MAY 2011

VOL 1 ISSUE 3

Professional Development Courses Launch with CDWG

Next week CDWG will receive informational webinar sessions to learn about our new series of Professional Development courses. They will begin to sell these courses immediately and we expect to be able to deliver these courses beginning in June. As a soft launch, this pilot will allow us to gather important feedback prior to our ISTE launch. Descriptions of the four courses may be found below. The SKUs for these courses will be available for all resellers beginning with the next price book which will follow the ISTE launch for these products. Please ensure that all quotes currently include a training package. Literature will soon be provided for professional development courses so these too may be highlighted with our end users.

The teaching of STEM concepts: STEM learning represents the opportunity to explore and discover Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics concepts. Participants will experience a variety of instructional strategies and best practices based on the tools and digital media identified to help them leverage the PolyVision no technology with the software selected to develop engaging and challenging curriculum-driven lesson plans focused on STEM concepts. Participants will discuss and review two complete STEM lesson plans and learn how to integrate a variety of tools and strategies into their own STEM-based lesson. Stump the PolyVision Education Consultant : A Customizable Solution Participants will submit questions, initiatives, strategies and or best practices that they wish to: y become more familiar with as they work towards mastering their skill set y effectively implement to promote student achievement y delve into for greater skill mastery y further develop Participants are able to have this session customized so that it responds to their immediate needs as they relate to current school and district initiatives as they are related to the effective implementation of instructional technology tools. Student Assessment, Lesson Development and Effective Curriculum Delivery: Participants will learn how to effectively use a student response system as part of a daily routine and develop lessons based on student needs and strengths to enhance effective curriculum delivery. Both the Qwizdom student response system and WizTeach software will be highlighted in this offering to demonstrate and experience the power of integration of the SRS with the WizTeach software. Transforming Instruction with Web Based Tools: Participants will learn how to create a rich learning environment with digital resources such as SAS Curriculum Pathways, Qtopia and other like resources that can be integrated into classroom instruction. The focus will be on the tools, resources, specific instructional strategies, and logistics to successfully engage student participation to enhance student performance.

MAY 2011

VOL 1 ISSUE 3

INSPIRATION . KNOWLEDGE PERFORMANCE

Join the Movement to Transform Learning: A Guest Blog by George Lucas by Edutopia I didn't enjoy school very much. Occasionally, I had a teacher who would inspire me. But as an adult, as I began working with computer technology to tell stories through film, I began to wonder, "Why couldn't we use these new technologies to help improve the learning process?" Twenty years ago when we started The George Lucas Educational Foundation, we could see that digital technology was going to completely revolutionize the educational system, whether it liked it or not. Yet, in light of extraordinary advancements in how we use technology to communicate and learn, our schools and districts have been frustratingly slow to adapt. Unfortunately, much of our system of education is locked in a time capsule that dates back to the Industrial Revolution, when learning became an exercise in pumping as much information into kids as possible. At the end of this education assembly line comes a diploma - if the student can spit back the facts correctly. But in an era, where technology can deliver most of the world's information on-demand and knowledge is changing so rapidly, the model doesn't work. Why spend $150 on textbooks that students use for only fifteen weeks with information that soon becomes obsolete? What we need today and in the future are citizens who can wield the tools of technology to solve complex problems. Which means we need students who can:

Paid Training Events Scheduled April2011

As our busiest season approaches, we need to be looking at how our paid training events are being advertised and shared so that we are ALL ACTIVELY selling this PV product solution. April 2011 Paid Training Events Delivered Education day Full TTT Consultant day Crystal Just 3 Charla 1 1 Bennett Amy Brandt 1 3 Greg Brooks 1 4 Joyce 2 Chiavacci

Customized Webinars

A reminder to all: y forecast training in Salesforce y email Becky Lewis as to when a training has been completed so it may be billed.

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find information rigorously analyze the quality and accuracy of information creatively and effectively use information to accomplish a goal.

PolyVision Partner Webinar: Go Beyond SAS As You Know It! Mark your calendars and do your homework This webinar is scheduled for May 31, 2011 at 11 a.m. EST. It will require that you complete an assignment prior to the webinar and all details of that assignment will follow with the webinar invite. It is very important that you make the time to attend this session so that you are not only current with the content but able to demonstrate the new content competently.

The good news is that in pockets across our country, schools and districts are unleashing contemporary technology -- combined with classic methods of inquiry-based learning that date back to Plato and Socrates -- to transform the learning process into a rigorous and more relevant experience. Consider a few powerful examples. In Portland, Maine, middle and high school students have a 1-to-1 laptop program, strong school leadership, and project-based learning curricula that result in higher academic achievement. In Columbia, South Carolina, an elementary school uses computers to personalize student learning based on individual needs and abilities. And, here in the state of California, scores of high schools have restructured to offer career academies with rigorous curricula, enabling students to connect their learning to the "real world" and potential careers. Are there enough of these schools and districts? No. Will the work of fixing our schools and re-inventing the learning process be long and arduous? Of course. But as we move on from debating what we ought to do and get busy building a better way, let's remember that the solutions --and the tools and people who are implementing them--are not far away. In fact, they are nearer than you think.

