Committee Education

Hi everyone, 

Here is the proposal from Carmen on Sage 100 Premium Upgrades (See attached).   Please review and comment as you see fit.  Thanks!

------------------------------
Anne Sawyer
Executive Director
90 Minds Inc.
Sunset Beach CA
------------------------------

Anne I think you meant her Sage 100 Premium Upgrade proposal. My first thought is given the amount of technical setup / processes each attendee will have to do in terms of the prerequisites and in-class activity, I would recommend she recruit a technically oriented class assistant, in the same way I always have an assistant for the Scripting class. This person can go around the room helping attendees who fall behind or run into technical errors or other issues. In the Visual Aids section, she mentioned recording the class but I'm not sure if she's referring to a screen recording of her laptop and virtual servers OR a film type recording. The latter could get expensive.

------------------------------
Alnoor Cassim
------------------------------

Now that it is clear how my Monday morning is going - thanks Alnoor - I have updated my post.  

------------------------------
Anne Sawyer
Executive Director
90 Minds Inc.
Sunset Beach CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-13-2023 12:10
From: Alnoor Cassim
Subject: Pre-Session Sage 100 Premium Proposal - Carmen Cruz

Anne I think you meant her Sage 100 Premium Upgrade proposal. My first thought is given the amount of technical setup / processes each attendee will have to do in terms of the prerequisites and in-class activity, I would recommend she recruit a technically oriented class assistant, in the same way I always have an assistant for the Scripting class. This person can go around the room helping attendees who fall behind or run into technical errors or other issues. In the Visual Aids section, she mentioned recording the class but I'm not sure if she's referring to a screen recording of her laptop and virtual servers OR a film type recording. The latter could get expensive.

------------------------------
Alnoor Cassim
------------------------------

I too, really like Carmen's proposal.  Alnoor's point is a great one, and is reinforced with his experience teaching classes.  The assistant is crucial.  An example is Steve Malgrem's class on Power BI / Sage API he presented at MOTM a couple of years ago.  He spent so much time answering questions and trying to get through all of the material at the same time that half the class was lost by the end of the day.

------------------------------
Doug Higgs
Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
(312) 315-0960
Chauffeur, Chef, and Personal Assistant to Sprinkles
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-13-2023 12:10
From: Alnoor Cassim
Subject: Pre-Session Sage 100 Premium Proposal - Carmen Cruz

Anne I think you meant her Sage 100 Premium Upgrade proposal. My first thought is given the amount of technical setup / processes each attendee will have to do in terms of the prerequisites and in-class activity, I would recommend she recruit a technically oriented class assistant, in the same way I always have an assistant for the Scripting class. This person can go around the room helping attendees who fall behind or run into technical errors or other issues. In the Visual Aids section, she mentioned recording the class but I'm not sure if she's referring to a screen recording of her laptop and virtual servers OR a film type recording. The latter could get expensive.

------------------------------
Alnoor Cassim
------------------------------

I agree with Alnoor on his suggestion for an assistant.  I would think the recording would be of Carmen's audio and her laptop as she moves through her presentation so it could be distributed or accessed by the attendees afterwards.

I don't know if there would be time, but I still think it would be valuable to start with an initial Sage 100 Premium Install (not an upgrade, not a move) and cover the necessary steps for setting up/preparing the SQL server instance.  I believe there is a lot of overlap between a fresh install and a move/upgrade, but there also may not be enough time to cover the former.

Other than that, it looks like a really good class, and I suspect it will be well attended.

------------------------------
Brian Kelly
Accounting Systems, Inc. (ASI)
------------------------------

For the recording she mentions "Keep my face off the screens as much as possible" so I think she means video camera / film. The AV cost for a full day less lunch and breaks are likely to be cost prohibitive. For the issue of covering an install of Premium and all the related setup and considerations, that content cannot be added and covered in the current single day class schedule (in my opinion) BUT she could record that ahead of time and distribute it to the paid attendees as a homework assignment to view the video in addition to the prerequisite setup of their laptops.

------------------------------
Alnoor Cassim
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-13-2023 12:27
From: Brian Kelly
Subject: Pre-Session Sage 100 Premium Proposal - Carmen Cruz

I agree with Alnoor on his suggestion for an assistant.  I would think the recording would be of Carmen's audio and her laptop as she moves through her presentation so it could be distributed or accessed by the attendees afterwards.

