Teacher Guide Web-Based Instruction for At-Risk Students Math Reading Writing Vocabulary Getting Started Logging In...2 Student View......3 Create a Class......4 Enroll a Student...5 Map Students into Classes...6 Print Password Lists...7 Import Student Groups.....8 Reports Student Report........9 Classroom Report...10 Assignment Report...11 Special Functions Create Assignments..13 Print Tests (student worksheets)..14 Group Instruction...15 www.brainchild.com 800/811-2724
Getting Started Go to http://mechanics.brainchild.com Log in with your information. At the Teacher Menu you can: Enroll Students View Reports Use special functions. Mechanics is also available on tablets and Brainchildʼs Study Buddy device for extended learning. 2.
Student View Mechanics can be student-directed, or teachers can make assignments. Mechanics teaches skills that every student has to know. Concepts and skills are divided into 3 levels: Level 1: Grades 1 to 3 Level 2: Grades 3 to 5 Level 3: Grades 6 to 8 Operation is simple. Everything is point-and-click. 1. Choose the Level. 2. Select a Lesson from the Learning Plan. 3. Select Play Lesson. A one-minute multimedia lesson teaches the lessonʼs concept. 4. Select Study for 10 questions offering guided practice with immediate feedback. 5. Use the Test mode to measure progress. NOTE: The Pretest column shows the first test score. The Post Test shows the last test score. Building Confidence and Self Esteem Mechanics lets students learn at their own pace. This is especially helpful for students who perform below grade level. They can enter at a low level and work their way up to grade level. Questions are presented in English. The Español button turns any screen into Spanish. Mechanics in the Study mode offers questions that teach. Carefully-crafted feedback shows step-by-step guidance on how to solve the problems. This method has been proven over 20 years to build studentsʼ confidence and self esteem. 3.
Creating Classes Organize your students into groups, or classes. Your classes may have already been set up. Click on the Create Classes under Management to check. If your class is not set up: 1. Choose a Course and Period on the right. 2. Select Save. The new class will appear on the list on the left. Create Class NOW YOU ARE READY TO MAP STUDENTS INTO CLASSES. NOTE: Students can use the system immediately upon receiving their user names and passwords. Their scores will be saved. However, if a student is not mapped to a class, you will not see his or her scores in a Student Report or Classroom Report. 4.
Enrolling Students - One at a Time All users must have user names and passwords. Click on Enroll Students to add one person at a time. To enroll groups of students, see Import Students. Enroll Students TO ENROLL ONE STUDENT: 1. Under Create and Edit Users, fill in the student information. 2. BE SURE TO SELECT COURSES AT COURSES AVAILABLE. 3. Click on Save. 4. Click on Refresh List to find and view the newly-enrolled student. NOTE: To check that a student is not already enrolled, use Search. 1. Type the first and/or last name in the provided spaces and tap Search. 2. To clear the search box, click on New Record. TO EDIT ONE STUDENTʼS INFORMATION OR PASSWORD: 1. Find the student with Search. 2. Click on the yellow pencil icon under Options. 3. Under Create and Edit Users, change the information, then click on Save. Edit icon 5.
Mapping Students Students must be mapped to a class. Otherwise, they will not appear in progress reports. 1. Go to Management and select Map Students. 2. From the drop-down menu, select your Class. 3. Choose from the Available Students and click the > arrow next to the student names to move them to the Selected Students. 4. Click on Save. Map Students Remember, move from Available to Selected then click on Save! 6.
Passwords Once your users are enrolled you can distribute passwords. 1. Under Reports, select Student Password List. 2. From the drop-down menu, select Course. All student passwords in Math or in Language Arts are shown. 3. Click Course and Class to view students by classroom. 4. Click on the print icon to print. Click on the pdf icon to make a pdf. Click on the Word Doc icon to save as a Word doc. Student Password List 7.
