Promethean Developer Network

Wiki: Developer Documentation

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Wiki Page: 8. Equipment Order

Liam O'Marah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:30:00 GMT

About the Equipment Purchase Program (US only)

Promethean operates an equipment purchase program that enables Commercial members of the PDN to receive a preferential discount when ordering select Promethean equipment. In most cases, Commercial members can receive a discount of up to 40% off the educational list price of the products.

There is a very simple purchase procedure in place - for more information and to apply, please visit the 'How to Order’ section.

Why Do You Need to Purchase Equipment?

Promethean think it's important that when you develop content using Promethean applications, that you have the correct equipment to test your content on. There are many reasons WHY this is important:

Interactive whiteboard friendly - ensure your flipcharts display at optimum effectiveness and your design, content and layout, do not impact the learning process.
Realise your vision - does you content or applications meet your expectations? Is it how you imagined it would be?
Testing - ensure your product works as expected, has no bugs and is fault-free, prior to launching it.

What Equipment is Available?

Promethean offer a standard range of equipment for Commercial members to purchase. Typical examples of equipment include the ActivBoard 300 and 500 Pro range, Learner Response Systems such as ActiVote and ActivExpression, and peripheral interactive tools such as the ActivSlate, ActiView and ActiVwand.

Wiki Page: 7.1 Accreditation Levels

Liam O'Marah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:26:00 GMT

There are three different levels of software accreditation: Friendly, Select and Powered. The following text gives further information on the different levels of software accreditation.

The Friendly kite-mark is awarded to software that demonstrates the ability to work compatibly with the ActivBoard. The software must:

Be compatible and easy to use with an ActivBoard.
Add value to group teaching and learning when used with an ActivBoard.

Promethean Friendly software typically supports the teacher by:

Integrating user involvement through discussion or interaction directly with the interactive whiteboard.
Providing the ability to use the ActivInspire tools to interact with the content in Desktop Mode.
Providing images and other media for a Resource Pack.

The Powered logo is awarded to software that has been created to integrate seamlessly with the advanced features of Promethean technology. Software must:

Be designed in ActivInspire.
Utilize Promethean Learner Response Systems, such as ActivExpression or ActiVote.

Promethean Powered software typically supports the teacher with:

ActivInspire Page Notes included on each page of the flipchart.
Formative assessment support in the form of question templates for use with ActiVote or ActivExpression.
Support for handwriting recognition technology.

The Select kite-mark is awarded to software that exceeds the Friendly kite-mark assessment criteria. Promethean Select software has demonstrated the ability to provide enhanced interaction with the ActivBoard. To receive this level of accreditation, the software must:

Provide increased usability of the ActivBoard with improved color contrast and layout.
Enhance whole class or group teaching with additional tools or greater interactivity.

Promethean Select software typically supports the teacher with:

Larger text, icons and buttons for increased visibility from anywhere in the classroom.
Menus, buttons and icons that are easily accessible, consistent and templated.
Features that increase user involvement through discussion, choice, simulation/modeling or interaction directly with the interactive whiteboard.
Page Notes to give guidance on how to best use the software in a group teaching environment.

Additional features may also be available within individual software titles, including:

Integration with Promethean Learner Response System devices.
Support for handwriting recognition technology.
Flipchart format for additional interactive functions.

Wiki Page: 7. Software Accreditation

Liam O'Marah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:21:00 GMT

Commercial Level PDN members can have their content and software accredited by the Promethean Content team.

The Software Accreditation process is straight forward for members who submit their products for testing on an ActivBoard. A number of criteria are used to check how your software is designed for use front of class in group teaching situations using interactive technology.

On completion of the accreditation you will be awarded with a kite-mark logo for each accredited product so that you can proudly display it on your website, in your catalogues, collateral and in your products.

Benefits to Software Accreditation

Having your software accredited could bring the following benefits:

Trust - the accreditation logo indicates to a prospective customer that the product is suitable for the interactive whiteboard.

Awareness - partners are free to use the logo for promotional purposes to create awareness around their product's suitability for the interactive whiteboard.

Packaging - partners are free to use the logo on their packaging, giving an instant, visual acknowledgement to its high standards of suitability for the interactive whiteboard.

Contact

For further information on the Software Accreditation Process, please email publishers@prometheanworld.com

Wiki Page: 5.4 Planet Support

Liam O'Marah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:18:00 GMT

Promethean Planet offers a wealth of support, ideas, tips and tricks to teachers. This information is also valuable to developers creating educational content and applications using Promethean technology.

Product Videos

These overview videos show the different elements of the ActivClassroom in action including - ActivInspire, ActivBoard, ActivExpression, ActiVote, ActivArena, ActivLearning, ActivSlate and ActivSound.

