How to Use Investigating Technology

How can an instructor track my progress?

A variety of tools and reports track your progress. Tracks your active time, time spent on probes and learning resources. Sees where you struggled and what areas you need to focus on to improve. Sees how many times you entered the system. Sees what resources you used and when you were in the system.

Using the library tab

Access the library at anytime. Gives you access to your digital book. Covers all of the module's concepts. Allows you to access the page of your digital book. Click on the library tab before starting the assignment for a more traditional learning experience.

LearnSmart

Adaptive learning solution. Intelligent learning system based on cognitive mapping. Diagnoses prior knowledge of a particular subject. Creates an individualized learning path. Delivers appropriate learning material in the form of questions at the right time.

Investigating Technology

All-digital learning solution. Constantly updated to give users the most relevant and up-to-date concepts and information. Gamified content creates engaging learning environment. Customized to match needs of each individual user. Multiple opportunities to use practice quizzes and customized learning activities.

Using LearnSmart tabs

Assignment: Access any current assignments. Recharge: Recharge your learning once you have completed a module. My Reports: View a variety of customized reports as well as the tree of knowledge and the Practice quiz feature. Library: Review any learning resources in a module. How to: Best practices for using this product.

Assignment and recharge tabs

Assignment: view any active assignment. Recharge: creates a customized learning lesson based on your performance in the module. Recharge your knowledge after you have finished a LearnSmart activity.

Student experience

Click the Assignment button. Displays a "Your Study Schedule" screen. Shows any active assignments - click on one to begin. Choose a learning mission. Answer a series of questions. Study the learning resources. Recharge your knowledge.

LearnSmart Master

Completion based assignments. Uses adaptive questions to identify areas to focus your learning. Provides slides, videos, and interactive activities on topics where you need reinforcement. Encourages you to review the material again using built-in features such as recharge and practice quizzes.

Benefits to using our all-digital textbook

Constantly updated. More interactive. Environmentally friendly - saves paper, printing, and shipping. Allows you to learn about technology while using technology. Less expensive than a new textbook.

Adaptive Learning

Digital Technology that creates learning situations to fit the individual learner. Personalized, high-impact study sessions, based on an individual timeline. Uses repetition and distributed practice to create learning. You only receive study materials for concepts you didn't know.

Solid State Electronics.

Fast, no moving parts

UH OH

If you miss a question on a particular concept more than twice the UH OH box appears. Alerts you to the need to review the Learning Resource associated with the probes you missed. Clicking OK brings to the Learning Resource. Thoroughly read the Learning Resource before returning to the assignment.

How will I learn if I don't read from a traditional textbook?

Instead of reading long paragraphs you'll find questions, answers, and bulletized text. You'll learn digital literacy concepts in an interactive and informative way. Repetition provides the key to learning - you'll see many questions.

Why do I have to select my levels of confidence?

LearnSmart assesses your knowledge gaps based on three factors: 1. Did you get the answer correct? 2. How long did it take you to answer? 3. What is your level of confidence? LearnSmart takes into consideration all three factors when creating your customized learning plan.

The Learning Process

LearnSmart creates customized learning for each student. Full adaptive method (most efficient): click the assignment tab and start answering questions. Traditional learning experience (if preferred): click the library tab and read each learning resource before starting the assignment and allows you to read the material before attempting the questions.

How do I learn from probes?

Make sure to read all of the text included in the probe. Pay attention to the image that is included with the probe. Read any feedback that is provided if you miss a probe. Take your time when working through the probes.

Interacting with learning resources

Many are interactive. Click on arrows to discover additional information. Click on images to enlarge them.

Microchips are on

Motherboard

How long will it take me to learn?

Prior knowledge determines how long it will take you to learn. Adaptive system creates a customized learning experience for each students. Learning occurs most efficiently in multiple, 20-minute sessions.

Tracking my progress

Progress bar on the home page. You can also see your progress at the bottom of the screen when answering questions. At any time you can look at the details of your progress by clicking the pie icon. Use reports to find detailed information on your progress and performance.

Probe

Questions that discover knowledge gaps. Enhance learning about concepts. Honestly answering "How sure are you?" is very important. Cognitive science research shows that people more effectively learn when they answer a question incorrectly - don't worry if you incorrectly answer a probe - you're learning!

Computer Memory

RAM, SS electronics, microchips, motherboard, memory types, volatile memory.

RAM

Random Access Memory. Main form of computer memory.

Maximizing your study time

Read and answer questions carefully. Don't cram - 20 minute sessions are optimal. After you miss questions you get the option to review Suggested resources. Click Slide to review the learning resource - this is like a page in a book. Click library to view all module learning resources.

Learning Resources

Replace the pages of a textbook. Slides, videos, label games, and other engaging activities. Extensive use of images to reinforce learning. Coach text provides a more comprehensive reading experience. To revisit a specific topic, just click on the library option.

Search and Filter

Search or filter all the module's information - makes finding specific concepts easy! Search: type in the term you are looking for in the textbook then click the magnifying glass icon. Filter: Filter various learning resources contained in a module by clicking the filter icon.

How is my learning organized?

Select a learning mission: All missions count toward completing your assignment. or pick "Complete the Assignment" and let the system guide you. If you want to focus on something different you can always change your mission.

Most laptops come with 4 and 16 GB of memory

Some will allow user to add more memory

LearnSmart study tips

System will ask a series of questions to assess your knowledge. Don't worry if you aren't sure of some answers - respond honestly! Take time to read and focus on the learning resources. Spend at least 20 minutes a day 5 times a week in LearnSmart. Use the Recharge and practice quiz features once you have completed the LearnSmart assignment. Sleep - good sleep is essential for memory creation.

Should I take notes?

The adaptive learning system works on repetition. The more times you see a question about a particular concepts, the more likely you are to remember it. LearnSmart works much like Rosetta Stone language learning software. Using the Recharge, library, Practice Quiz and My reports features are much more effective than note taking.

My reports

Topic scores: Areas of the module where you struggled. Missed questions: retry missed questions. Most challenging learning objectives: learning objectives that were hardest for you. Self-assessment: compares your confidence with your answers. Practice quiz: create customized quizzes - reduce your test anxiety. Tree of knowledge: shows how much you are learning.

Probe types

True or False. Multiple Choice. Multiple Answer. Fill in the Blank. Drop-down selections.

Does not store data when computer is shutdown

Volatile