1. Introduction to ALEKS®
University of Phoenix
Math 208 & 209
To move from slide to slide, press Page Down on the keyboard, click the left mouse button, or press the spacebar on the keyboard.

2. Slide Show Table of Contents
Background information
Registration
Tools Tutorial
Assessment
My Pie
Learning Mode
Explain
Practice
Report
Worksheet & Review
Quizzes

3. Section 1. Background Information
Back to Table of Contents
Section 1. Background Information
Technical Support
tech support for ALEKS® is
UoPhx tech support is TECH-UOP ( )
UoPhx tech support for FlexNet students is
University of Phoenix ALEKS® tutorial:
ALEKS® is a registered trademark of ALEKS Corporation.

4. What is ALEKS®?
ALEKS® (Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces) is a Web-based learning assistant, powered by artificial intelligence, that enables students to learn math concepts at their own pace. ALEKS® was developed at the University of California by a team of gifted software engineers and cognitive scientists, with the support of a multimillion-dollar grant from the National Science Foundation.

5. Math 208 109 course concepts in ALEKS®
27 arithmetic prerequisites (pre-algebra)
19 real numbers -- Wk 1
24 solving linear equations & inequalities – Wk 2
28 graphing linear equations & inequalities – Wk 3
11 absolute values & systems of equations – Wk 4

6. Math 209 134 course concepts in ALEKS®
29 linear algebra prerequisites (Math 208)
18 exponents & polynomials – Wk 1
13 factoring – Wk 2
24 rational expressions – Wk 3(a)
27 radicals, rational exponents, & complex numbers – Wk 3(b)
23 quadratic equations and functions – Wk 4

7. When do ALEKS® accounts expire?
Login IDs for students will expire 15 weeks after the student has registered in ALEKS®. The weeks are counted from when the student registers for the first time, whether or not the initial assessment is begun or finished.
If a student needs longer to complete the Math 208/209 series, the student should contact ALEKS® Corporation Customer Support ALEKS® Corporation will normally accommodate reasonable requests for extensions from students in these courses.

8. How do I know when my ALEKS® account expires?
Log into your ALEKS® account
Click on the OPTIONS (or OPTS) menu item on the red/brown menu bar
Your expiration date will be listed on this options screen
If a student needs longer to complete the Math 208/209 series, the student should contact ALEKS® Corporation Customer Support

9. Computer Freezes To minimize these problems, always...
Restart your computer before starting an ALEKS® session
Make sure no other programs are running because ALEKS® is processor-intensive
If problems occur during a session, try these steps:
Click the “A” on the upper right of the ALEKS® screen:
Click the browser’s “Reload” button.
Restart the browser.
Restart the computer.
If these steps do not resolve the problem, contact ALEKS® tech support at

10. Java
ALEKS® is implemented in the Java programming language so it requires Java installed & enabled on your computer:
Both Microsoft and Sun Java are supported
TOOLS > INTERNET OPTIONS > ADVANCED tab
Be sure the box opposite “JIT Compiler” has been checked.
If Java is not installed on your computer, use the following link to obtain Sun Java:
Select the Download link under JRE.
After installing Java, check that it has been “Enabled” (see above).
As you work in ALEKS®, you can always click on HELP on the menu bar for more assistance with the answer editor and the tools. Further assistance with Java, if needed, is available from ALEKS® Corporation Customer Support.

11. Section 2. How to Register in ALEKS®
Back to Table of Contents
Section 2. How to Register in ALEKS®
Technical Support
tech support for ALEKS® is
UoPhx tech support is TECH-UOP ( )
UoPhx tech support for FlexNet students is
University of Phoenix ALEKS® tutorial:
ALEKS® is a registered trademark of ALEKS Corporation.

12. How to Register in ALEKS®
To register as a student, you will need a Course Code. The Course Code is supplied by your instructor. You can register without the course code then add it in later; although, you may have to complete an assessment again.
The entire registration process takes about one hour—do not begin unless you have at least an hour of time to spend. You can interrupt the session, if necessary, by logging off and resuming later (by logging back on).

