Answers to Common Questions about ALEKS

A - Students with an SAT Reading and Writing section score that meets or exceeds the benchmark of proficiency have a 75% chance of earning at least a C in first-semester, credit-bearing college courses in history, literature, social sciences, or writing classes.

Students with an SAT Math section score that meets or exceeds the benchmark of proficient have a 75% chance of earning at least a C in their first-semester, credit-bearing college course.

Students are considered college and career ready when their SAT section scores meet both the Reading and Writing and Math benchmarks of proficient or above. It's important to note that college readiness is a continuum—students scoring below the SAT benchmarks of proficient can still be successful in college, especially with additional preparation and perseverance.

Source: CollegeBoard.com
 

A - A knowledge check is a short assessment that helps learners understand how well they grasp a topic or concept. Knowledge checks are often used in e-learning courses.
Knowledge checks help learners understand how well they are performing and identify areas where they may need to improve. They can also help organizations evaluate the effectiveness of their learning programs.
 

A - Yes, students are required to complete their progress and knowledge checks at school to prevent cheating.  The system will only allow you to connect to the school’s WiFi to access the knowledge check. 

ALEKS will periodically reassess a student's knowledge to confirm their retention of recently learned topics and update their individualized learning path as they progress through a course.

There are two types of Knowledge Checks in ALEKS. A Progress Knowledge Check generally focuses on the student's recent learning history. It generally has fewer problems/questions than a Comprehensive Knowledge Check, and is intended mainly to check the students' retention of material recently learned. The ALEKS Progress Report shows overall student progress in both Learning Mode and Assessment Mode, as well as average learning rates. They can be used to monitor progress and identify students who could benefit from intervention by comparing data points.

Comprehensive Knowledge Check covers the entire content of the course. They generally have more problems/questions than a Progress Knowledge Check, and are intended to check the students' knowledge or retention of material throughout the course. A Comprehensive Knowledge Check is appropriate, for example, to use as a final exam or practice final.
 

A - On average, a student completes 1 - 2 % of their pie per week.  In the McGraw-Hill ALEKS program, the pie chart represents your progress in mastering different topics. However, the increase in your pie percentage can sometimes appear slow for several reasons

1. Number of Topics:  The number of topics in your course impacts the percent of your pie you complete.  Courses have different numbers of topics, for example, Algebra I may have 400 topics, Geometry may have 500 topics and Algebra II may have 600 topics.   You would need to complete 4 topics to see one percent growth in your pie for Algebra I. 5 topics in Geometry and 6 topics in Algebra II.
2. Complexity of Topics: ALEKS adjusts the difficulty of the material based on your current level. If you're progressing through more complex topics, it may take more time to master them and contribute more to your pie chart
3. Mastery-Based Learning: ALEKS works on a mastery model, meaning it requires you to fully understand and be able to solve a set of problems before it moves you on to the next topic. If you answer some questions correctly, but not enough to demonstrate mastery, the program won't update the pie as significantly.
4. Smaller Incremental Progress: As you get closer to mastering the entire subject, the progress on the pie may slow down because the remaining topics are harder or require more time and effort to fully master.
5. Hidden Topics: Some topics may not be immediately visible on your pie chart. If there are foundational topics you're still working through, they can take up a significant portion of your pie progress without being as noticeable.
6. System Adjustments: ALEKS may adjust your learning path based on your performance. If it detects areas where you need more review, you may be taken back to earlier content, preventing faster progress on new topics.

If you're feeling stuck, you might consider reviewing certain areas where you're still not demonstrating full mastery, or you could check in with the ALEKS help resources or a teacher to ensure you're on the right track.

A - There are two types of Knowledge Checks in ALEKS, a Knowledge Check and a Progress Check. 

1. Knowledge Check

• This is typically a diagnostic assessment given at the beginning of a course or module. It helps ALEKS assess what you already know, so the system can tailor the learning experience to your needs.
• It focuses on evaluating your current knowledge level across various topics, helping the system create a personalized learning path for you.
• A knowledge check usually happens before you start working on specific content and may cover a broad range of topics.
• Comprehensive Knowledge Checks are summative, ALEKS reassess the student in all domains/modules. Students should do their very best to demonstrate what they learned in class and ALEKS.

2. Progress Check:

• A progress check is a periodic assessment that evaluates your mastery of the content you have already studied in the course. It’s used to track your progress over time.
• These checks help you and your instructor see how much you have learned and how well you are retaining the material.
• Typically, a progress check will cover a subset of topics that you've worked on up until that point, providing insight into your mastery of those areas.

