Your Fall ALEKS K-12 eNewsletter is below.
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ALEKS Launches Website: New Look and Features!
We are pleased to announce the release of our new website! Explore our new features, including online training centers, user resources, and extended course product offerings. Please enjoy and share with us any of your comments or suggestions regarding the website. (Please note: our Privacy Statement has been updated.)
Upgraded K-12 Products Featuring ALEKS AI-2
We are pleased to announce the release of our latest product offerings for K-12 Education with our next generation intelligence engine, ALEKS AI-2. These enhanced products feature numerous upgrades, including a dramatically improved ALEKS A.I. engine; over 100 new problem types; more focused and accurate assessments; a new Class Worksheet feature; and more comprehensive curriculum coverage. The new products with ALEKS AI-2 are online and ready for use by new users at the regular price or by current users who can upgrade at no additional charge.
New Class Worksheet Feature
This feature allows teachers to create worksheets for every student in the class with a click of a button. These worksheets are completely individualized for each student in the class.
Live and Pre-Recorded Training Tutorials Now Available!
Learn more about ALEKS features and how to maximize your use via the online Training Center. Live and pre-recorded trainings are conveniently available for your viewing and training.
Top Customer Questions
Beachwood Middle School
Beachwood, OH
Scenario: Students complete a minimum of 3 hours using ALEKS at home and at school
Grades: 7-8
Barbara Urbanski, Teacher
"This is my 3rd year using the program. I am totally sold on the program. It is quite amazing how accurate the results are with regard to student testing and how they progress through the year. Another direct correlation I find is those students who complete a minimum of 3 hours per week are those who are succeeding in class."
How did you structure your class periods with ALEKS?
I would have what we call an "ALEKS Day" so the students would ask questions and I would work with students on an individual basis. Great for differentiated learning—some students were adding fractions while others were simplifying radicals. If a student understood the classroom concept, they could work on the program at home.
How did you structure your classes to encourage 3 hours of ALEKS use per week?
Three hours of homework was required every week whether we did ALEKS during class or not. There is a direct correlation between those completing their homework (the right way) and good grades. I would give them their hours on Monday and kept a running total from week to week. I made sure to monitor their progress from home. The students really liked that I could "see them working" at night. I would encourage them by emailing them when I saw they were working. They knew I was watching them!
How did ALEKS fit into your grading system?
Students could earn 50 points per week. I have told students that if they complete their ALEKS
homework, they will not earn anything lower than a C-minus. With this in mind, the process works hand-in-hand. The students earn 50 points per week (so approximately 450 points per grading period). This grading period, so far, breaks down as follows:
Total Points Possible: 795
ALEKS Homework: 400 points (50% of their grade)
ALEKS Quizzes and Final: 210 points (26.5% of their grade)
Pencil/Paper Tests/Homework: 185 points (23.5% of their grade)
I would also create quizzes on the program. At the end of the school year I have my students take an ALEKS Final. I tested them by giving them a new assessment that they needed to take in class. I am also planning to put together a final by setting up two quizzes with concepts that were covered in our textbooks.
Are there any best practices you would like to share with other teachers implementing ALEKS?
I used the ALEKS program in preparation for the Ohio Achievement Test. I created two quizzes by going through the sample test and selecting those concepts that were covered on the test. Since the maximum number of questions allowed is 30, I needed to create two quizzes. I made these quizzes available in early December. I notified student and parents of the practice quizzes. Parents were thrilled to have this available to them.
Students were told to look over their quizzes and write missed questions in their "ALEKS Notebook." I require all students to have a notebook that is used while they are working on ALEKS. Now and again I allow students to use their notebooks for a requested assessment that is taken during class (for a grade).
Stop by Our Booth and Receive ALEKS Goodies
ALEKS exhibits at dozens of educational conferences across the nation. Stop by our booth at one of these upcoming tradeshows.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Regional - Booth #517
October 5 - 7, Phoenix, AZ
For more information, visit: NCTM
Iowa Technology and Educational Connection - Booth #66
October 8 - 10, Des Moines, IA
For more information, visit: ITEC
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Regional - Booth #414
October 19 - 21, Atlantic City, NJ
For more information, visit: NCTM
Do you have an ALEKS Success Story you would like to share?
Please submit a form if you would like us to contact you regarding your success story. Also, if you have a comment or a specific question you'd like answered, please let us know!
