The purpose of the ALEKS Instructor's Manual is to give instructors using ALEKS information on the operation of the system that is as complete as possible. The system is not complex. ALEKS can be and often is used with no documentation whatsoever. At the same time, we wish to offer instructors a clear idea of everything ALEKS does, how it works, and where to find answers to questions.

ALEKS is designed to be used without help from the Instructor's Manual. Feel free to use the system now. If questions arise, or if you want to learn more about ALEKS, this Instructor's Manual is intended as a convenient and comprehensive reference.

NOTE. For a brief, comprehensive overview of ALEKS, please turn directly to the "Frequently Asked Questions" in Chapter 11.

• The first chapters are those most likely to be turned to by instructors using ALEKS for the first time. Chapter 2, "Quick Start," contains a concise checklist for beginning to use ALEKS. Chapter 3, "Setup Guide for Instructors," provides all of the information necessary for preparing to use ALEKS with one or more courses. This ranges from technical requirements and installation through the students' first ALEKS session (which typically involves registration, tutorial, initial assessment, and entry into the Learning Mode). (Much of the information is the same as that in Appendix A.)
• Chapters 4 through 8 contain descriptions of the principal parts of the ALEKS system: Assessment Mode, Learning Mode, and Instructor Module. The Instructor Module is discussed in three chapters. Chapter 6 presents the Instructor Module generally and is followed by treatments of the more specialized capacities of the Advanced Instructor Module. Chapter 7 covers Results & Progress, the facility for monitoring student use of ALEKS and managing accounts. Chapter 8 covers Standards & Course Syllabus, the facility for reviewing and modifying the curricular information used by ALEKS for a particular college or course. Chapter 9 is a brief guide to teaching with ALEKS.
• Chapters 10 through 12 provide additional information that may be necessary or of interest to instructors using ALEKS. Chapter 10, "Knowledge Spaces and the Theory Behind ALEKS," explains the history of Knowledge Space theory and its fundamental concepts, along with the evolution of ALEKS itself. Also included is a Bibliography for those seeking to understand the theory behind ALEKS in greater depth. Chapter 11 provides answers to frequently asked questions about ALEKS. Chapter 12 gives the information necessary for obtaining technical and other support.
• The ALEKS User's Guide is distributed to all students using ALEKS. The User's Guide is reproduced here in Appendix A. Unlike the other chapters of the ALEKS Instructor's Manual, Appendix A is addressed to student users of the system. It covers technical requirements, installation, registration, the Tutorial, and ordinary use of the system, as well as guidelines for effective use and troubleshooting tips. Appendix A can be used by instructors to obtain a brief but complete picture of how the system is used. Appendix B contains content summaries for ALEKS