13. Register (2)
Go to the Center for Mathematics Excellence and click on the “ALEKS for Math 208/209” link.
You will go through the following 4 steps:
Registration (requires 5-10 minutes)
Tutorial (requires about 30 minutes)
Assessment (requires about minutes)
Introduction to My Pie (requires 5-10 minutes)

14. Register (3) Enter the Course Code if known at this time
Enter your name as you want to be known on the system
Select a password
When asked for your address, use your UOP address if you have been issued one
You do not need to enter a student ID number

15. Move from Math 208 to 209
To move from Math 208 to Math 209, click Options on the ALEKS® toolbar…
…then click on the link to change course. You will have to do the initial assessment for Math 209.

16. Enter a Course Code
To enter your instructor’s course code AFTER you have already registered for the course and completed the initial assessment, click Options on the ALEKS® toolbar…
…then click on the link to change course code. You obtain the course code from your instructor’s syllabus.

17. Section 3. Tools Tutorial
Back to Table of Contents
Section 3. Tools Tutorial
Technical Support
tech support for ALEKS® is
UoPhx tech support is TECH-UOP ( )
UoPhx tech support for FlexNet students is
University of Phoenix ALEKS® tutorial:
ALEKS® is a registered trademark of ALEKS Corporation.

18. Tool Tutorial
After successful registration, you will be shown a tool tutorial to learn how to use the Answer Editor.
As you are working in ALEKS®, you can always click on the Help button to see portions of the tool tutorial again.
The tool tutorial takes about a half hour to complete.

19. Tool Tutorial—Screen Shot
The Tool Tutorial is interactive. You practice using each tool then click Next.

20. Menu Bar

21. ALEKS® is a registered trademark of ALEKS Corporation.
Back to Table of Contents
Section 4. Assessment
Technical Support
Login page is
tech support for ALEKS® is
UoPhx tech support is TECH-UOP ( )
UoPhx tech support for FlexNet students is
University of Phoenix ALEKS® tutorial:
ALEKS® is a registered trademark of ALEKS Corporation.

22. Assessment (1 of 2)
After successfully completing the tool tutorial, you will be given an initial assessment.
This is not a graded test.
Do not ask for help on this assessment.
The assessment takes about an hour to complete.

23. Assessment (2 of 2) Have paper and pencil handy.
Use a calculator only when provided by ALEKS®.
In the Answer Editor, enter only your final answer—intermediate steps should be done on paper.
If you have forgotten how to use the Answer Editor, click on the Help button.

24. Assessment Screen Shot
Instructions and feedback are given in yellow text boxes. Be sure to read all yellow boxes carefully!
If you don’t know the answer to a problem, click I Don’t Know. I Don’t Know should be used only if you are completely unfamiliar with the topic.
Answer each question then click Next.

25. Periodic Assessments You will be given periodic assessments:
When initially registering for a class in ALEKS®
After every 20 concepts you master (but not before 5 hours have elapsed since your last assessment)
After every 10 hours in ALEKS®
When scheduled by the instructor
When all concepts from course have been mastered
These additional assessments change the learning level in My Pie.
Take your time and do your best in each assessment.

26. ALEKS® is a registered trademark of ALEKS Corporation.
Back to Table of Contents
Section 5. My Pie
Technical Support
tech support for ALEKS® is
UoPhx tech support is TECH-UOP ( )
UoPhx tech support for FlexNet students is
University of Phoenix ALEKS® tutorial:
ALEKS® is a registered trademark of ALEKS Corporation.

27. You can access the My Pie by clicking this button on the Menu Bar
After completing the assessment, you will be shown a graphical representation of your algebra knowledge. This representation is in the shape of a pie chart and is called My Pie.
You can access the My Pie by clicking this button on the Menu Bar

28. Each section of the pie is a different topic cluster.
Screen Shot of My Pie
Each section of the pie is a different topic cluster.
The dark part of each pie section represents the topics you already know.

29. Piece with No Topics
Use the My Pie to choose a topic to study. Hover your mouse above sections of My Pie (but do not click the mouse button) to see topics you have the pre-requisite knowledge to learn.
When you hover above a section of My Pie, you will see these yellow text boxes. As you can see, this section of My Pie doesn’t contain any topics you are prepared to learn. Move to another section of My Pie.

