Student. Student. Quick Start Guide. Academic Systems Algebra. Student Quick Start Guide 1 of 11

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1 Student Quick Start Guide Academic Systems Algebra Student Quick Start Guide 1 of 11

2 Table of Contents What is Academic Systems Algebra?...3 What materials should I have?...3 How do I self-enroll?...4 How do I get around?...5 Student Quick Start Guide 2 of 11

3 What is Academic Systems Algebra? Academic Systems Algebra is an online way to learn mathematics. It combines the best of traditional classroom methods with technological resources such as interactive lessons with integrated tools and electronic communications. You control your own learning experience. Mathematical concepts are explained in several ways, making it easy for you to follow along, regardless of your learning style. In addition, integrated pre-tests provide you with information about which concepts you already understand, so you can move more quickly through the material. Academic Systems Algebra is a tool to help you succeed in this course and set a sound foundation for the future. What Materials Should I Have? Academic Systems Algebra is an online course. You will still need to work problems before you can answer them on the computer, so you should have paper and pencil ready. Use your Personal Academic Notebook (PAN) in conjunction with the online lessons. The PAN is a cross between a textbook and a workbook and is an integral part of the course. The PAN includes: Summaries of all lesson concepts Worked and partially worked sample problems Homework problems assigned by the program based on your lesson progress Practice problems to provide additional practice beyond the homework Enrichment activities to examine concepts in greater detail or apply concepts to new situations A lesson practice test to help you prepare for the final lesson quiz; complete solutions to each problem included Cumulative review problems to provide practice in all the concepts covered so far and to help you prepare for midterms and finals Student Quick Start Guide 3 of 11

4 The PAN is available online as part of each lesson. You can view and print any of the lesson chapters in this file. The homework problems assigned in your online lesson are found at the end of each lesson chapter (Note: using the PDF files requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader). To access the PAN online, use the following steps: 1. From your lesson menu bar,click Tools. 2. From the Resources menu, select Personal Academic Notebook. 3. Open the document or Save it to your computer. How Do I Self-Enroll? Sample Sample Sample Your instructor will provide you with a generic self-enroll login. 1. Access the main URL. 2. Type the login information provided to you by your instructor. Type your personal information in the provided fields. PLATO Name is your unique user name. An address will allow your instructor to initiate messages to you from the program. Type your password. Click Next. Verify your information. Click OK. Student Quick Start Guide 4 of 11

5 How Do I Get Around? The following instructions outline the basic steps for accessing your Academic Systems Algebra course. Be sure to complete the Getting Started Lesson as it will provide you with an introduction and overview to all of the available features and tools. Obtain individual login or self-enroll login instructions from your instructor. 1. Open your Internet browser and go to: 2. Enter your Account Login, your PLATO Name, and your Password and click the Login button. This is your home page. View announcements. Read assignment reminders and due dates. Click the Assignments button to view the complete list of your assignments. Click Progress to view progress reports. On the top right, there is a link to context sensitive Help and Logout. Student Quick Start Guide 5 of 11

6 You can create messages, respond to discussions and initiate an to your instructor. A messages link identifies the number of new messages posted since your previous session. Select Messages or the New Messages hyperlink to view or create messages and initiate s. Using the fields, select your Course(s), Section(s), and Instructor(s). Enter a Message or . Click POST. Delete by checking the checkbox against the messages and clicking the REMOVE button. Select Discussions or the New Discussions hyperlink to view and respond to threaded discussions. A discussion link identifies the number of new threaded discussion responses posted since your previous session. Resources takes you to your onlineself-help material about the lesson features and tools and the Getting Started Lesson tutorial. This is your Assignments screen for each section. Choose your course and section from the drop-down menus. Click Show me to see a list of all assignments, status, and due dates for that course or section. Click Open button to view or begin working through a specific assignment. Student Quick Start Guide 6 of 11

7 This is the individual assignment screen. Use the A-B-C and boxes to navigate your learning path. 1. Click a letter box. Each box is a topic within your assignment.. 2. Click a number box. Each box is either a lesson or a concept, depending on how your learning path was created. 3. From the lesson activity list, click on hyperlink to launch the instruction. 4. Progress through the learning by clicking on the succeeding box. Note: A You are here bookmark will remind you where you left off when you start a new session. Your assignment may include a Course Level Assessment. Results may exempt you from working through lessons and concepts already mastered. 1. From Assignments, locate your learning path. 2. Click the hyperlink for Course Level Assessment to begin working. 3. Answer the questions. 4. Click Score Test to view your score or click Return to Test to keep working. 5. Once scored, click the back button to attempt unanswered questions. Student Quick Start Guide 7 of 11

8 Work through your learning path one lesson at a time. Work through the lesson modules in any order. Click Tools from the lesson menu bar to locate tools and resources. Always properly close the lesson using X (exit) icon at the lower-left corner. Access Help, Tools and Resources at the bottom menu bar. Helpline Link to Explain Take a Closer Look In a lesson: The Helpline button provides you with an informal explanation or hint. Clicking Link to Explain takes you directly to those pages in Explain that teach the concepts or procedures being used. When you re done brushing up, click Go Back to return to your place in Apply or Explore. The Take a Closer Look button provides you with more examples or an alternative explanation about a concept. Student Quick Start Guide 8 of 11

9 Online homework problems are automatically assigned to you through your results in coursework. To access Online Homework: 1. Select the Homework module. 2. Click the Online Homework button. 3. Select one of the lesson concepts and double click. Offline homework problems are automatically assigned to you through your results in coursework. To do offline homework, you need your Personal Academic Notebook. To access the PAN: 1. Click the Tools button. 2. Select Personal Academic Notebook. 3. Locate the lesson number for each concept. 4. Go to the Homework section. 5. Locate the concept name. Evaluate is the final quiz which shows what you ve learned in the lesson. Your score on the quiz is your score for the lesson. Click Score Quiz when you are finished with the quiz. On each question screen, you will earn a score between 0 and 1 point. On questions that have only one answer, your score will be either 0 or 1. On questions that have more than one answer, you will get partial credit for each correct answer. On checkbox-type questions, you will get partial credit for picking each right answer; you will also get partial credit for not picking an incorrect answer. Student Quick Start Guide 9 of 11

10 A unique validation code is required for use of the course. At the end of the Drop/Withdraw period, you are required to enter your validation code in order to continue working. To enter the code before being prompted, click Enter Validation Code found on your assignments page. A one-time validation is required per course. Check your assignment progress using Progress Reports. Click Progress. Select your Section and assignment from the search fields. Select a summary report (shown here) or a detailed report for any assignment. View, print or export the report. After you finish solving problems of a particular topic, you can either solve them over again or you can review what you have done. Click Start New Pass to solve problems from the start. Click Review Previous Pass to review your previous answers. Student Quick Start Guide 10 of 11

11 Click Logout in the upper-right corner to properly leave each session. Access self-help knowledge base and articles at algebra.asp. Call Technical Support at , Monday-Thursday 7:00 AM 10:00 PM CT, and Friday 7:00 AM 8:00 PM CT. technical questions to: csupport_request.asp Student Quick Start Guide 11 of 11