Figure 6: ALEKS QuickTables

QuickTables is a special tool in ALEKS for learning the math facts of Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division. It is available as part of ALEKS courses for Grades 3 through 5.

In courses where QuickTables has been enabled, you can access the tool by clicking on the tab marked "QuickTables" in the upper right-hand corner of your student account. Then, click the round "OK" button under the Welcome message (Fig. 6).

The first time you use QuickTables, you will have a short training session before starting to practice. The purpose of the training is to make sure that you are comfortable typing and entering numbers in the system. There will be a series of quick drills in which you are asked to type numbers that appear on the screen. If you make a mistake, that is no problem; QuickTables will stop to let you correct it before moving on. You can enter the numbers by pressing either your computer's "Enter" key or the Space bar (the long bar at the bottom of the keyboard).

You will need to enter the numbers pretty quickly; QuickTables wants you to learn the math facts so well that you can answer easily and smoothly. If it is easier for you to click numbers on a keypad, this can be turned on for you.

After this training, you begin a "test" or assessment of what you know now about the math facts. Do not be anxious about this test; just relax and do your best. The results of the test will tell QuickTables where you should start off in your math facts table.

You may have more than one table set up. If so, you will see different tabs on your screen with the names of the tables: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division. Simply click on the tab for the table you wish to work in. You will need to take a brief test when you first start working in any table.

Figure 7: QuickTables Learning Display

Once you finish the test, you will see a colored display that shows all the facts in the table (Fig. 7). The colors in the cells show whether you have learned that fact, and how well you know it. In general, you will see that the colors fill in through the table diagonally, from the top left corner down. The "hardest" facts are the ones you get to at last, down in the lower right-hand corner. You will have fun filling in this table!

Also, to the right of the table is a thermometer that gives your overall percentage of the table. Notice that there are gold stars on the thermometer. Every time you fill in to one of these stars, there will be a new game for you to play. You earn the games by the progress that you make filling in your table. Any time you want to play a game that you have earned, click on the green button marked "Games" at the top of the window. These are fun games that give you extra practice on the math facts that you have been learning.

NOTE. You will only be able to use QuickTables for a certain amount of time on any day, and only a certain number of times per week. These limits are set for the best possible progress in learning and remembering math facts.