TTE-Visual: Customer Service

Address click here Tel: +31(0)24 3553-777 fax: -180 E-mail us: tte@ttevisual.com	E-mail a friend	Your feed back & questions

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

A:	about the USE of TTE-Visuals


1	Is this additional material or does it cover the entire course?
2	Why invest in transparencies in this computer age?
3	Why use your transparencies if I can make my own?
4	My students work independently. Why use these OHP-visuals?
5	Do you provide teachers’ manuals, student worksheets or books?
6	Who are uses your transparencies?
7	What about the quality - do they scratch, does the ink fade?

C:	about PURCHASING TTE-Visuals


1	Can we buy separate transparencies?
2	Do we obtain a discount if we buy several series at once?
3	Can we buy TTE-Visuals from local shops or suppliers?
4	How do I place an order?
5	Can someone from ‘TTE-Visual’ make a demonstration visit?
6	In which language versions are TTE-Visuals available?

B:	about UPDATES & NEW products


1	Is there a system of updates and how do we get them?
2	When are these visuals available on CD-ROM?
3	TTE-Visual CD-ROMS: are these for teacher instruction only or are student activities included?
4	Is there any difference between using CDs and transparencies?
5	When is the additional DK Physical Geography expected?
6	When is the new History series fully available?

D:	about DELIVERY & PAYMENT


1	How do we pay?
2	Is prepayment expected?
3	Can we make payments by instalments?
4	Can we get sets on approval with right of return? Our favourable terms and conditions
5	How long does delivery take?
6	What happens if my order does not arrive?

Below: Answering questions in our showroom


Frequently Asked Questions About the USE of TTE-Visuals A1 Is this additional material or does it cover the entire course? TTE-Visuals series are put together to cover the most important subjects in the curriculum. TTE-Visual encyclopedias allow the teacher to give professional big screen presentations on most key issues within any textbook. Accordingly, these visuals are not meant to be used as an extra, but as an integral part of regular classes. A2 Why invest in transparencies in this computer age? The visual system is the information highway into the brain. The effect of a small computer screen is totally different from that of a large screen. A big screen projection catches the attention and provides the teacher with a central point for (brief) class instructions, which nowadays is more imperative than ever. Our transparencies are designed to do just that, and to serve as memory anchors when students work individually, e.g. on-line. In the high-tech country of Taiwan, where computerisation of education is a top priority, a law was passed in 2001 to install an overhead projector in each classroom. In 2002, the same happened in Malaysia in the ‘smart schools’ where computers were also installed in each class room, a special law made the OH Projector obligatory in order to restore the teacher’s central role in the learning process. Along with the OH Projectors, interactive whiteboards have also been introduced on a large scale in Malaysia. With warm and well-deserved compliments to all of today’s high-tech possibilities, all teachers know that easy does it! With the relevant series of transparencies at hand you just open the ring binder and simply put on the selected visual to teach that day. No preparation needed and with TTE-Visuals, no searching for the best image either. For teachers to instruct their classes, we have carefully selected the best images from the internet, National Geographic, Dorling Kindersley and so on - teachers know how much time this saves them. With our transparencies you have the images physically at hand. At any given moment they are ready to be projected in an instant on the large screen since you just click on the projector - for instruction or classroom discussion. (See ‘The making of TTE-Visuals’) A3 Why use your transparencies if I can make my own? As much as time is money and leisure time is scarce, the argument of quality should be considered. Have a look at “The making of TTE-Visuals”: each of the		TTE-Visuals are discussed and evaluated by professionals and not just for hours; days are invested to create the designs that deliver the message when projected on the large screen. TTE prides itself on having perfected this specialisation. A4 My students work independently. Why use these OHP visuals? With large screen presentations you immediately capture the attention of students working in groups or individually. You give them powerful instructions on how to proceed with visual clues, which serve as memory anchors. These visuals optimize your role as guide and mentor in the most effective way. See: ‘Research and practice: the large screen, 4a and 4b’) A5 Do you provide teachers’ manuals, student work-sheets or books? Our transparencies are composed, not as extra activities, but as support to the daily work of teachers with top-quality large screen presentations. Teachers have these readily available at their finger tips, next to the text book from which they are working. Experience tells us that teachers relying on our visual data banks rarely use the long manuals provided. Therefore, we now provide short statements to be projected ON SCREEN on our new transparencies for Geography, History and Physics. They help the teacher to bring the visuals alive - if the teacher chooses to use them. So: no preparation needed - just present the transparency! Teacher prompt questions are provided to guide the thinking process during the presentation to optimize their use. (See ‘The set up of a TTE-transparency’) A6 Who is using TTE transparencies? Thousands of schools and institutions in and outside Europe have already purchased our transparencies, from Eton College in England and Princeton University in the USA; to many rural and city schools from Scandinavia to southern Africa (See ‘Truly international from the start’). A7 What about the quality ? do they scratch, does the ink lose colour? Printed on environmentally friendly polyester (no PVC) our crystal clear transparencies cannot be torn apart, whether they are 70 ml or 150 ml thick. The durable ink with non-fading colours is covered with an extra scratch preventing layer. The transparencies are printed from the underside, which allows users to write on them.

