WHAT IS PTO?
If you or your agency is looking for Police Training Officer (PTO) program training, we can help! This page explains how.
PSPBL Certified Instructors and Instruction
You can be confident that you will receive high-quality instruction from our educators. We are very proud to assure you that PSPBL is the only organization with a rigorous certification process for our facilitators. Our instructors have proven experience in the policing profession, the PTO program, and problem-based learning facilitation. Any instructor we offer for your training will have succeeded in at least the first three of four certification steps.
The result is that we do not offer PowerPoint and lecture-driven classes. Our facilitators will use advanced adult learning practices, including problem-based learning (PBL), to model the instructional methods adult learners deserve. We teach the way we want instructors to teach, at a high level, with solid content, in an engaging strategy.
We Come to You
PSPBL is not a brick and mortar operation. Our board members and instructors are spread out across North America and Australia. For this reason, we are happy to provide training at a location close to you. We have conducted classes around the world in various venues such as regional academies, colleges, hotel conference centers, and other meeting spaces.
On a related note, we have found that it is not ideal to host agency PTO courses at the department’s own building. PTO courses require a significant amount of student concentration and they often create a change in the way trainers think about teaching. For this reason, we have found it best to avoid the routine work week distractions and the inevitable disruptions of short-term crisis management. Off-site courses are generally most effective and preferable.
the pto course
The PTO Training for Trainers course is a 40-hour class, typically held during daytime hours, Monday through Friday. The course is specifically intended for agencies intending to transition from the FTO (San Jose) model to the PBL/PTO post-academy training model. For that reason, we recommend that all current FTOs attend the course. At a minimum, we also strongly recommend that any prospective program coordinators and supervisors attend.
Due to the transformative nature of the course, we encourage any members of command staff to attend any portion of the class, if not all of it. Our experience has shown that it is useful to have as many members as possible of the agency, particularly those in positions of influence, attend the course so they can develop a thorough understanding of the program philosophies, structures, components, and requirements. Agencies often find that the underlying philosophies of the course create a fundamental culture shift toward problem-solving and community engagement. Having more employees from throughout the agency, including (for example) Communications, Records, and Crime Analysis attend the training is a best practice.
LOGISTICS
It is likely that you came to this page to learn the details of hosting a course. Let’s get to it.
Once you decide to host a PTO course, we will work with you to address the logistics. Here is what you can expect:
- PSPBL is a not-for-profit that promotes PBL training in policing and the PTO program. We are not a business providing the instructional service. Instead, your agency will contract with PSPBL-certified instructors who will act as independent contractors for instructional services. PSPBL will not collect any funds from you, nor will PSPBL participate in the contract process with the independent contractors.
- We have found that this course is best presented in co-facilitation. This means that we would strongly prefer that you contract with two of our independent contractors who will then present the course. You will know who the contractors are early in the negotiation process and they will happily provide you with their curriculum vitae upon request.
- You (or your agency point person) will negotiate the contract with the independent contractors. We are reasonably flexible regarding timing and many of the logistics. Your contractors are likely to be currently working or retired policing or education professionals, which means we may have to coordinate schedules to meet your timelines.
- An obvious question involves costs. This is something that will have to be negotiated individually with the contractors. Obviously, contractor costs to consider must include instructional fees, travel, lodging, and per diem.
- We generally ask the host (or hosting agency) to secure the classroom or facility. The classroom should be large enough to accommodate the number of registered students comfortably. For effective PTO courses, we ask that a minimum of 10 students attend, and that the class maximum be held to no more than 30 students. Generally, we have found that classes of between 20-30 students are ideal.
- We will ask that the classroom should be set up in table groups (either round or square/rectangle) of five to six students per group/table. We want to avoid a “lecture hall” seating arrangement. Table groups are important to facilitate the group work that we will use throughout the course.
- Although the course will not be PowerPoint driven, we ask that an LCD projector and screen are available. This will allow for the presentation of videos or other visuals intended to appeal to the visual learners.
- Similarly, we will ask that the host provides some easel pads (or whiteboard) and markers of various colors.
- And finally, we would ask the host to provide the following items for each student:
- A printed PTO training manual (we will provide the PDF from which the manual can be printed)
- A learning journal (a bound, lined, empty book – these are not expensive and readily available at most office supply stores)
- Before and during the course, the facilitators may ask the host to print documents for student reference. Generally, the instructors will try to keep this to a minimum, and will share documents electronically as much as possible.
These are the significant logistical considerations. Obviously, there may be others and you should be prepared to speak with candor about any additional questions or concerns you might have during the contracting process.
PSPBL Support
PSPBL is prepared to support students in PTO courses presented through our certified instructors.
- We will provide each registered student with a one-year membership to our organization. This will allow access to the resources in our Member library.
- PSPBL stands ready to connect PTO course students with our network which ranges throughout North America and into Australia.
- Should the host of a PTO course want to open the course to students outside their immediate agency or region, we are happy to advertise upcoming courses through our website and social media.
We are committed to the success of PTO in general, PTO agencies, and trainees specifically. PSPBL will be happy to offer mentoring, coaching, advice, evaluation, or any other support agencies or trainers need to be successful.
If you have any additional questions, or would like to discuss hosting a PTO course, please email us at www.pspbl.org.
Problem Based Learning (PBL)
PBL is an approach that challenges students to learn through engagement in real problems.
ACADEMIC INSTRUCTIONAL AUDITING
Break free from your old training practices. Begin the progressive training of our future police officers.
Host a Course
Is your agency interested in hosting a PTO or PBL Instructor Certification course? If so, we can help with certified instructors and logistics. If you want to implement PTO in your agency, or keep your program strong with your own in-house certified PBL Instructors you’ll want to receive the best in training- from those who’ve created and developed the program and practitioners who have extensive experience in all aspects of PTO and PBL.