30. Piece with Two Topics
This section of My Pie shows two topics that I am ready to learn. I can choose either one of those two topics by clicking on it.
The way to succeed with ALEKS® is to keep choosing topics, study the lessons, and do the practice problems. After you master each topic, that section of the pie will show more of the dark color. Remember, the dark colors show topics already mastered. The overall objective of your UoPhx ALEKS® account is to master all sections of My Pie.

31. Pre-requisite Skills
The green portion of the pie indicates the pre-requisite skills for this course. Work on that green piece first. Work on it quickly so you can understand the new concepts that we’ll be learning in class.
Work on the green concepts as soon as possible. In order to succeed in class, your green section should be completed during the first week of class.

32. ALEKS® is a registered trademark of ALEKS Corporation.
Back to Table of Contents
Section 6. Learning Mode
Technical Support
tech support for ALEKS® is
UoPhx tech support is TECH-UOP ( )
UoPhx tech support for FlexNet students is
University of Phoenix ALEKS® tutorial:
ALEKS® is a registered trademark of ALEKS Corporation.

33. Topic Title Page
When you choose a topic, you will see a title page like this. It shows you a sample of the problems in the topic.
If you would like to read the lesson about this type of problem, click Explain.
If you think you can do this type of problem without additional help, click Practice.

34. Practice vs. Explain Remember:
The Practice button gives you problems to solve without providing any help on how to do them.
The Explain button gives the step-by-step solution to a particular problem (the one that was displayed just before you clicked Explain.

35. Learning Mode -- Explain
Explain mode is actually a mini-lesson or lecture on the chosen topic. Study the lesson and the examples in the lesson.

36. Highlighted words in dictionary
Click on highlighted (colored and underlined) words or phrases to open the dictionary. The dictionary contains additional information about this word.

37. Correlation to Textbook
At the end of the explanation, you may see a correlation to the textbook (chapter and section) so you can read more about this topic.

38. From Explain to Practice
After studying the Explanation, the textbook, and the Companion Web site, click Practice.

39. Learning Mode -- Practice
In Practice mode, you will be given about three to five practice problems.
Work each problem on paper then enter the answer in the Answer Editor. If you need help using the Answer Editor, click Help.
After entering the answer, click Next. You can also return to the explanation (lesson) by clicking Explain.

40. Instructions & Feedback
Look for the yellow arrows—these indicate hints to solving the problems.
Instructions and feedback will be in yellow, text boxes. Read this information carefully.

41. Using the Calculator
Use the ALEKS® calculator only when it is available. Do not use any other calculator when using ALEKS®.

42. Help when in Learning Mode
If you need help using the Answer Editor, click the Help button on the Menu Bar for a list of Answer Editor tutorials.

43. Ask a Friend
You should learn to use the special features of the Learning Mode, especially the explanations and the mathematical dictionary. A button marked Ask a Friend may also appear from time to time. Clicking on this button will prompt the system to suggest the name of a classmate who has mastered the topic on which you are working.

44. Section 7. How to Submit a Report
Back to Table of Contents
Section 7. How to Submit a Report
Technical Support
tech support for ALEKS® is
UoPhx tech support is TECH-UOP ( )
UoPhx tech support for FlexNet students is
University of Phoenix ALEKS® tutorial:
ALEKS® is a registered trademark of ALEKS Corporation.

45. ALEKS® Report
After each assessment and at the end of each week, you may be asked to create an ALEKS® report. Be sure to check your class syllabus to see if your facilitator wants a report submitted. Most facilitators use their own ALEKS® account to view your report.
If you do need to submit a report, click on Report in the ALEKS® toolbar.

46. The top portion of the report will show your current My Pie.
ALEKS® Report (1 of 4)
The top portion of the report will show your current My Pie.

47. ALEKS® Report (2 of 4)
The second part of the ALEKS® report will show those topics you have recently mastered (“What you can do”).
“and many other more elementary concepts” gives the complete list of topics mastered.

48. ALEKS® Report (3 of 4)
The third part of the ALEKS® report will show those topics you will be learning next (“Ready to Learn”).

49. ALEKS® Report (4 of 4)
The final part of the ALEKS® report gives your history in this subject, with a bar graph for each assessment. Blue shows the assessment results, green shows progress in Learning Mode following that assessment.