Team spirit for independent thinking. Research has shown that the sense of belonging to a group is a condition for learning. Modern education is striving to develop students' independent thinking faculties. Both are promoted
through a systematic collective searching for coherence in a large image, discovering relationships
between details and drawing conclusions

More than a modern supplement to independent learning Recent brain research reveals many clues for a better understanding of why the overhead projector is so effective in teaching. Why does a large screen presentation
motivate the class so strongly. Why does it provide a better understanding and such strong visual reminders?
If these questions interest you: on this site under Research and Practice, visual learning is put in
a wider perspective. You might apply new insights in your teaching, as reaching and altering the
long-term memory, can now be understood systematically.


Frequently Asked Questions About UPDATES & NEW products B1 Is there a system of updates and how do we get these? The ringbinder system with loose pages is ideal to update when necessary and the numbering of the transparencies has been designed accordingly (file - paragraph - sequence number). In 1998, for example we finished the Geography Encyclopedia, and now in 2003 we have a full update of 80 revised transparencies mainly on economic and demographic trends already available. All users are mailed with an attractive offer which is also announced on the web. Wherever possible, we select content for our transparencies which is timeless so that the subjects chosen will last the long term and have relevance in any curriculum. When important new scientific data comes available for e.g. Physics or History - we will not hesitate to make an update, as we take pride in maintaining the highest standards. B2 When are these visuals available on CD-ROM? Our first CD-ROM ‘Visual Europe’ was launched in 2002, when only a small selection of schools began to integrate “large screen presentations” via the digital projector in a systematic way in their lessons. With the use of the interactive whiteboard this new technology now comes fully alive. Here, as many say, our expertise on large screen presentations for the classroom clearly pays off - didactically, technically and in stunning displays. (We are able to formulate didactic principles to use the interactive whiteboard. Our expertise with simple visual clues results in the most effective way of navigating through masses of images as well as in creating high quality presentations). Firstly, we will make our entire Geography series available digitally, and then Physics. B3 TTE-Visual CD-ROMS: are these for teacher instruction or are student activities included? As the interactive whiteboard still has to find its way into most classrooms, we are really amazed about the extra potential of our CD-ROM. Students can access it via the		school network! These visual data bases can be explored by students on the computer because of the clear set up of the visuals and the support meant for the teacher. The accompanying worksheets can be projected on screen or directly accessed by students. This is also very effective for teachers using our transparencies as the CD on the school network provides a direct link from the teacher’s instructions on the large screen to online learning. B4 Is there any difference between use of CD and transparencies? Practice proves that the digital projector does not replace the overhead projector. In the UK, Europe’s most advanced country in ITC, classrooms equipped with a digital projector also contain an OH-projector. In Malaysia since 2002, the digital and OH-projector are becoming installed together in classrooms already equipped with computers. Both are to be considered as different teaching tools to be used at different moments and are always available in an ITC-room. In any multi-stimuli learning environment, the overhead projector gives the most direct and simplest control over the class. For more see: True for years to come. B5 When is the new History series fully available? We expect to finalize this encyclopedia within two years. The production schedule is found on the History page. If you order now, introductory prices and discounts apply. Modules coming from the press will be sent one after the other and if not pre-paid, each will have a separate invoice. If you have no funds available at that moment, please fax this invoice to us with a date that fits your funding. We will adjust our bookeeping to accommodate you. If the product disappoints you, it can be returned without you losing rights for the full discount for later deliveries. B6 When is the additional DK Physical Geography expected? Autumn 2004. Until then, we are happy to send you the existing series ‘Living Earth 1’ and ‘Climates 1’. These can be returned later when you receive the new complementary files or kept at a special discount.

