getting_started_guide_promethean planet.pdf

Getting Started Guide

Everyone is willing to help those of us who struggle frequently with making engaging, interactive flipcharts. The genius on this website is ridiculous!

Johnna Connors, First Grade Teacher St. Louis, MO, US

2 Promethean Planet Getting Started Guide

WELCOME TO PROMETHEAN PLANET!

Welcome to Promethean Planet, a FREE online community for educators in Activclassrooms!

Promethean Planet provides educators from around the globe the ability to share innovative lessons, great ideas and best practices.

Developed with the insightful input of thousands of elementary and secondary educators currently using the multi-dimensional Activclassroom teaching solution,

Promethean Planet offers materials now organized into seven distinct areas:

1. Home

2. Members

3. Resources 4. News and Events

5. Professional Development

6. Shop

7. Support

This guide will introduce you to each section, and will provide assistance on how you can get the most out of your Planet.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Home .....................................................................................................................................4

Members...............................................................................................................................6

Resources ............................................................................................................................7

News & Events ....................................................................................................................9

Professional Development ............................................................................................. 10

Shop ................................................................................................................................... 10

Support .............................................................................................................................. 11

Appendix: Resource Search Tips ................................................................................. 12

How to Conduct a Basic Search ............................................................................ 13

How to Conduct an Advanced Search .................................................................. 16

Top 5 Search Tips .................................................................................................... 19

How to Create a Customized Recent Resource Listing .................................... 21

How to Conduct a State Standards Search (US Members).............................. 23

The Preview Window ............................................................................................... 26


HOME From the Home page, you can (1) log in to your Planet account, (2) quickly see What’s

New on the Planet, (3) access an Overview of the site, (4) go directly to exciting

Resources, (5) see highlighted Themes, (6) link to Teacher Feature articles on fellow Planet members, and (7) check out some great Tips & Tricks for creating and using

flipchart lessons with your students. Read on to find out more about these areas!

2 3 4 5 6 7

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The Login Box

Forgot your Planet ID or Password? Click on the (1) Forgot ID or Forgot Password link

in the login box and your login details will be sent immediately to your e -mail box.

Not yet a member of Promethean Planet? Click on the (2) Register link in the login box.

To access the online Getting Started Guide, click on the (3) First time here? link.

Promethean Planet Overview Video

On the Overview tab of the home page, you’ll find a link to the Promethean Planet

overview video – a supplement to the Getting Started Guide, which will help you get up

and running around the Planet in no time!

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http://www.prometheanplanet.com/server.php?show=nav.1133





MEMBERS

The Members section allows you to access the online version of the Getting Started

Guide, plus other popular areas of the Planet, including: My Account

As a Promethean Planet member, you may download all resources and materials posted on the site. Don't have a Planet account? Sign up for free on the My Account

page. Once logged in, manage your account, including login and profile

information. Keep your profile up to date, and enjoy content tai lored specifically to your interests and needs!

Forum

Need quick advice or feedback? Post a question to the forum and get ready for the

responses to pour in! One of the most popular sections on Promethean Planet, the

forum is an international message board for Planet members to post questions and

ideas for best practices. With tens of thousands of members, someone is always there to give advice or feedback!

Blog

The Promethean Planet blog is an exciting venture for our community, and we want you

to be a part of it! The blog brings ideas, inspiration and information together in one

window, allowing you the opportunity to comment and contribute regarding education issues that really matter to you.

Teacher Feature

Each month we'll feature an outstanding teacher who has developed an exemplary

lesson for use in the Activclassroom. Experience how these teachers deliver their

lessons, pick up tips for your own classroom, and download their winning flipcharts! If you have not yet shared your lessons on the Planet, start today! You could be the next

Teacher Feature!






http://www.prometheanplanet.com/forum

http://www.prometheanplanet.com/blog



RESOURCES

The Resources section offers you thousands of flipchart lessons, resource packs and

weblinks for use in your Activclassroom. You can even view a compilation of these resources grouped by theme.

Use the Basic Search function to quickly find lessons by keyword, subject area and

grade level or key stage, or our powerful Advanced Search engine for even more

options! For more detai ls on how to search resources, visit Resource Search 101, or see page 12 of this guide. All resources are available for immediate download to Planet

members.

Lessons

The Lessons area includes thousands of educator-created and submitted Activstudio

and Activprimary flipcharts. Searchable by multiple criteria, flipchart lessons are available for immediate download to all registered users. In addition, you can now

preview the flipchart lessons before you download, saving you valuable time.

