FAQs

Just contact me to start the booking process. Let me know the date or timeframe you’re interested in, as well as an idea of what topic(s) you’re interested in. You can also let me know what questions you have.

Sure, not a problem. Just ask when you contact me about booking the event. I’m happy to pencil in your date while you make a decision.

VERY rarely, but I may impose an additional service charge if I’m required to spend time completing a stack of paperwork from your end. I hate doing paperwork.

I did for years, but no longer do. That said, I’m happy to pull together a contract or memo of understanding if you need one.

I prefer payment via bank transfer, credit/debit card, or check. Still, I could be persuaded to exchange training time for a supply of good rum, electric guitars, an adorable Labrador Retriever puppy, or similar items.

Sure thing! I invoice via Stripe. After booking an event, send me your agency details and where to email the invoice.

I don’t have any physical items for door prizes, but I can provide coupon codes for free access to online training at Explorations Early Learning or offer one-on-one consulting time as a door prize.

My current rate for in-person training is $5,000. That includes all expenses and covers up to six hours of training.

I usually require a 50% deposit due 60 days before the event, with the balance due the day of the event.

I offer a 5% discount if the entire payment is made by the deposit due date.

Contact me if you have questions.

As far in advance as possible is always best, especially if you have a firm event date. I prefer at least 60 days’ notice for in-person events.

Just contact me to start the booking process. Let me know the date or timeframe you’re interested in, as well as an idea of what topic(s) you’re interested in. You can also let me know what questions you have.

Sure, not a problem. Just ask when you contact me about booking the event. I’m happy to pencil in your date while you make a decision.

My rate for live online training is $600 an hour.

Contact me if you have questions.

VERY rarely, but I may impose an additional service charge if I’m required to spend time completing a stack of paperwork from your end. I hate doing paperwork.

I did for years, but no longer do. That said, I’m happy to pull together a contract or memo of understanding if you need one.

As far in advance as possible is always best, at least 30-90 days is ideal. That said, online events are simple to set up and require no travel arrangements, so if I have an opening in my schedule, I can sometimes make short-notice bookings work.

I prefer payment via bank transfer, credit/debit card, or check. Still, I could be persuaded to exchange training time for a supply of good rum, electric guitars, an adorable Labrador Retriever puppy, or similar items.

Sure thing! I invoice via Stripe. After booking an event, send me your agency details and where to email the invoice.

I don’t have any physical items for door prizes, but I can provide coupon codes for free access to online training at Explorations Early Learning or offer one-on-one consulting time as a door prize.

I’m Jeff A Johnson. I’m an early learning trainer, podcaster, author, advocate, and former toy maker–you’ll find details on the site’s About page.

What’s going on here at explorationsearlylearning.com is early learning professional development–primarily online but sometimes in-person.

Check out playvolutionhq.com for early learning resources–podcasts, observation and operating forms, informative handouts, an early learning glossary, DIY ideas, and more.

At myplayhaven.com, you’ll find Play Haven, my new early learning community, a place to connect with peers and talk shop.

Sure thing. You’ll find PDF versions of my bio, resume, and publication list at the links below:

• Jeff’s Biography
• Jeff’s Resume
• Jeff’s Publications List

My professional development sessions focus on 4 general areas, although there’s a lot of overlap. Those categories are Play and Early Learning, Self-Care and Relationships, Policies and Procedures, and DIY Learning Ideas. You’ll find a complete list of session titles, descriptions, learning goals, and more here.

I’ve provided live and pre-recorded online early learning professional development since 2006 via several platforms and have made it a focus since 2018. My online training is pre-approved or accepted in at least 9 US states and some Canadian provinces.

I did my first presentation in the fall of 2000 at the Iowa AEYC annual conference. That went well, and gigs as an unpaid speaker led to paid speaking gigs. Since then, thanks to word-of-mouth promotion from satisfied attendees, I’ve presented across the United States, Canada, and Australia (more on that in the following FAQ). Attendees described my sessions as heartfelt, inspirational, high-energy, and humorous.

Exhausted and homesick from spending up to six months a year on the road, in late 2017, I decided to cut back on live and in-person events and focus on online training.