User Guides and Docs

There are a number of downloadable ActivInspire and LRS User Guides and supplementary documentation available to Planet members here, including quick start guides and flipcharts submitted by members.

ActivTips

This is a series of short video clips showing tips for creating interactive multimedia flipcharts. You can also subscribe to the Activtips Podcast to receive the latest tips.

Teacher Feature

These inspirational video clips show examples of teachers using Promethean technology in their classroom. Find out what is important to the teachers and how they use the technology.

Best Practice

See research from leading experts into effective teaching with ActivClassroom and other tips worth considering when designing interactive content.

Wiki Page: 5.2 Developer Guide PDF

Liam O'Marah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:16:00 GMT

Creating content for the interactive whiteboard requires a complete understanding of ActivInspire, it's tools, functions and purposes. It's only really through understanding the power of the software can you interpret this with your material to create an added value product, in other words, give the teacher a real reason why they need to purchased your ActivInspire materials.

Here at Promethean, we believe in the fundamental principles of:

Creating purposeful actions and pages with a core educational value.
Adhering to content development Best Practice beliefs.
Creating a product that is both visually attractive as well as pedagogically appealing.

The Developer Guide PDF

In order to help you start developing correctly, right from the beginning, the Promethean Content team has developed a comprehensive developer guide document. This document covers all the "do" and "do nots" for creating ActivInspire content for the interactive whiteboard.

In order to download the Developer Guide PDF - please visit the files section and download the PDF titled 'Promethean Interactive Whiteboard Content Guidelines'.

Wiki Page: How to Enrol

Liam O'Marah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:13:00 GMT

How to Enrol on the Introduction to ActivInspire Course

To enrol on the free online training courses and access other premium courses for Promethean software including:

Introduction to ActivInspire Primary and Studio
Learner Response System (LRS) courses

In order to enrol on any of these courses, please visit the ActivLearning section on Promethean Planet and select the Free Courses option.

How to Enrol on the Level 1 Skills Course

In order to progress to the Level 1 Skills Course, as a minimum, you have to have completed the Introduction to ActivInspire Course.

Step 1) Complete the Introduction to ActivInspire Course and receive your certificate.

Step 2) Contact ActivLearning via email at activlearningonline@prometheanworld.com. In the email subject line, state that you are a Commercial Level PDN member and attach your Introduction to ActivInspire Course Certificate.

Step 3) ActivLearning will admit you to the additional courses and send you joining instructions by email.

Questions about Online Courses

If you have any further questions about ActivLearning courses then please email the ActivLearning team directly: activlearningonline@prometheanworld.com

Wiki Page: 5.1 Online Training

Liam O'Marah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:54:00 GMT

A range of on-line training courses are available for PDN Commercial Members on ActivLearning, including:

Introduction to ActivInspire Course (Primary and Studio Versions).
ActivInspire Level 1 Course (Core Skills and Advanced Skills) free for Commercial level members.
Learner Response Systems Course.
Setting up Promethean Hardware Course.

Introduction to ActivInspire Course (free)

The Introduction to ActivInspire course is free to all members. Members who have completed the introduction course are also eligible to apply for enrolment on additional Promethean courses designed for publishers and developers. Completion of the introduction course is also a pre-requisite to advance on to the Level 1 Skills course.

Over and above the Introduction to ActivInspire courses, there are a range of additional online courses available for publishers and developers. To become fully certified it will be necessary to successfully complete of a number of courses. The courses are designed to enhance your skills for developing software and content that work with interactive learning technology.

Level 1 Skills Course (free for Commercial level members)

The Level 1 Skills Course is free for Commercial level members. This course progresses the knowledge learnt from the introductory courses and covers the main features of ActivInspire in more detail, including some of the advanced features of the software. This course leads to the award of an ActivInspire Core Skills Certificate and optionally, an Advanced Skills Certificate.

Participants of this course will learn how to create lessons using resources and shape, use presentation tools and incorporate Advanced Skills including containers, restrictors and actions. Note - you must have completed the Introduction to ActivInspire course before you can progress to this course.

Please visit the [[How to Enrol]] section for further details.

Wiki Page: 1.1 Who is the PDN for?

Lee Ellam — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:45:00 GMT

The PDN is not exclusively limited to these groups, but mainly, it would be of benefit to the following:

(1) Publishers

Converting existing book content to a digital, interactive whiteboard product.
Creating a completely new digital interactive whiteboard product.
Intergrating Promethean Learner Response Systems with your Flash content (online and offline).
Packaging up existing media into a Promethean resource pack to be used in ActivInspire.