Resource Packs

Make your flipchart lessons shine by downloading and incorporating resources from

some of the great Resource Packs available in this section. Promethean’s Resource

Packs will extend your Activstudio or Activprimary resource library with new backgrounds, images and pre-made lesson pages, templates and activi ties all created

just for you!

Weblinks

There are some incredible websites that will work wonderfully in your Activclassroom,

and we’ve found them for you! While some are great for researching specific topics and lesson ideas, others include ready-made, whole-group activities that your students can

use right on the Activboard. You’ll find that many work well with Activotes, too! Themes

Finding great resources is a snap if you visit the Themes section of Planet. Each theme

includes a compilation of flipchart lessons, resource packs, weblinks, videos, and supporting tips and ideas all focused on one main topic or theme.









Partner Resources

The Planet team works with many exciting and interesting organizations to bring you

free resources for use in your Activclassroom. The Partner Resources section is your

central source for content and lesson ideas that have been produced in conjunction with our partners, exclusively for Promethean Planet!

Submit a Resource

Enjoying the lessons and other resources on Promethean Planet? Feel free to

download as many as you wish, and from time to time, go ahead and submit one for the

rest of the community to use. Your fellow Planet members sincerely appreciate it! Visit

our submissions page to upload your lesson or weblink.




NEWS & EVENTS

The News & Events section of Promethean Planet encompasses all aspects of news

and events related to interactive teaching and learning, including new research and developments, updates on new online resources, product announcements, educational

conferences and outstanding teacher accomplishments within the Promethean Planet

community. Planet News

Want to know the latest developments in interactive teaching and learning from around the world? It’s all here in Planet News!

Resource News

In the Resource News section, you’ll find ideas and announcements related to new resource packs, weblinks and other resources available to you as a Planet member.

Product News

For the latest product information, please visit Promethean’s corporate website . Here,

you can find press releases or download brochures about the entire suite of

Promethean products. Events

Discover educational conferences, user groups and other events happening around the world, and in your own region in our Events section.




http://www.prometheanworld.com/



PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Educators of all levels and curriculum areas will find multiple opportunities for improving

their ski lls in the Professional Development section of the site. Discover the latest

research and implementation ideas in the Best Practice section, pick up some helpful hints in the Tips & Tricks section, and find out how you can take advantage of one or

more of the convenient training options offered by Promethean. Best Practice

Find out how other educators are finding success with interactive teaching and

learning. In the Best Practice section, you’ll discover how to implement research-related theories into your Activclassroom teaching so you can achieve your outcomes every

time. Tips & Tricks

In the Tips & Tricks section, you’ ll find all kinds of tools to help you improve your skills

in working with the Activclassroom. Learn how to build a better flipchart with Flipchart Fundamentals. View or download podcasts of how-to clips in the Activtips section. And

pick up some hints from interactive tutorials and our Top Tips Guide.

Training

Teachers of all grade levels and curriculum areas will find multiple opportunities for

training in the Professional Development section of Promethean Planet. The multi-

dimensional program offers educational institutions everything from basic set-up and usage instructions to sophisticated train-the-trainer programs. In the Training section,

you wi ll be able to register for face-to-face training, but also access online courses via

our exclusive Promethean Learning site.

SHOP

Coming in July, the shop will allow Planet members to purchase Promethean Learning

courses, premium Activsoftware resources, and order accessories for your Activclassroom from the convenience of your desktop.











SUPPORT

Promethean Planet offers extensive Support for all Promethean software, hardware, and peripheral products. Here, you can obtain assistance with support inquiries, gain

valuable product knowledge and acquire the latest software and driver updates for your

Activclassroom solution. Knowledgebase

Forgot your Promethean Planet password? Need help with your Activclassroom

equipment? Not sure if you’ve configured your hardware and software correctly? Look no further than our Knowledgebase, where you’ll get immediate answers to your

questions, when it’s most convenient for you.

Software Upgrades

The Software Upgrades section keeps you up to date on new releases of Activsoftware

and drivers. Visit often to be sure you have the latest versions, and to keep your Activclassroom running smoothly.

Flipchart Viewer

Would you like to download and view flipcharts from Promethean Planet, but currently

do not have Activsoftware loaded on your computer? Never fear, the Flipchart Viewer is

here! Flipchart Viewer is a free download that allows you to view and have limited interaction with flipcharts created using Activsoftware.

User Guides & Docs

Whether you’re looking for help on how to use your Activsoftware, or need documentation on how to install the components of your Activclassroom, you’ll find

what you need in the User Guides & Docs section.

Contact Us

If you need further assistance, our Support team is ready and willing to assist. You

may contact us via phone or e-mail, whichever is more convenient for you!