50. Submitting a Report
Your facilitator MAY ask you to submit a report—check your facilitator’s syllabus instructions to be sure. Most facilitators can view your report in their instructor account and do not need you to submit a report.
IF you are asked to submit a report, the next four screens describe how to submit it depending on the type of student you are. You only need one of these four screens:
On-campus, classroom students (Slide 52)
Directed studies students (Slide 53)
FlexNet students (Slide 54)
Online campus students (Slide 55)

51. How to Submit a Report if you are a Classroom Student
Create the report and it to yourself (not to the facilitator). Note that the will simply have a link to view your report online.
Print the report and submit it to your facilitator during the next class session. Some facilitators may ask you to the report to them instead of bringing a printed report to class. Ask your facilitator for his or her preferred method of submission.

52. How to Submit a Report if you are a Directed Studies Student
Create the report and it to yourself or print out the report for your records. Note that the will simply have a link to view your report online.
In addition, the report to the facilitator.

53. How to Submit a Report if you are a FlexNet Student
Create the report and it to yourself (not to the facilitator). Note that the will simply have a link to view your report online.
Then cut and paste the link into an Individual forum message and post it into your Individual forum.
Be sure to create a subject for your , such as Wk 4 ALEKS Report.

54. How to Submit a Report if you are an Online Student
Create the report and it to yourself (not to the facilitator). Note that the will simply have a link to view your report online.
Then, cut and paste the link into an Individual forum message and post it into your Individual forum.
Be sure to create a subject for your , such as Wk 4 ALEKS Report.

55. Section 8. Worksheet & Review
Back to Table of Contents
Section 8. Worksheet & Review
Technical Support
tech support for ALEKS® is
UoPhx tech support is TECH-UOP ( )
UoPhx tech support for FlexNet students is
University of Phoenix ALEKS® tutorial:
ALEKS® is a registered trademark of ALEKS Corporation.

56. The answer key for the worksheet is available from your facilitator.
At any time you feel you need additional practice or review of the topics, you can print a Worksheet (click “Worksheet” on the Menu Bar). The worksheet is a PDF document so you’ll need Adobe Reader 6.0 to view and print it.
The answer key for the worksheet is available from your facilitator.

57. Review
At any time you would like to review the concepts you have learned, click Review on the Menu Bar.
A more-extensive review and printed worksheets are also available from these links.

58. ALEKS® is a registered trademark of ALEKS Corporation.
Back to Table of Contents
Section 9. Quiz
Technical Support
tech support for ALEKS® is
UoPhx tech support is TECH-UOP ( )
UoPhx tech support for FlexNet students is
University of Phoenix ALEKS® tutorial:
ALEKS® is a registered trademark of ALEKS Corporation.

59. Weekly Quiz (1)
You will have a graded, weekly quiz in both Math 208 and Math 209. These quizzes may be
instructor-created -or-
administered by ALEKS®
If your facilitator chooses to use ALEKS® to provide your quizzes, the next slides explain how to “take a quiz.”

60. Weekly Quiz (2)
Quizzes may also appear automatically depending upon how the facilitator sets up the quiz.
ALEKS® expects exact, complete answers. If you have been working in Learning Mode, you will know what type of answers ALEKS® expects.

61. Weekly Quiz (3)
At the top of each screen of the quiz is a box similar to this one. You’ll see a button for each problem on the quiz (you may do the problems in any order you want). The current quiz problem will be marked orange. Problems you have completed are marked gray.
IMPORTANT:
Be sure to click on this button to submit your quiz when you are finished.

62. Weekly Quiz (4)
After clicking the button to Submit Quiz, you will see this screen. Be sure to click Next to finish submitting your quiz. If you do not click Next, your quiz is not submitted properly.

63. Weekly Quiz (5)
You will see this screen if you have submitted your quiz properly. Check the quiz report shown here. If you believe you answered correctly but it is marked wrong, or if you have questions about the problem, be sure to contact your facilitator.
Quiz scores are automatically submitted to the facilitator. You do not need to send the scores to your instructor.

64. Screen shots and the ALEKS® logo were used by permission.
T H E E N D
Screen shots and the ALEKS® logo were used by permission.