate in this section. If you are not using a course template see the course template section for: Home page, Forms, Meditations, and Settings all of the instructions are the same.

  • Sessions: If you have already sessions in the course template they will pre-populate. If you have not created them you can follow the directions in the course template section.  The only difference in this section is that if you want to hide the classes until a certain date you will need to open each session and include the start date of the session at the top of the page.  You will see a button next to that which says hide content until the start date.  After you check that box the content will be hidden. 

  • Publish and Share: is the last step to manage event listing.. Once you have published your program you can no longer make changes to the forms. When you are ready to publish click publish program. After the program is published you will get a program link that can be copied and pasted into emails and other communications to send participants directly to the registration page. You can preview what this course looks and what the registration looks like before publishing by clicking on the top right corner of the page. If at any point you would like to close the program you can click the close program button on the top left side of the page. 

    • Next you will see ‘Create a Registration’ button. This button can be used to promote this program on other websites (enter any text you like it to say). After your program is published, if it is public it will now show up in searches on the Mindfulness Standard if students are looking for classes. 

Participants: This section will  help you manage all of the participant information.

  • Summary - You will see a list of everyone who has registered for your program. On the far right there is a heading called ‘Status’ which will tell you where a student is at in the registration process (e.g. pending, confirmed). If you click on the student’s name, you will be able to view all of the forms, reflections and submissions that are associated with that student. There is a copy clipboard button in the heading section. If you click on this button it will copy all participant email addresses so you can paste it into your own email. There is also a button and the top right ‘Download Data’ which you can click on if you would like the information in a CSV document. 

  • Attendance: If you have virtual classes and you have added meetings to the meetings section, if participants click on that go to the class they will automatically show as attended in the attendance section.  This won’t be perfectly accurate if they don’t join the meeting through the emailed link or the link on their home page.  Either one of those will mark them as attended.  

  • Forms: The forms section is a place where you can view all of the forms that participants have filled out and where you can see the status of where the forms are at. 

  • Meditations: In this section you can see if people have mediated using the recordings which you have uploaded.  It is a good way of seeing how much practice is being done.  We can’t see how much time they spent only if they have meditated or not. 

  • Videos: If you have any videos as a part of your program you can see if participants click on the link to view them.  Again we aren’t able to see how much time they spent on them just that they clicked.

  • Reflections: This is a place where you can review any reflections that have been submitted. 

  • Discussions: This is a place where you can view any discussions which have been submitted.






 

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