APPENDIX: RESOURCE SEARCH 101

We're here to help you with your search questions! Not sure whether to use the Basic

or Advanced Search? Looking for tips on entering keywords or choosing options in

other fields? Want to know how to create a customized listing of recent resources?

You'll find answers to all of these and more in our Resource Search 101 section - your

guide to getting the results you want with every search!

How to Conduct a Basic Search ............................................................................ 13

How to Conduct an Advanced Search .................................................................. 16

Top 5 Search Tips .................................................................................................... 19

How to Create a Customized Recent Resource Listing .................................... 21

How to Conduct a State Standards Search (US Members).............................. 23

The Preview Window ............................................................................................... 26


How to Conduct a Basic Search

To quickly find the resources you need, you may use the Basic Search bar or the Advanced

Search located at the top of the Resources page, as well as on every page in the Resources section.

When you've located the search bar in the top left portion of the page, complete the following to conduct a basic search.

Enter keyword(s), choose subject area and grade level/age range

Enter your Keyword(s), and choose your Subject Area and Grade Level as shown below. Hint:

If you want to find resources related to a keyword regardless of Subject Area and Grade Level, simply type in the keyword and leave the other fields blank. You may vary your searches in this way by entering information in one or more fields in the search bar (i.e. If you choose Science in the Subject Area field, but leave the Keyword(s) and Grade Level fields blank, you'll see a listing of all science flipcharts, regardless of Grade Level.).

Choose resource type and search!

Choose the type of resource for which you’d like to search as shown below (Lessons, Resource Packs or Weblinks), and click on the Search icon.



Search results

On the Search Results page, hover your mouse over each thumbnail to view a short description of the resource. To select a resource, move your mouse just under the title of the resource until you see the cursor change to a hand, and click to select.

Preview page

You will then be taken to a page containing details about the resource, including:

description subject and grade/age levels number of views and downloads author name


In addition, you'll see a preview window containing an image of the resource. If your resource is a flipchart, you'll have the opportunity to preview each page in the flipchart in the preview window. For additional details on previewing flipcharts click here.

When you're ready to save the flipchart to your computer, click on Download Flipchart under the preview window!

For more options, see page 16 for tips on working with the Advanced Search.

To create a customized listing of Recent Resources, follow the instructions found here.

http://www.prometheanplanet.com/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.4153



How to Conduct an Advanced Search

The Advanced Search engine provides you with even more options for finding the right

resource. You'll find the link to the Advanced Search box in the top right corner of the Resources page, as well as on every page in the Resources section.

When you've opened the search box, complete the following to conduct an advanced search.

Choose your resource type

Next to the Display field, located in the upper left portion of the search box, choose the type of resource you'd like to find (Lessons, Resource Packs, Weblinks).

Enter keyword(s), choose your subject area(s)

Carefully enter your keywords in the field located on the left side of the search box.

Next, choose one or more subject areas for your search.

US Subject Areas



UK/International Subject Areas

Choose your grade level(s)/age range(s)

Choose one or more grade levels/age ranges for your search.

US Grade Levels

UK/International Age Ranges

Enter your time frame

Use this field to specify that you'd like to see resources submitted within the last week, month, six months or year.


Additional criteria

You may further refine your search by selecting options for showing only resources containing assessment opportunities, audio, video or flash materials.

Searching for flipcharts from other countries

By default, the advanced search box is set to find any flipcharts submitted from teachers in the US or the UK/Rest of World depending on where you’re located. If you'd like to search for flipcharts submitted from other areas of the world, you may do so using the Current Search section located on the right side of the search box.

To find flipcharts submitted from other countries, click on the appropriate link located at the

bottom of the Current Search section. You will then see the advanced search box that will allow you to search for these flipcharts. Next, enter your criteria as described above.

US Current Search UK Current Search

Search

When you have finished entering your search criteria, click on the Search button in the bottom right portion of the box to view your listing, or click Cancel to cancel your search and close the search box.

Search Results

Refer to page 14 of this guide for further information on search results and the resource preview page.


Top 5 Search Tips

In order to ensure that your searches are efficient and effective, we've provided you with our Top 5 Search Tips for working with keywords and combining different search criteria.

Please note that the default keyword search is based on a Boolean AND search; that is,

resources that appear in the results listing contain all of the search terms you entered. Read on for more tips!

1. Choose specific keywords

Think about exactly what you're looking for before entering your keyword search terms. For

example, instead of entering "algebra" as a keyword, enter "positive numbers", "negative numbers", "variables", etc. You'll find that, when you are more specific with your terms, your results will be much more meaningful.