(2) Developers

Intergrating Promethean Learner Response Systems with your Flash content (online and offline).

(3) Education Partners

Creating a digital interactive whiteboard lesson to meet your education outreach goals.
Packaging up existing media into a Promethean resource pack to be used in ActivInspire.

Summary

In short, the PDN is for anyone that has ambitions to:

Create a digital, education product suitable for the classroom of today.
Take the best of their existing material, whether it be online content or even traditional text book, and create a blended learning approach in the classroom using ALL of these mediums to maximum effect.
Understand the difference in creating an interactive whiteboard product from other standard digital products.

Wiki Page: Six Red Marbles

Liam O'Marah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:18:00 GMT

Based in the US, Six Red Marbles is an award-winning provider of educational solutions for the K-12 market.

The Six Red Marbles organization began developing educational software in 1996. In 2008, Six Red Marbles merged with Baltimore-based, Monotype, a 90 year-old editorial and print-based publishing services firm.

Today, backed by a long-term institutional investor, Six Red Marbles are helping leading publishers develop and produce creative, effective educational materials for students and teachers. Services include:

Design
Development
Delivery of content projects.

To learn more about Six Red Marbles visit www.sixredmarbles.com

Contact

Joanne Markow - 001-617-492-9668 x. 105

joanne@sixredmarbles.com

Wiki Page: Saferock

Liam O'Marah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:18:00 GMT

Based in the US, Saferock helps publishers and technology companies develop, and manage new interactive digital products, assessments and traditional textbook programs in core-curriculum areas including mathematics, reading/language arts, science and social studies.

The Saferock team offers experienced project directors and editors who understand the need for high quality content and rapid development. These are essential requirements for success in today's K-12 marketplace.

The Saferock experience includes:

Extending print programs to include interactive digital features
Developing summative and formative assessment programs and item banks
Interactive content production

To learn more about Saferock visit http://saferockeducation.com

Contact

Shah Karim - 001-201-820-2700

shah@saferock.com

Wiki Page: Lancashire Digital

Liam O'Marah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:17:00 GMT

Lancashire Digital, based in the UK, are experienced in developing Flipcharts using ActivInspire and Learner Response applications using the Promethean SDK.

If you are in the market for multimedia development services, Lancashire Digital Limited can provide cost-effective, high quality services that you can rely on. Lancashire Digital are experts in Adobe Flash, Adobe Flex, and associated technologies, and have many years experience delivering multimedia projects.

Services include:

Flipchart development
Learner Response System product integration
Application development
Animation development
Content Creation engine development
Web development

Contact Greg Adam at Lancashire Digital directly to find out more about how Lancashire Digital can work with you.

email: gadam@lancashiredigital.com
tel: 01772 623260

8 Eaton Avenue
Matrix Office Park
Buckshaw Village
Leyland
Lancashire
PR7 7NA

www.lancashiredigital.co.uk

Wiki Page: 3.5 Outsourcing Development

Liam O'Marah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:16:00 GMT

If you have existing multimedia content but no development capacity, another option is to outsource development. With this option you can choose the extent of which you outsource a development project.

You may wish to supply the resources and have the content completely designed, developed and managed externally or you may wish to provide the content and full project scope, storyboards etc and just outsource the actual production of the content.

Trained & Approved Development Partners

Promethean has trained and approved the following content and application development partners.

[[AARTPACK]]
[[Lancashire Digital]]
[[Lenox Softworks]]
[[Magic Software]]
[[Neiman Associates]]
[[NETS]]
[[Play Nicely]]
[[Saferock]]
[[Six Red Marbles]]
[[Waterford]]

Wiki Page: AARTPACK

Liam O'Marah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:16:00 GMT

AARTPACK is a full-service developer based in the US for electronic media and print including the development of interactive whiteboard materials using Promethean ActivSoftware.

Services include:

Comprehensive design, from creative development to fully implemented visual programs, including graphic design, art direction, project management & page make-up.
Also, art aquisition, photo research, set-up photography, and electronic production, through to finished product.
Product development, including prototype development and support for design and content interface.
Strategic partnership for content development, by content area and grade across all curricula and platforms.

To learn more about AARTPACK visit www.aartpack.com

Contact

Tim Connors - 001-617-566-3080

tim@aartpack.com

Wiki Page: 1.3 Development Partners

Liam O'Marah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:13:00 GMT

An increasing number of leading education publishers, software and content developers are working on projects with Promethean technology, including:

View the Case Studies and Success Stories Blog to find out more about some of these projects and many more.

Any educational publisher, software or application developer large or small can work with Promethean and utilise the support of the PDN to develop world class interactive content. The only pre-requisite is that you must be an approved commercial PDN member to develop content or applications to sell.