I don't know if there would be time, but I still think it would be valuable to start with an initial Sage 100 Premium Install (not an upgrade, not a move) and cover the necessary steps for setting up/preparing the SQL server instance.  I believe there is a lot of overlap between a fresh install and a move/upgrade, but there also may not be enough time to cover the former.

Other than that, it looks like a really good class, and I suspect it will be well attended.

------------------------------
Brian Kelly
Accounting Systems, Inc. (ASI)
------------------------------

I like that idea, @Alnoor Cassim!

------------------------------
Brian Kelly
Accounting Systems, Inc. (ASI)
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-13-2023 12:42
From: Alnoor Cassim
Subject: Pre-Session Sage 100 Premium Proposal - Carmen Cruz

For the recording she mentions "Keep my face off the screens as much as possible" so I think she means video camera / film. The AV cost for a full day less lunch and breaks are likely to be cost prohibitive. For the issue of covering an install of Premium and all the related setup and considerations, that content cannot be added and covered in the current single day class schedule (in my opinion) BUT she could record that ahead of time and distribute it to the paid attendees as a homework assignment to view the video in addition to the prerequisite setup of their laptops.

------------------------------
Alnoor Cassim
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 11-13-2023 12:27
From: Brian Kelly
Subject: Pre-Session Sage 100 Premium Proposal - Carmen Cruz

I agree with Alnoor on his suggestion for an assistant.  I would think the recording would be of Carmen's audio and her laptop as she moves through her presentation so it could be distributed or accessed by the attendees afterwards.

I don't know if there would be time, but I still think it would be valuable to start with an initial Sage 100 Premium Install (not an upgrade, not a move) and cover the necessary steps for setting up/preparing the SQL server instance.  I believe there is a lot of overlap between a fresh install and a move/upgrade, but there also may not be enough time to cover the former.

Other than that, it looks like a really good class, and I suspect it will be well attended.

------------------------------
Brian Kelly
Accounting Systems, Inc. (ASI)

I really like this proposal as-is. The theme I've seen come across the 90 Minds community more than anything is the migration path from Standard/Advanced --> Premium. When I think of these sessions, I try to imagine Johnny Pabian and how he would react. Not "throw a hat at Sage react," but he's always been a very transparent person. If he doesn't see value in something, he says it.

If you put a session in front of him on how to install Sage 100 Premium vs. Sage 100 Standard/Advanced, I could see him saying, "I know how to install Sage 100..." But show him the step-by-step method of migrating to Sage 100 Premium? Gold. However, if she creates a guide or a video on "Essential Things to Know About a Sage 100 Premium Installation" - that would be a great supplement that addresses Brian's point of how you get it right from the start. 

I also agree about Carmen having a floater that can assist. That'll allow her to stay at her workstation more frequently to continue facilitating the session. The session recording of her screen and voice would be good; however, we'd need to ensure that we give her guidance on best practices of ensuring any questions asked during class also get capture. i.e., a consultant asks a question and Carmen repeats the question to the class and by extension gets captured in the recording.

------------------------------
Best Regards,

Basil Malik
Practice Director, CRM
e: bmalik@netatwork.com
------------------------------

I also agree on a 2nd person for the technical troubleshooting.  Anne, with the 2nd person is that person paid out of the presenters fee or is the person paid separately?  Alnoor, how was it handled for your scripting class? 

------------------------------
[Michele] [Herzog] [CPA,CITP, CGMA]
[Overland Park] [KS]
[816-520-1365]
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-14-2023 07:13
From: Basil Malik
Subject: Pre-Session Sage 100 Premium Proposal - Carmen Cruz

I really like this proposal as-is. The theme I've seen come across the 90 Minds community more than anything is the migration path from Standard/Advanced --> Premium. When I think of these sessions, I try to imagine Johnny Pabian and how he would react. Not "throw a hat at Sage react," but he's always been a very transparent person. If he doesn't see value in something, he says it.

If you put a session in front of him on how to install Sage 100 Premium vs. Sage 100 Standard/Advanced, I could see him saying, "I know how to install Sage 100..." But show him the step-by-step method of migrating to Sage 100 Premium? Gold. However, if she creates a guide or a video on "Essential Things to Know About a Sage 100 Premium Installation" - that would be a great supplement that addresses Brian's point of how you get it right from the start. 

I also agree about Carmen having a floater that can assist. That'll allow her to stay at her workstation more frequently to continue facilitating the session. The session recording of her screen and voice would be good; however, we'd need to ensure that we give her guidance on best practices of ensuring any questions asked during class also get capture. i.e., a consultant asks a question and Carmen repeats the question to the class and by extension gets captured in the recording.