Importing Groups of Students Groups of users can be imported to save time. Click on Import Students to import multiple Students. You must create a CSV file in Excel. TO IMPORT BATCHES OF STUDENTS: Import Students 1. Prepare an Excel file of students with columns in the proper order as shown below. Click on Download a CSV file Example File for a sample CSV file to use. 2.You may copy your studentʼs first names, last names, user names, and passwords, into this sample CSV file. Simply replace the names here with your students. Many schools use Student ID numbers for passwords. FIRST NAME Sample CSV File for Student Batches A B C D E F G MIDDLE NAME LAST NAME USER NAME PASSWORD COURSE 1 COURSE 2 Alice Baker Abaker demo Language Arts Math Andres Diaz Adiaz demo Language Arts Francis Crisp Fcrisp demo Math 3. Name and save the CSV file to your desktop. You can create multiple files to import in stages. 4. Click on Browse, find the CSV file on your desktop, then select it in the window. See if your CSV file has a title row at the top. If it does, check the box. 5. Select Preview to review the file for errors before importing. 6. If the preview window shows no errors, select the Import button. ONCE STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED, THEY CAN BE GROUPED INTO YOUR CLASSES. Note: It is not necessary to have Middle Names, but the column must remain. If you do not specify a User Name, Mechanics will insert a User Name. If two or more students have the same first name, a number will be added after the studentʼs user name. Example: Ryan1, Ryan2. A User Name can be a student ID number, first name last initial, or any letters/numbers. The Courses 1 and 2 must be assigned to Language Arts or Math. Students can begin using the system immediately. 8.
Student Report The Student Report shows the pretest, most recent post test scores, number of testing attempts, total instructional time, and the average score in the subject. If a student has attempted to master a standard three times and is making very little progress, it is time to consider one-on-one instruction. Student Report 1. Go to Reports and select Student Report. 2. Select the Class and the Student. 3. Select Show This Student Report button. 4. Show All Student Reports displays all of the individual reports. 5. Toggle Graph is a popular feature to show parents their studentsʼ progress in a visual way. THIS REPORT IS HELPFUL FOR PARENTIAL INVOLVEMENT. THE BAR GRAPH FEATURE WAS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO PARENTS. 9.
Classroom Report This report shows both class average for each concept, and the individual student scores. The Class Average row is helpful for prioritizing group instruction. At the same time you can identify individual studentsʼ needs. Classroom Report The key below the list of student names displays the lesson titles. 1. Go to Reports and select Classroom Report icon. 2. From the Class drop-down menu, select your Class. 10.
Assignment Report If you have chosen to make assignments, this is where you will see the scores. 1. Click on the Assignment Report icon. 2. Choose the assignment by the name you have given it. Assignment Report Save report as: The report can be saved or printed by clicking on the appropriate icon. 11.
Special Functions Special Functions give you other ways to use the system. Create Assignments lets you assign a 10-question quiz on one or more of the lessons in the program. Use this before or after you teach a certain concept to measure a classʼ understanding of the concept. Print Test lets you choose and print questions for student worksheets. Group Instruction is used to show a lesson to a class on a white board or projector. Support Center has videos, user guides, and an 800 help line for immediate service. An online refresher training can be arranged here. Assignments The screen below shows what a student sees upon login. The student can click on the assignment to take a 10-question quiz on the assigned lesson. Studentsʼ first screen. 12.
Create Assignments Assignments appear to students when they log in. They click on the assignment to take a 10-question quiz on the lesson you have assigned. The score will appear as a test score in the studentʼs Personal Learning Plan. Create Assignments 1. Select Create Assignments. 2. Choose the Class for the assignment. 3. Click in the Due Date box. A calendar appears. Choose a due date. 4. Select the Available Assignment. Click on the box next to the assignment name. 5. Choose the student(s) to complete the assignment. If you want the entire class to complete the assignment, choose Select All. 5. Click Save. Your assignments will be listed at the bottom of the screen. 13.
Print test Tests may be created and printed to use for student worksheets. Teachers can choose questions to print and how many. 1. Go to Reports and select Print Test. 2. Choose the Course, Subject and Lesson. 3. Enter a name for your test. 4. Scroll through questions. Use the >> arrow button to select questions. 5. Next to Action: click on the Print icon to see a preview and then print. The last page is an answer key. NOTE: Save as a Word doc by clicking on the icon next to Action. You can also edit the test to your preferences. Print Test Print button and Word Doc option. 14.
Group Instruction To see what students see, select Group Instruction in the Special Functions area. Teachers use Group Instruction with projectors or whiteboards in the classroom to engage students. A short animation is played to teach the concept. Questions have immediate feedback to explain the step-by-step solution to each problem. Group Instruction 1. Select Group Instruction. 2. Choose the course and level. 3. Select a Lesson from the Learning Plan.. 4. Select Play Lesson. A one-minute multimedia lesson teaches the lessonʼs concept. 5, Select Study to present questions for the class to answer. Share explanations on the topic from the Explain button. You will see excited students and the impact of your teaching as the class answers the last few questions correctly. 15.