Product Development

  Savvy Knowledge Systems Corp. is dedicated to improving quality of life through the development and marketing of sport and fitness, health and education technology-based learning systems. In collaboration with The University of Calgary, the Alberta Children's Hospital and industry leaders, Savvy has developed high-caliber programs to build a powerful library of world-class products. Savvy's content standards, enhanced by advanced multimedia architecture, rich with animation, graphics and video, have resulted in wide recognition, awards and endorsements.

  Savvy's development model is to select promising new subjects, find the best resources to develop and commercialize them and make them accessible to those who need Savvy knowledge in the fields of sport, fitness, health and education.

Savvy Products

  The Fitness and Sports series was produced with the assistance and expertise of the Sport Technology Research Centre at the University of Calgary, in collaboration with respected researchers in the fields of kinesiology, coaching, training and sport medicine. Savvy created Stretching & Flexibility and Savvy Stretch Coach. The Coach is designed for fitness centers, coaches, rehabilitation specialists, physiotherapists, chiropractors and massage therapists. Stretching & Flexibility presents stretching routines for individuals in a user friendly consumer format to include in daily activities and sports.

  The products have received numerous endorsements, including that of the American Council on Exercise, the world's largest personal trainer certification organization; Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc., recognized provider of quality physical education resources materials; and from the top two training organizations in Canada: Can-Fit Pro and the Coaching Association of Canada.

  Interactive Volleyball is a program encompassing 15 years of development through the joint efforts of the Sport Technology Research Centre at the University of Calgary and Savvy Knowledge Systems Corp. The program was created in response to a true void of planning tools for coaches and trainers. Brad Kilb, the former Canadian National Volleyball Team Coach, has taken his 30 years of international coaching expertise and led a team of coaches and professionals to develop what coaches and teachers are calling 'the most useful planning tool on the planet'. The result is a database of hundreds of drills that can be easily transferred into exciting practices or lesson plans.

  Savvy has made great strides in accessing world-class medical expertise. Savvy has co-developed titles on childhood diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and asthma, which are well received by health care professionals and caregivers as a valuable resource to patients and their families. These educational titles have received recommendations from organizations such as Candlelighters, Childhood Cancer Foundation Canada, the Cancer Information Service of the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Type 1 Diabetes in Children: A Passport to Knowledge, was published in partnership with the Canadian Diabetes Association. Lifescan, a Johnson & Johnson company, distributed Type 1 Diabetes to parents and diabetes education centres across Canada. Although developed primarily as a parent/family education tool, the program has also been recommended as both a professional orientation tool and a reference for pharmacists, teachers, coaches and child care providers who may have occasion to deal with Type 1 diabetes. A special section has been designed for schoolteachers on how to handle day-to-day concerns and diabetic emergencies.  

  The most recent product in the health series, Childhood Asthma: A Passport to Knowledge, was developed in collaboration with the Alberta Children's Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary. This CD-ROM was produced in response to the large number of children affected by this disease: one in every five children throughout North America is affected by asthma, and the numbers are increasing each year. Childhood Asthma provides a guided tour through the world of asthma management and intends to answer the many questions asked by parents during consultations with asthma educators. Childhood Asthma provides a working knowledge to parents, teachers, caregivers and health care professionals who are currently using this valuable tool.

  In collaboration with Shaw Communications Inc., Savvy successfully launched Improving Classroom Behavior, a product developed by Alberta Learning behavior specialist, Kevin Murphy, and Savvy's Director of Research and Development, Dr. Larry Katz, Educational Psychologist. The product has been approved and supported by Alberta Learning and Safe and Caring Schools. Alberta Learning has spearheaded several initiatives to foster continued development of knowledge and social skills, including the Safe and Caring Schools Initiative, which brings together education, government and community partners.

  Savvy formed a strategic alliance with Shaw Communications and now every elementary school in Alberta benefits from Improving Classroom Behavior. Shaw, one of Canada's foremost entertainment and communications providers, funded distribution of the product throughout Alberta. Shaw has developed a myriad of educational initiatives and sponsored Improving Classroom Behavior as a valuable external complement to its commitment to education.

  With the help of our distributors and broad media coverage, requests from schools throughout North America echoed the urgent need for this first-of-its-kind, completely interactive, professional development program for individual students, classrooms and entire schools.

  Phi Delta Kappa, an internationally recognized association for professional educators, issued an official statement of endorsement and recommended Improving Classroom Behavior for professional development. Phi Delta Kappa features the product in its catalogue which reaches an international audience of educators and alumni.

Testimonials

The following excerpts present a sample of comments made by well-respected specialists about Savvy products.

"I am most impressed, as are our Personal Trainers, with the thoroughness and depth of knowledge on your CD-ROM. . . I feel every A.T.C., Coach, Personal Trainer and Sports Massage Therapist should have the disk in their personal library. In addition, it is an absolute must in college and university libraries. . . I wholeheartedly endorse your very important project".
- M.K. Hungerford, Ph.D., P.T., Chancellor American Institute of Massage Therapy, Inc.

"Finally, a program which stresses what I feel is the forgotten fitness component, stretching. . . As a workshop presenter, the Savvy Stretch Coach has greatly added to my client training sessions, staff training events and member workshops. . . The possibilities for utilization of this program are endless and the ability to sell the consumer version to our clients presents an incredible opportunity for our pro shops and trainers. . I am excited to start spreading the word."
- Priscilla Bengtson, Senior Director of Health and Fitness Northern Middlesex County YMCA

"The Fundamental stretches in this CD-ROM provide the single most important post-therapeutic advice a patient, client or athlete can receive."
- Frank Sanborn, Registered Massage Therapist

"Planning became so simple! It enabled me to plan a lesson that catered to the individual needs of all my students, regardless of their ability."
- Jack Cohen, High School and Club Coach/Teacher

"Understanding Childhood Cancer will greatly assist families to obtain the type of information they need regarding cancer and its treatment very early in their journey with cancer. This information which comes from both professionals and parents on the CD will provide immeasurable support."
- Eleanor G. Pask, R.N., MSc.N., EdD., former Executive Director of Candlelighters Canada

"Every Children's Cancer Service should have a copy of the CD-ROM Understanding Childhood Cancer by Savvy Knowledge Systems. . . There is no longer a valid reason for families of children with cancer to have unanswered questions about the basic nature of childhood cancer, how it can be diagnosed and treated, or its overwhelming psychosocial complexities. . . a marvelously helpful CD-ROM. . . At their own pace and at any time, family members may reinforce information shared with them by their local professional staff at times of great stress, at diagnosis and during treatment. . . It is mandatory reinforcement of your staff's communication with families. . . It's the best I've seen..."
- Arthur Ablin, MD, Director Emeritus, Children's Cancer Program, University of California San Francisco

"Our support of this project, enabling distribution to all schools in Alberta, will help put tools in the hands of teachers and students that helps them develop tolerance and respect for one another."
- Jim Shaw, CEO, Shaw Communications

"We all play a role in ensuring our schools are safe and caring. Our goal is to help teachers, students and parents develop the knowledge, skills and support they need to ensure there is a safe and caring environment in place."
- Dr. Lyle Oberg, Alberta's Minister of Learning

"Student achievement is our single most important priority. The resource Improving Classroom Behavior heightens our ability to create learning environments which support Edmonton Public School's focus on student achievement."
- Emery Dosdall, Superintendent, Edmonton Public Schools