2. Try a synonym

If the keyword you entered does not generate any results, see if you can think of a different word that describes what you'd like to see. It's possible that the keywords associated with a particular resource do not include all variations of the term for which you are searching.

3. Check your spelling

Double check that you've typed your keyword correctly. As the search engine will only find exact matches for your keyword, it is essential that the term you enter is spelled correctly.

4. Ignore the Caps Lock

Don't worry if your Caps Lock is on when entering your keywords. Our searches are not case sensitive, so capital letters won't make a difference in the results generated.

5. Mix up your search fields

Use a combination of different field options to vary your results. See the chart below for a few examples.


Use These Search Criteria Get These Results

Display (resource type) and Keyword(s)

All resources associated with the keyword(s) entered, regardless of any other criteria

Display (resource type) and Subject Area

All resources associated with the subject area(s) entered, regardless of any other criteria

Display (resource type) and Grade Level/Key Stage

All resources associated with the grade level(s) or key stage(s) entered, regardless of

any other criteria

Display (resource type), Keyword(s) and Subject Area

All resources associated with the keyword(s) and subject area(s) entered

Display (resource type), Keyword(s), Subject Area and Grade Level/Key Stage

All resources associated with the keyword(s), subject area(s) and grade level(s) or key stage(s) entered

Display (resource type) and Show resources submitted within the last: month (or week, six months, year)

All resources of the type specified submitted within the last month


How to Generate a Customized Recent Resources Listing

It's easy to generate your own customized listing of recent resources using the Advanced Search engine! The advantage of using the search engine is that you can:

Choose the type of resource you want to see (flipchart, resource pack, weblink)

Specify the time frame of recent resources (posted within the last week, month, six months, or year)

Add other options, such as creating a listing of resources posted only for a particular subject area or grade level/age range

You'll find the Advanced Search icon in the top right corner of the Resources page, as well as on every page in the Resources section.

When you've opened the search box, complete the following to generate your recent resource listing.

Choose resource type and time frame

Next to the Display field located in the upper left corner of the search box, choose the type of resource you'd like to find (Lessons, Resource Packs, Weblinks).

In the bottom left corner of the search box, you'll see the statement, "Show me resources submitted within the last". Choose your desired time frame (posted within the last week, month, six months or year).

Click the Search button in the bottom right portion of the box to view your listing, or click Cancel to cancel your search and close the search box.



Additional options

For a more customized recent resource search, you may wish to complete fields for those areas listed below:

Enter keywords to generate a search of recent resources associated with keywords you specify

Choose one or more subject areas and grade levels/age ranges Select options for showing only resources containing assessment opportunities, audio,

video or flash materials

Search Results

Refer to page 14 of this guide for further information on search results and the resource preview page.


How to Conduct a State Standards Search (US members)

The Advanced Search engine provides you with the ability to conduct a search based on your

state standards. You'll find the link to the Advanced Search box in the top right corner of the Resources page, as well as on every page in the Resources section.

When you've opened the search box, complete the following to conduct a state standards search.

Choose the State Standard link

Located at the top of the search box, the Search by State Standard link will take you to the page where you will input the criteria for your chosen search.

Choose your criteria

Locate the State Standards Search box in the center portion of the page. Next, enter your state, subject area, grade level and keyword(s) and click on the Submit button.



Search results

On the Search Results page, you'll see a listing of state standards that relate to your criteria. Underneath each listing, you'll see links to resources associated with that particular standard. If you see a plus sign next to any of the listings, click on it to expand the resource listing.

Click on any of the resource links to go to the resource preview page.

The Search area, located in the upper left corner of the results page, will show the criteria you entered for this search. To revise your search, simply enter in a new set of criteria and click on the Submit button.

Preview page

When you've chosen your desired resource, you will be taken to a page containing details about the resource, including:

description subject and grade/age levels number of views and downloads author name


In addition, you'll see a preview window containing an image of the resource. You'll also have the opportunity to preview each page in the flipchart in the preview window. For additional details on previewing flipcharts click here.




The Preview Window

When you’ve selected the desired flipchart from your search results, you’ll see a large image of

the title page on the left side of the screen, with the title of the resource at the top. This is the preview window.

Use the arrows at the bottom or on either side of the preview window to move back and forth between each page of the flipchart. You may also hover your mouse over any of the page numbers along the bottom of the window to see a thumbnail of that page. Click on the number to see an enlarged image of the page in the preview window.

Around the flipchart preview window, you'll find additional information to help you determine whether or not you'd like to download the flipchart, including:

flipchart description subject and grade/age levels number of views and downloads author name



Notes

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getting_started_guide_promethean planet.pdf

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