Since starting way back in 2000, I’ve presented across the United States, Canada, and Australia. I’ve lost track of all the events, but here’s an overview:

A few highlights:

• I’ve keynoted the NAFCC national conference
• I’ve keynoted many state AEYC conferences
• I’ve keynoted the IFDCA International Conference in Cork, Ireland
• I’ve presented at the NAEYC national conference

Here’s a relatively current list of the states, provinces, and territories where I have keynoted in-person events:

United States

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey

• New York
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Washington
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Canada

• Alberta
• British Columbia 
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan

Australia

• New South Wales
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Victoria
• Western Australia
• Northern Territory

Sure. Contact me, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

Yes, please! Contact me with details.

My live online professional development sessions take place on the ZOOM meeting platform. I’ve used many platforms and find ZOOM the most versatile, user-friendly, and reliable option.

Yes, all my live online sessions are recorded for archival purposes, allowing me to verify attendee attendance and participation if necessary.

After registering, you’ll find links to your trainings on the Explorations Early Learning website Dashboard‘s Enrolled Trainings page. 

It’s best to sign in 5-10 minutes before the session’s scheduled start time so you can adjust your audio and video settings, sign in via the Chat, and settle in for the session. This also allows time to address any technical issues you may encounter.

I occasionally share discount coupons via my mailing lists.

The coupon code WELCOME ($20.00 value) is good for a complimentary training session.

Only if:

• You have feedback–good or bad–you want to share about the training
• You want/need a certificate of completion

Attendees should sign in via the Zoom chat when they log on for training.

If your internet connection goes out, your battery dies, or some other unforeseen issue prevents you from completing a session, I can usually make a video of the session available so you can see what you missed. In some cases, I am unable to issue training certificates when this occurs due to state policies.

If the technology fails on my end, I will reschedule the session as soon as possible and/or make a recording of the session available to all registered attendees.

You’ll find my currently available training here.

After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing a link to your user dashboard, where you can access all your trainings. If you’re new to the site, you will also receive an email with your username and a link to set a password. You must be logged in to the site to access your trainings.

Yes, I make certificates of completion available for all live online professional development trainings I host.

To earn a certificate, attendees must participate in the entire training session and complete the session evaluation.

You must complete and submit a short evaluation after the session to receive a certificate. My website automatically generates a personalized PDF certificate and emails it to you upon submission.

The link to the evaluation appears on the session’s landing page and can be accessed after the training ends.

Certificates usually arrive moments after evaluation submission, but sometimes it takes a bit longer for them to arrive.

First, check your spam and junk folders. If you still don’t find the certificate emails, please let me know if it has not hit your inbox within 24 hours of submission.

Sure. While the design may change a bit from year to year, the certificates I issue contain the same basic information:

Training oversight organizations have differing requirements for what must appear on creditable certificates. My certificates include the following information:

• Unique Certificate Identifier
• Title Of Training
• Training Description
• Learning Objectives
• Attendees Name
• Attendee Address
• Date Of Training
• Name Of Trainer
• Trainer Signature
• Total Training Contact Hours
• Organization Name
• Explorations Early Learning Logo
• Content Area
• State Organization or trainer ID for the states I work with
• State Event ID for the states I work with
• Attendee Registry ID for the states I work with
• User IP Address

I know for sure that:

• My trainings are pre-approved for professional development in IL, MI, MO, NE, OK, and WI.
• Last I checked, my certificates are also accepted for professional development in AL, AZ, and SD in the United States and BC in Canada.

Beyond that, the simple answer is “Maybe?”

It’s a big world with many organizations governing what does and does not count as professional development from region to region. You’ll have to check with local authorities. The information in this FAQ may be helpful when checking, and you can always contact me with questions.

I expect they can be. Nefarious people can be very creative and talented. That said, I’ve taken the following steps to reduce counterfeiting and keep my certification process secure:

• Access to session evaluation is restricted to verified users
• Each certificate includes the IP address of the person submitting the evaluation
• Each certificate has a unique identifier
• I archive all valid certificates so that fakes can be easily identified
• I upload attendance information to the state training registries with which I work