------------------------------
Best Regards,

Basil Malik
Practice Director, CRM
e: bmalik@netatwork.com
------------------------------

Michelle – I've done the Scripting class about 10 times, 5 for MotM. How the assistant was comp'd or paid varied over the years. IOW you asked a loaded question but didn't know it :-)

The 90M Board has been very flexible over the years on the method, as it's primarily about cost and budget. Also, the assistant is usually a consultant of the same 90M member firm the trainer belongs to but not always.

These are the most common ways, the 1^st one being the most common:

1.       Regardless of which firm 2^nd person belongs to, no training fee paid out but board comps their hotel and conf fee. This is a big value and often the assistant is just thrilled to be there not doing normal drudgery, happy to check-in the prev day and hang out.

2.     If the 2^nd person belongs to the same firm, the 2^nd person's cost is included/reflected in the training fee. But sometimes proposal is instead, a combo of lower fee + board covering hotel and conf fee.

3.       If the 2^nd person belongs to a different firm, the Board pays that firm, or in some cases the 2^nd person directly, either an expense comp or their fee. This was done more so in the past.

------------------------------
Alnoor Cassim
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-15-2023 11:55
From: Michele Herzog
Subject: Pre-Session Sage 100 Premium Proposal - Carmen Cruz

I also agree on a 2nd person for the technical troubleshooting.  Anne, with the 2nd person is that person paid out of the presenters fee or is the person paid separately?  Alnoor, how was it handled for your scripting class? 

------------------------------
[Michele] [Herzog] [CPA,CITP, CGMA]
[Overland Park] [KS]
[816-520-1365]
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 11-14-2023 07:13
From: Basil Malik
Subject: Pre-Session Sage 100 Premium Proposal - Carmen Cruz

I really like this proposal as-is. The theme I've seen come across the 90 Minds community more than anything is the migration path from Standard/Advanced --> Premium. When I think of these sessions, I try to imagine Johnny Pabian and how he would react. Not "throw a hat at Sage react," but he's always been a very transparent person. If he doesn't see value in something, he says it.

If you put a session in front of him on how to install Sage 100 Premium vs. Sage 100 Standard/Advanced, I could see him saying, "I know how to install Sage 100..." But show him the step-by-step method of migrating to Sage 100 Premium? Gold. However, if she creates a guide or a video on "Essential Things to Know About a Sage 100 Premium Installation" - that would be a great supplement that addresses Brian's point of how you get it right from the start. 

I also agree about Carmen having a floater that can assist. That'll allow her to stay at her workstation more frequently to continue facilitating the session. The session recording of her screen and voice would be good; however, we'd need to ensure that we give her guidance on best practices of ensuring any questions asked during class also get capture. i.e., a consultant asks a question and Carmen repeats the question to the class and by extension gets captured in the recording.

------------------------------
Best Regards,

Basil Malik
Practice Director, CRM
e: bmalik@netatwork.com

On the whole I like the proposal, the suggestion of an assistant and believe it is a very important topic.  It appears comprehensive and could be a huge hit. My concerns are related to time and value...   

If we look at the process of the actual installation process and upgrade process for SQL and Sage, it likely takes 4 or more hours of duration for an experienced person without Windows Server and related patching and coaching on a typical computer (slower computers longer).  The more people performing the task in the room, the more questions, issues, problems and time.  If we are using virtual machines as part of the course, the Windows installation and SQL base installation are already completed.  The review of Windows and SQL installation and parameters can then take place in a much shorter time and the focus can be on the Sage 100 components, common problems and related resolutions.

I have run hands on training classes for SAP in the past where we provided virtual servers.  When the target audience "will be for anyone who wants to learn" you will likely have a wide variety of levels of knowledge within the class.  This typically brings the courses pace to the lower end of the knowledge spectrum.  Having the assistant to help those people is crucial to the satisfaction of those who are done before Carmen finishes her sentence.  Accordingly, the person needs to be competent with the content of the course.

With regard to the AV services.  I assume she wants two projectors so people can see multiple screens driven from her laptop.  Recording the session would also likely be most effective with a screen capture program if she wants her face excluded.  A camera recording and screen recording would need to be edited to make useful.  With an 8 hour course, this would require a lot of disk space on her computer and a ton of time to edit.  I do not think this is practical.  

------------------------------
Gary Feldman
Principal
I-Business Network
Marietta GA
16786270646
http://www-i-bn.net
------------------------------