Greetings and Welcome to Your New Eclasses

Greetings and Welcome to your new eClasses!

If you took classes online last year, you'll find that this year's program is much different. Please print out these instructions for later use, as there is a lot to tell you about.

This year, we are using a software program called A+Learning System (or just A+). The web-based version of this software is in a Beta version and so we will be working with the A+ producers to iron out kinks as we go. In order to access the software, you will need to have Java enabled on your browser. We advise that you use either Internet Explorer or Safari to access the web site. Firefox is not a supported browser at this time and we have found a couple glitches in it when we use it. Also, since this program is in Beta form, we can expect to uncover more little glitches, and so anytime you are encountering difficulty, please give me a call or send an email. Any system failure that causes you to lose time will be made up. We won't let you be penalized because of technological issues that are beyond your control.

Having said that, here are some of the things you will need to know:

LOGGING ON Our web site is at http://aplus.kcesc.org:8080 . Once you get to this site, you will have the option of checking your browser and making sure you have things configured correctly. Just click on the "Check Browser Settings" button and follow on-screen directions. If your browser test fails, please download the Browser settings instructions from my wiki at http://www.bonnybuffington.wikispaces.com. Click on the “KCeClasses” link. At the bottom of that page, you’ll find several instruction documents that you may download and use.

After you have checked your browser, we recommend that you click on the "Browser Playback" button. We believe that this format is a bit easier from the student side and we have had no problems logging on and using it. Make sure you are using Internet Explorer or Safari and let us know if you experience any trouble logging on.

NAVIGATION When you get into your account, you will be able to select which class you want to work on. Your current lesson will automatically appear. If you leave in the middle of a lesson, the software should take you back to the place you were when you signed off, and so you won't lose any of your work.

In the upper right side of your screen, you will see a "help" button that you may click at any time. From this screen, you may get help about the screen you are on or you may access the "Word" help to find definitions of common words from the lesson. Beside of "help" is an "exit" command. Hitting Exit will take you to your previous screen each time.

1 To advance from one screen to the next, click on the forward arrow button at the top right portion of your screen, near the HELP and EXIT commands. To go back a screen, just hit the back arrow in the same place - do not use your browser's back arrow. You will always advance the program by clicking on these navigation arrows in the A+ program.

DOING A LESSON Every lesson has a pretest. If you score 80% correct on the pretest, you won't have to complete that lesson, and the program will take you to the next lesson.

After the pretest, you will do a STUDY lesson. This is where you can learn the skill or knowledge for the lesson. Pay close attention and take notes if you need to so that you remember the information being presented. If you need help reading what is on the screen, please email me and I'll tell you how to download and use a free program that will read the lesson to you.

After you complete the study lesson, you will advance to the practice section. You must spend at least 5 minutes in the Study loop before the program will allow you to continue to the Practice lesson. This is where you will be given questions that cover what you just read. The program will give you immediate feedback for every answer you enter. You may return to the Study session at any time, if you need to refresh your memory. Some of the courses instruct you to enter a response and then click "enter." Follow the on- screen prompts so that you receive proper credit for your answers. Other courses will give you multiple choice answers. You will just click on the correct response and then hit the forward arrow button. If you miss a question during the practice mode, you will have another chance to enter the correct answer. Keep trying the practice questions until you are able to correctly respond to 80% of them.

Many lessons also have an Essay question that you will do. Your teacher will grade the essay and let you know whether or not you need to redo it. It's important that you learn to do a good job with the essay questions so that you will be prepared for the Ohio Achievement Tests and the Ohio Graduation Tests. The essay will count toward your final grade for the course. It will help speed your lesson grading if you email your teacher whenever you complete an essay to let him/her know that the essay has been completed for that lesson.

