Release of Prime For Life Version 9
The Release of Prime For Life® Version 9.0
by
Melanie Snyder, Assistant Director Training
The year 2015 marked an important milestone at PRI with the release of Prime For Life® Version 9. Since PRI began in 1983 and the first version of Prime For Life was released, the program has gone through many changes and revisions. With the release of Version 9 and the brand new computer application, we have come a long way from overhead projectors and carousels - anyone remember those?
Why do we revise the program? There are a number of reasons. We look at research and sometimes new research may change the content in the program; we may remove portions or add to what is already there. We gain a lot of feedback from instructors who deliver the program and we seek feedback from participants in both formal data-driven analysis and via informal focus group settings. For Version 9, we focused on what was working well and what wasn’t for instructors and their participants. Instructors traditionally send in samples of their Prime For Life delivery for feedback and coaching from trainers and, by observing those samples, we are able to see what is going well and/or what could use some polishing. Our training staff also regularly teaches end-user groups to experience how Prime For Life is impacting participants all over the country. We are continuously gathering feedback and it becomes an important part of the revision and development process.
We have been talking about the release of Version 9 for years now and you may be wondering “What takes so long?” After we gathered information about new research and feedback, we formulated a strategy and timeline. We actually began working on Version 9 before Version 8 was released! Revisions are a continual process. We kicked off our formal strategic plan and timeline for Version 9 in April of 2011. The program was revised and edited and sent into the field for pilot testing. The findings were reviewed and modified as necessary and it went back out into the field again. We conducted several rounds of this testing with the help of trainers and instructors all over the country. Our media team and animators created all new images, videos, and animations. Once the program was near completion, we conducted one more pilot test before sending it on for final production. A company outside of Atlanta, GA printed all of our materials and boxed everything up to be distributed to instructors. This whole process took a few years to complete and we appreciate your patience while we made Version 9 the best it could be.
The final materials were released and shipped to instructors May 1-June 1, 2015. Everyone who requested materials should have them by now. If you still do not have complete V9 materials (an Instructor Manual, Instructor Workbook, set of three program DVD’s, and a link to download the new computer application), please call PRI at 800-922-9489. If you need a set of Version 9 posters, please let us know and we will ship them out to you free of charge.
All instructors should be transitioned to Version 9 by June 30, 2016. We will discontinue supporting Version 8 on close of business June 30, 2016.
As you get started with Version 9, please let us know how we can help. We want to hear what’s working well for you and your participants and whether there are any bumpy spots we can help you troubleshoot. Please contact Michelle Stephen for a customized one-on-one support webinar or to share Version 9 feedback.
Prime For Life Version 9 was made possible by our network of instructors. Your experience, feedback, and ongoing support helped make Version 9 the best it could be. We hope you are enjoying Version 9!