In addition to this we also have the following Promethean approved and trained development partners:

[[Magic Software]]
[[Neiman Associates]]
[[Lancashire Digital]]
[[NETS]]
[[Six Red Marbles]]
[[AARTPACK]]
[[Saferock]]

Our approved development partners are experienced in working with Promethean technology and can assist you in your content and/or application development projects if you wish to [[3.5 Outsourcing Development|outsource development]].

Wiki Page: 1. About the PDN

Liam O'Marah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:02:00 GMT

The PDN (Promethean Developer Network) provides tools, code and support for you to innovate with Promethean technology and make any learning space a 21st century ActivClassroom.

With hundreds of thousands of classrooms worldwide equipped with Promethean technology and millions of children taught every day with it, the ActivClassroom presents the leading ‘learning and collaboration platform’ for teaching in 21st century learning spaces.

Become part of our dream to enrich, enlighten and inspire teachers and learners by letting your creativity run wild.

Adapt your content for use with Promethean solutions.
Embrace the digital revolution and create products for the 21st century classroom.
Integrate your online Flash content with Promethean's Learner Response Systems.

For More Information

The possibilities are endless and are limited only by your imagination. Download this document (below) for more information on the PDN.

Download PDN Overview

Forum Post: Promethean Unveils New ActivTable

Liam O'Marah — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:34:00 GMT

The new ActivTable was launched at BETT 2012 last week, but if you didn't see it in person, you can view a demonstration of it on the Promethean YouTube channel.

The ActivTable is all about engagement, interactivity, participation and creativity, allowing up to six students at one time to collaborate around the 46” HD LCD display – one of the largest screens on any interactive table.

For more information please read the Promethean news release on the corporate site.

Wiki Page: 8.1 How to Order

Liam O'Marah — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:52:00 GMT

(1) Complete the Order Form

Apply online for your PDN Authorization Code which enables you to be eligible for receiving discounted equipment.

(2) Sales Order

Once you've recieved confirmation of your eligibility (as well as your PDN Authorization Code) a member of the Promethean PDN team will contact you with a Sales Order template for you to complete. You will be able to browse through the list of products available and also view the discounted prices.

(3) Complete

With your completed Sales Order template, simply email it to your Promethean contact (you will be notified of this in the eligibility email) and one of our resellers will then be in touch with you. Simple!

For further information and general questions, please email publishers@prometheanworld.com

Forum Post: New UK, French & Australian Content in the Planet Store

Liam O'Marah — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:39:00 GMT

There's plenty of publisher activity over the last month, with new content in the Store from a number of Publishers. Here's a brief round-up of some of that content:

Publisher: Hopika

Target Country: UK

Content: Ancient Greeks

In brief: Enter the colourful world of Hopika to discover a fun and social way of teaching and learning, Key Stage 2. Hopika Move! is fun, social and inclusive because it uses your body and your brain. Find out more...

Publisher: EDpaX

Target Country: Australia

Content: Australian Maths Money

In brief: Engage your pupils with Maths and help build their confidence in dealing with money. In this series your pupils will learn a wide range of skills in order to deal with Australian notes and coins. Find out more...

Publisher: Hachette Antoine

Target Country: Middle East & French speaking countries

Content: Espaces Littéraires CS2s (Classe de Première)

In brief: Espaces littéraires CS2s Activités pour TBI est une primeur pour les classes du secondaires. Les activités suivent la structure du manuel du même nom et viennent en complément. Mais elles sont également exécutables indépendamment. Find out more...

Blog Post: Discounted Equipment Purchase Scheme Now Live

Liam O'Marah — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:12:00 GMT

Hello.

We've just revamped and launched the new pages on the PDN for the discounted equipment purchase scheme, exclusive to Commercial members of the PDN.

You can find out more about the scheme from these PDN pages.

About the Scheme - Some Q & As

What is the scheme?

The discounted equipment purchase scheme enables PDN Commercial Members to purchase equipment at a preferential, discounted rate.

Who is eligible for the scheme?

PDN Commercial members are eligibile to apply, though, at the minute, it's only open to US based publishers and developers. If you're a Commercial member located outside of the US and interested in a similar scheme, please email publishers@prometheanworld.com for further details.

What's the discount?

The discount is usually, and no more, than 40% off the educational list price of that specific product.

What products are included?

The scheme includes standard products such as the ActivBoard 300 and 500 range, Learner Response Systems such as ActivExpression and ActiVote, as well as interactive tools such as an ActivSlate. Upon receiving your application you will be sent a Sales Order form which includes a list of eligible products and prices.

How do I apply?

Please visit the Equipment Order page within the PDN and complete the relevant online form.