The last lesson mode you will attempt is the mastery test. This is the most important part of the lesson, because most of your grade will be based on the mastery tests (see GRADING below). During the mastery test, you will not receive feedback to see if your answer is right or wrong. At the end of the test, you will be able to see your score. You must score at least 75% in order to go on to the next lesson. If you do not score 75%, please contact your teacher for help or return to the practice lessons for more practice before trying the mastery test again. Twice during the year, you will take an exam that will cover all of the lessons up to that point that you should have completed.

Please make sure that you are doing your own work. Your final grade for the course will not be affected by what you do during the practice portion of the lessons. Your final

2 grade for the course will consist of the average of all of the mastery tests, the essay questions, and your midterm and final exam. It is very important that you always do your own work, because you will have to come to your school or else to the KCESC to take your midterm and your final exams in person. That way, we know it is really you who has completed the lessons. Each teacher grades a little differently, and so be sure you are communicating with each of them to see what your grade is.

LOGGING OUT One thing we have noticed is that if you close your browser without logging off of the A+ system, you will probably have difficulty logging back on. This is because your name remains logged on to the A+ server. Always log off back to the original A+ screen before closing your browser. Also, hitting your browser's back button can hang up the program and cause difficulty for you if you try to proceed. If you are having trouble logging on and you think it might be because you did not log off properly, you may call me and I can log you off of the server from my computer. Otherwise, just waiting a couple hours should fix the problem, because the server will log you off for inactivity after a certain time lapse.

CHECKING PROGRESS When you log in to your account, you may also select the "Progress" button. This will give you your scores on each of the lessons that you have completed, but remember, your grade in the course won't be the same as the total score in your progress check because your practice scores do not count against you. Only your mastery tests, mid term, final exam, and essays are counted toward a final grade.

EARNING CREDIT In order to earn credit for your courses, you must complete at least 120 hours of active learning and/or master the core course requirements for a full-year course. Each teacher will let you know exactly what this means for each class in which you are enrolled.

MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAMS You must take your midterm exam (for full year courses) or your final exam (for 1/2 credit courses) by February 1. We have added a couple weeks to our original deadline because it has taken so long to get the classes up and running, and we want you to have plenty of time. Your teacher will advise you of what lesson you should complete before exam time. You are responsible for calling your school guidance counselor or the KCESC office (393-6767) to schedule a time when you can come in and take your exam. Exams must be taken during regular business hours (8AM - 3PM). You will use a computer at your testing location and take your exam online. It's very important that you have done all of your own work so that you will be prepared for your exam. Final exams and ALL coursework MUST be completed by June 1.

COMMUNICATIONS Your teachers will each be contacting you via your regular email address that you provided when you registered for class within the first week of class. If you have

3 technical issues, you will email me ([email protected] or [email protected]) or call me at 740-393-6767 (office). If I am not available, leave a voice mail and I'll get back with you as soon as I can address your problem.

ELLUMINATE Sometimes, you may need direct assistance from a teacher in order to progress through your lessons. If you need help with a class, please email your teacher. Your teacher may call you or he/she may contact you using a software program called Elluminate. Each of your teachers has what is called a vRoom (virtual room) which you may go to by following an email link that Elluminate will send to you from your teacher. Bookmark the vRoom of each of your teachers when he/she sends it to you. Anytime you need direct assistance, your teacher can meet you in the vRoom where there is a microphone for voice communication, a text box for instant messenger communication, and a whiteboard that your teacher and you an write on to make concepts clear to you. If your computer has speakers and a microphone, then you will be able to speak to your teacher and hear him/her online. In order to access vRoom, just click on the link that Elluminate sends you and follow on-screen instructions. Elluminate also runs on a Java platform, and so you must have Java enabled on your browser.

ASSISTANCE For assistance with your course work, you will email your teachers. They will each be checking on your progress regularly. If you need any help with accessing the web site or using the A+ or Elluminate software, please call me. I will be happy to set up a time for you to come to my office for face-to-face training.

Thanks so much for patience as we embark on this new adventure together! Best wishes for a super school year! Bonny Buffington Consultant Knox County ESC 393-6767