Thank you to all of our ECs and TMs that joined the many webinars that were provided for internal training purposes over the past month. Mark your calendars for June 14 . Four different webinars will be conducted on that day for PV new product training. They will be held at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Sessions will be recorded for internal use only.
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MAY 2011

VOL 1 ISSUE 3

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM QWIZDOM

Please update to the new release of Qwizdom Connect PC. Kindly note that the Mac release will auto-update if you currently have Mac Connect installed on your computers we expect this update to go out by May 17th or sooner. This new Connect release upgrade will work in unison with WizTeach remote integration. Please use the below links and instructions to download and install Qwizdom Connect PC v. 2.6.2, and let me know if you have any questions. Pre-Installation Notices
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If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7 you will need to turn off User Account Control before installing and leave it turned off during the installation process. Once installation is complete, User Account Control can be turned back on. Please note: Microsoft Office 2007 or greater users you will see that Actionpoint now has its own ribbon and no longer appears under the Add-ins tab within PowerPoint.

Installation Instructions (single user computer) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Go to http://www.qwizdom.com/downloads/Connect_2_6_2.zip Unzip the zip file and launch setup.exe Setup.exe will find all previous installations of Connect and uninstall them (you will see text that old files are being removed) When prompted please select the 'Complete install' option. At the end you will be prompted to turn on Qwizdom Tools, say yes. You will now be able to launch Qwizdom Connect.

In order to fully utilise Qwizdom remotes with WizTeach on Windows computers you will need to install the latest version of WizTeach AND Qwizdom Connect software. You can check your WizTeach installation is up to date by opening and closing WizTeach while you are connected to the internet. If there is a new version, the WizTeach update page will open automatically. You can also download the most recent version at any time by going to http://www.wizteach.com/updates (You do not need to uninstall the version of WizTeach that you have) The customer update notifications are all handled within WizTeach. If one of your customers tries to use WizTeach with Qwizdom remotes, they will receive a message advising them how to update their Connect software. If your customers do not have Qwizdom remotes they will see a web link to find out more information or to contact Polyvision to find out more about Qwizdom remotes. This will hopefully make it easier for you to demonstrate Qwizdom remotes and be assured that your customers can contact Polyvision to obtain information on purchasing. Remember, customers can obtain a 30 day trial of WizTeach from www.wizteach.com/trial - If your customer would like an extended trial- please have them email support@wizteach.com - We want to ensure that our customers can see the benefit of using WizTeach with no.

MAY 2011

USEFUL RM TIDBITS

VOL 1 ISSUE 3

Win v. 1.2 has been available as a web download since late February. Some new features include new widgets such as a web browser, compass, and a voting widget. The DVD installer runs about twice as fast as previous installers. Mac 1.0.2 has only one new feature: Handwriting recognition. A web-based upgrade for this version can be found at http://www.easiteach.com/usa/upgrade/ Updated marketing materials I have attached updates of 3 files to reflect new features in v 1.2. The 3 files are: Handling Objections, Positioning Sheet, and Competitive Analysis. These are aimed at schools that are considering SMART and Promethean as alternatives to Easiteach. These are meant as reference tools for our sales team. They should not be distributed to customers or resellers as the information in the documents can change with any new versions of software. Mac version 1.2 due in September The next Mac version will include key features including Glass mode, spotlight, curtain reveal, actions and effects, and hyperlinks. Free PowerPoint file conversion offered For customers who are considering purchasing Easiteach, RM now offers a free service to convert old PowerPoint files to Easiteach. They will also convert old Easiteach 3.4 and 3.5 files. If you know of anyone who wants to convert files to Easiteach Next Generation you can have them send their files to hellis@rmeducation.com . Starting with Easiteach 1.3, due in October, the program will be able to import PowerPoint files. Linux version 1.0 due in August The first Linux version of Easiteach should be available in August. Daydream content to become premium content Starting with Windows v 1.2 and Mac v. 1.0.2, the DVDs will no longer include the 85 Daydream Education wallcharts. Customers who originally installed version 1.0 and 1.1 will still have the Daydream content if they do a web-based upgrade. Over the next few months RM will begin to offer the Daydream wallcharts as premium content which can be purchased on www.easilearn.com

EC ACTION ITEMS
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Every encounter with a customer should include conversation about paid training eventsyou are key to the sale of this product. NING site should go live by first week of Junehave all items for your topic area current th and to Marisa by May 20 If you have not had your Skype session with Denise Barker, please schedule by end of week Get your scheduled paid training events to Amy th Edwards by the 17 of May for June and July 2011. Follow the directions on the form precisely to avoid confusion with other offerings Homework preparation for May 31 webinar re new SAS software Mark your calendars to attend the new product webinars June 14th
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A Great STEM resource

STEM learning is a hot topic and as we move forward to offer a PD course focused on this program, it is imperative that all of our Education Consultants are current with this initiative and the strategies and focus that it represents in education today. GetBioTechSmart.com is just one resource that teachers are using. GetBioTechSmart.com, presented by the United Soybean board is intended to help educate students about the Biotechnology industry as it relates to plant technology and the various occupations in the industry. Teachers have access to a variety of powerpoint presentations, videos and lesson plans which are visually appealing and current. Students can access video podcasts, elearning courses and other resources to learn more about plant biotechnology, food production and the associated career choices in the industry. Access the resources at GetBioTechSmart.com