The 2003 Big Update of our Encyclopedia Visual Geography presents new content.
Our new CD-ROM anticipates technical innovations such as the interactive whiteboard.


Frequently Asked Questions About PURCHASING TTE-Visuals C1 Can we buy separate transparencies? Small modules of 32 or 40 sheets are available or individual TTE-files which cover one subject only. We do not sell separate transparencies for good reasons: TTE series are made to cover the most important subjects in the curriculum, so if we select individual transparencies, we would be left with incomplete series. Because we make available such large series we are able to provide transparencies at 1/3 or less than what they would normally cost (if you break the price down per transparency). It has been proven that customers appreciate this concept: 80% of our turnover comes from selling complete encyclopedias. Some orders separate files or smaller modules, but are often expanded later to obtain the complete coverage. Our flexible payment terms are designed to allow complete coverage from the start. C2 Do we obtain a discount if we buy several series at once? When a series is purchased complete, an attractive discount is gained compared to buying the modules one by one. If the school is buying extra series, attractive “Complete Packs” discounts apply. (See ‘School Packs A and B’) C3 Can we buy TTE-Visuals from local shops or suppliers? If school regulations do not allow purchase from abroad, you can order via your local bookshop: we will invoice it with some discount. The service and delivery can be via the bookshop or for schools within the EU, we can send the goods directly to the school. Most schools in Western Europe are served directly from The Netherlands. We do so via mail orders and maintain a network of bank accounts to receive payment in local currency. We also deliver to countries where we do not have a (sole) representative or where our series are published in the local language. You can place your order with us and we will automatically put your order in the hands of our representative in your country.		C4 How do I place an order? Via the order form on this website, via telephone, fax or e-mail, or via the normal mail. For more details click here. C5 Can someone from ‘TTE-Visual’ come for a demonstration? We basically work as a mailing house serving clients worldwide. Even in the Netherlands, schools are beyond our reach. Therefore we are very flexible for schools to evaluate sets on sight. We always send one series at the time to be tried in the school for a month. We like to show you our product in this way and we assume the risk of damage. An invoice will be enclosed and can be paid upon acceptance - but it can also be returned with the goods. In the case of return, a small note written on the enclosed invoice is enough to remove your order from our book keeping. C6 In which language versions are TTE-Visuals available? Visual Geography, Physics and the new History series are available in English, German and Dutch. (If you don’t live in the Anglo-Saxon world, versions in your own language might be available - if so, and you place an order with us, we automatically forward you to our local representative). Visual Biology and Visual Chemistry are published in English only. We have already made these available to thousands of schools in non-English speaking countries - with excellent results. We live in an English-speaking world and “image-language is the ONLY international language”. The English titles - are only a few words, give students the feeling that they are being taken seriously and produce a ‘rebus-effect’, which raises students' curiosity when not understood. These visuals are excellent support material for bi-lingual education, as they illustrate for students the meaning of the words. You can try them - if you are unhappy with your experiences after working with these visuals in your classroom - you are welcome to return the series within two months - money-back guaranteed!

