Incredible Breakthroughs! Update to MM Digital Learning, Feb 20 2020

This has been a banner week. Have we got an update to the Maloney Method Digital Learning System for you!

Development

This week we added two important segments to the digital reading product.

The First Breakthrough – an increase of instructors’ slots allowing the ability for more than one teacher to access an organization’s lessons and students. This allows much more flexible use of the program, especially in schools and clinics.

The Second Breakthrough – the completion of the design and build of the charting system that tracks, records and displays the data in chart form. This is particularly significant for therapists and teachers. 

Despite Om’s student visa issue, which delayed work on this part of the program, Nesda met their deadline with time to spare. We congratulate Michael Summers and the Nesda team for this quite incredible accomplishment. A shout-out also to Andrew Gilchrist who monitored the process and was on standby to assist.

Funding

First and foremost, sales are gradually increasing. We are still forecasting a small loss at our year end in June, but it can be covered by the other streams of revenue available to the company. When we started planning this venture more than 3 years ago, we predicted that book sales would continue to drop as people used computers more fully. The Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically hastened this process.  As predicted our hard copy book sales are still trending down. Hopefully our capacity to sell and service digital products will allow us to survive and prosper.

The Rotary NOLA project

With the exception of the Rotary free curriculum download project at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, every facet of our development has been plagued with difficulties. The New Orleans Charter school project has been no exception. Covid-19 and ensuing extended school closures have  been the greatest hindrances. Having Past International Rotary President, Wilf Wilkinson, fall and break a hip, and Past Rotary District Governor, Brian Hall dealing with family crises, we have yet to make our mark.

    But there is good news on the horizon. The news reports that as of this Monday, February 22nd, schools will reopen. We will allow them time to settle back into their routines and the make yet another attempt to land this endeavor. We have Rotary club sponsors willing to provide the software. We need to close the arrangement with the schools.

The Dr. Dot Teacher Support Program

We are finally beginning to make progress with Dr. Will Burrow’s offer to subsidize 25 American public school teachers for 50% of the cost of a copy of the digital reading program. The teacher pays $100. Dr. Dot matches  that amount and we supply that teacher with a deeply discounted copy of the digital reading program. The school may choose to reimburse the teacher’s share but that will occur on a case by case basis.

Marketing

Mark Bishop continues to arrange and execute eblasts and articles to both the therapist and homeschool markets. Analysis indicates that the marketing is having the desired effect as indicated by the number of emails opened and the number of videos watched. Apparently, it takes about seven contacts to turn a prospect into a lead. We are contacting these prospects once or twice a month.

 I have been making personal phone call to every client who has downloaded the 5 Free Lesson “TRY IT” offer. I am seeking feedback, keeping close to our clients and hearing of both great successes and some problems, usually with the person’s ability with computers, which I personally completely understand.

To reduce these issues Andrew has written three “help” screens giving clear step-by step instructions.  I am also sending periodic emails to this group to assist them more widely in helping their child learn.

Here is the last one I sent.

12 Tips for Keeping Your Student’s Attention
While Teaching

A major factor for success lies in keeping the student’s attention while you are teaching. There are many ways to do this. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but some hints that may help.