FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What MPC: VISTA is, how the training works, what the research study involves, and how schools can get access.
About the program
What is Making Proud Choices!?
Making Proud Choices! is a CDC-endorsed teen pregnancy and HIV prevention curriculum for adolescents. It was developed by Dr. Loretta Sweet Jemmott and is used by educators and youth-serving organizations across the country. You can read more about the curriculum on ETR's Program Success Center, its official publisher, and see the HHS Office of Population Affairs impact evaluation.
What is MPC: VISTA?
MPC: VISTA (Virtual Interactive Simulation Training Academy) is an online professional development program that trains educators to teach the Making Proud Choices! curriculum. Instead of a passive video-and-quiz format, it combines interactive learning modules, video demonstrations, and realistic classroom simulations so educators can practice facilitation skills before they're in front of students. See How It Works and Our Approach for more detail.
Is Making Proud Choices! CDC-endorsed?
Yes. Making Proud Choices! is a CDC-endorsed, evidence-based program for reducing teen pregnancy and HIV risk. See the HHS Office of Population Affairs impact evaluation for the underlying evidence base.
How does the MPC: VISTA training work?
The training is organized into five phases across eight sessions, covering all eight modules of the Making Proud Choices! curriculum: Learn It (interactive modules on objectives and facilitation strategies), See It (video demonstrations of experienced educators handling real classroom moments), Do It (a classroom simulation where you make facilitation decisions and see how they play out), Process It (structured reflection), and a short quiz for CEU credit. The full training takes about 8 hours. Full breakdown on the How It Works page.
What is a classroom simulation, and how is it different from a typical online training video?
Most online sex ed trainings follow a watch-a-video, take-a-quiz, get-a-certificate format. That teaches information but not the skill of actually facilitating a classroom. MPC: VISTA's simulations put you in realistic classroom scenarios, like an unexpected question, a disengaged student, or a values-based objection, where you choose how to respond and immediately see the effect of that choice, then get feedback. It's modeled on deliberate practice: repeated, low-stakes rehearsal with feedback, the same underlying approach used in fields like medicine and aviation training. See Our Approach for the learning science behind this.
About the research study
What is the NIH-funded research study?
MPC: VISTA is being evaluated in a three-arm randomized controlled trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (grant #5R44HD094406-03). The study compares educators trained through MPC: VISTA, educators trained through live virtual training, and a waitlist control group, to see how simulation-based training affects real teaching skill. The study is approved under IRB #IRB00014382. Background and the published proof-of-concept study are on the Evidence page; the peer-reviewed article is available via DOI 10.1177/26320770231197350 and the grant record can be looked up on NIH RePORTER.
Who can participate?
To be eligible, you generally need to be a current educator who works with adolescents, have three years or less of experience teaching sex education, have never been trained on the Jemmott curricula before, be 18 or older, and have access to a device and internet connection. Take the interest screener on the Participate page to confirm your eligibility.
What are the three study groups?
Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups: MPC: VISTA (the interactive simulation training), Live Virtual Training (a Zoom-based training), or a Waitlist group (delayed access to training). All groups receive equal compensation regardless of assignment. Details are on the Participate page.
How much does the study pay, and how long does it take?
Participants receive a $300 gift card for completing the study. Total time commitment ranges from about 2 to 10 hours depending on which group you're assigned to, spread across a screener, the training itself, and a few follow-up assessments. See Participate for the full breakdown by group.
Is my information kept private?
Yes. MPC: VISTA uses Google sign-in to create your account, and only receives your name, email address, and profile picture from Google's basic profile data. That information is used only for account creation, secure login, and linking your training progress and certificate to your account. The platform never accesses your Gmail, Drive, Calendar, or Contacts, and never sells your data or uses it for advertising. Full details are in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
I'm already enrolled in the study. How do I sign in?
Check your email for your personal invitation link. The first time you click it, you'll set up your account; after that, you can return to the site anytime and sign in to start or continue your training. If you were invited but can't find your invitation email, contact us using the details in the footer.
For schools and organizations
Can my school or organization use MPC: VISTA outside of the research study?
MPC: VISTA will soon be available for purchase for schools and organizations that want to train their own educators. It isn't available for general purchase yet. If you'd like to be notified when it launches, see For Schools & Organizations.
Still have a question? mpcvista@dfusioninc.com
Ready to take part?
The interest screener takes about three minutes and confirms whether you are eligible. Participants receive $300.
Take the Interest Screener