Photo right: Stock as received from the printers. *Photo left: Sets in our delivery department, ready for shipment.* In our delivery department we keep the English series fully assembled ready for shipment on the left side wall. The opposite wall on the right is doubled and is covered with the German and Dutch versions. - as assembled by our team of 30 home workers.


Frequently Asked Questions About DELIVERY and PAYMENT D1 Making payments is easy If delivered to schools in countries as listed, payment is expected within one month after receipt of goods - if not otherwise agreed upon. We guarantee that if you are not completely satisfied you may return the goods within one month. D2 Prepayment is expected in countries where no TTE account is available or if delivery is not to the school, but to a private address. Pre-payment will be as invoiced (faxed or sent upon request) made via banker’s draft or transfer to the TTE-Netherlands account. Prices are given in Euro (E) UK £, US $, Swiss Francs and Norwegian, Swedish or Danish kroner. Prices are excluding postage. Within the EU, VAT will be added according to EU regulations at the Dutch rate of 6%. Prices are subject to change without notice. D3 Flexible terms: payment by instalments. Payment terms are available for up to three years and can be mutually agreed upon according to your proposal! This is possible for sets valued over £ 150 or Euro 250 - or their equivalent in another currency. The first invoice is to be settled within 30 days after delivery, the remaining part(s) is (are) to be paid within the next due date(s) as agreed upon. D4 Sets on approval - right of return SALE OR RETURN is possible with prior consent. If an order is not returned to us within 60 days, it is considered accepted; and the enclosed invoice should be settled immediately. If you would like to use our flexible payment terms, you can fax us, within sixty days, the original invoice together with your proposal how you wish to make total payment (max. within 3 years). If accepted, you will then receive an adjusted invoice to be settled accordingly. A return shipment should include the original invoice with a short statement of the reason for return (so that our book keeper can delete your invoice). Click here for our full favourable terms and conditions. D6 Your order did not arrive (yet)? Parcels rarely get lost, although thousands are sent out all over the world. Experience tells us that in 80% of cases, a parcel is lost in the school building where we sent it. So it might be helpful to check at your secretary’s office and other places at your end before contacting us. In the case your order didn’t yet arrive , it is most efficient to e-mail or fax us. Please indicate what and when was ordered as well as your city name and country. If available, add the invoice number. We will respond within three days.		Payment is easy TTE bank accounts are available in many countries and you can pay in your local currency. No need for international transfer. Nederland Rabobank NL Acc. 11.16.08.139 (Swift: RABONL2U) IBAN NL28RABO0111608139 België Rabobank Zetel Antwerpen B Acc.: 172-13.06.370-48 UK Barclays B. 68 Knightsbridge London UK Sort Code 20-47-35 Acc.: 36 888.028 Eire National Bank of Ireland Dublin-2 Eire Here direct payment is preferred via transfer to our Nederland account - or send us a cheque. Norway Den Norske Bank - Oslo N Acc.: 7058.07.12094 Sweden S-E Banken - Stockholm S Acc.: 52771013851 Denmark ABN-AMRO Bank - Copenhagen DK Here direct payment via transfer to our Nederland account is preferred - or send us a cheque. Deutschland Deutsche Bank - Gronau D Konto 36.80.881 (BLZ 403.700.24) Luxembourg Customers pay to our German account. Schweiz ABN-AMRO Bank - Zürich - CH Konto N 20.17.76 A IBAN CH9408707000OM201776A Österreich ABN-AMRO Bank - Vienna A 000.02.12.82.005 IBAN AT921998500021282005 D5 How long does delivery take? Your order normally goes out within two days and we deliver via Royal Mail (if not requested otherwise) to be delivered as standard post. In most cases, the invoice is used as the address carrier. Each parcel is registered and the shipping documents are filed in case something goes wrong. When we have to put out a tracer, it will take about a month before we get feedback from the Royal Mail. Mostly by then, the parcel has surfaced: either in the school building or having been delayed somewhere in the post. But if at the end, a shipment cannot be traced, we will send it again.