In summary, a knowledge check assesses your initial knowledge and helps tailor your learning path, while a progress check evaluates your ongoing progress and mastery of the material you've learned so far. A comprehensive knowledge check assesses what the student has learned in all modules or domains.
 

A - In the McGraw-Hill ALEKS program, it can be disheartening to see your pie get smaller after a knowledge check, but this is part of how the program works to ensure you're mastering the material accurately.

Here’s why it happens:

Reevaluation of Mastery: After a knowledge check, ALEKS reassesses your understanding of the topics. If you answer certain questions incorrectly, the program may re-evaluate your mastery of previously learned topics. As a result, some of the topics you thought you mastered might appear as areas where you need more work, and the pie shrinks to reflect that.

Correcting for Gaps: ALEKS is designed to identify any gaps in your knowledge. If you struggle with certain topics during the knowledge check, the system will guide you to review or relearn those areas. This ensures that you build a stronger foundation, even if it temporarily reduces the overall percentage of your pie.

Dynamic Adjustments: ALEKS uses adaptive learning to tailor the content to your current level. Sometimes, after a knowledge check, the system might adjust your learning path, adding more topics that you need to master or revisiting content you had previously worked on. This can cause the pie to shrink as the system recalculates your overall progress.

Though this can feel frustrating, it’s actually a good thing in terms of learning—ALEKS is working to ensure that you truly understand all the material before moving forward. Stay persistent, as the system is designed to guide you toward full mastery.
 

A - Yes, your pie in the McGraw-Hill ALEKS program can increase after a knowledge check, but it depends on how well you perform and how much new material you demonstrate mastery of.
Here’s how it works:

1. If you demonstrate mastery: If you correctly answer questions related to topics you’ve worked on and prove that you’ve mastered new areas of content during the knowledge check, your pie will increase. ALEKS will recognize that you’ve successfully mastered those topics, and it will update your pie to reflect that progress.
2. If you answer correctly and demonstrate learning: The pie can also grow when you answer new or previously difficult questions correctly, showing that you’ve learned more and made progress in mastering concepts.
3. Small increases over time: ALEKS follows a mastery-based approach. If the knowledge check shows that you’ve mastered additional concepts or completed multiple topics, the pie may gradually increase by a percentage point or two.

However, if you answer questions incorrectly, the program may reevaluate your understanding of previous topics, causing your pie to shrink or remain the same until those areas are fully mastered. The key to increasing your pie is consistent mastery of topics and showing that you've learned new content as you progress.
In short, yes, your pie can increase after a knowledge check, especially if you're demonstrating mastery of the material.

A - In the McGraw-Hill ALEKS program, it's possible to encounter math problems that seem unfamiliar or like topics you haven't specifically been taught yet. This can happen for a few reasons:

1.      Adaptive Learning Path: ALEKS uses an adaptive learning system, which means it dynamically adjusts the material based on your progress and current knowledge. Sometimes, it might introduce topics or problems that are slightly ahead of where you are in the course to challenge you or to help you begin mastering upcoming content. This is meant to encourage learning and keep you moving forward.
2. Knowledge Check Gaps: After a knowledge check, ALEKS may determine that you need to review or reinforce certain foundational topics before progressing further. This means that you might be shown problems from areas you haven’t fully mastered yet, even if they haven't been explicitly taught in your current lessons. ALEKS may be testing your ability to apply general concepts to new problems or to fill in knowledge gaps.
3. Topic Overlap: Some problems may seem unfamiliar because they build on concepts from earlier topics or from different areas of math. While the specific topic might not have been directly taught, the problem might be designed to test whether you can apply foundational skills from earlier lessons to more complex situations.
4. Exploration and Preemptive Learning: ALEKS may introduce these problems to see if you can make connections on your own, or it might provide hints and explanations to help you learn the material as you go. This "exploration" phase encourages independent learning and can sometimes feel like the system is jumping ahead.

What You Can Do:

• Check the hints: ALEKS provides hints and step-by-step instructions for many problems. This can help guide you through unfamiliar material.
• Review earlier topics: If you're encountering problems you don’t understand, it might help to review foundational concepts in earlier topics to ensure you're prepared for what you're seeing.
• Ask for help: If a problem seems too confusing, don't hesitate to reach out to your instructor or a tutor for additional support.

In summary, encountering unfamiliar problems in ALEKS is part of the program's design to challenge and guide you towards mastering a wide range of concepts, even if they haven’t been explicitly taught yet. It’s a way to reinforce learning and build on your skills as you progress.
 

A - If you need help while using the McGraw-Hill ALEKS program, there are several strategies you can use to get assistance:

1. Use the Hints and Tutorials:

• Hints: ALEKS provides helpful hints for most problems. If you're stuck, click the hint button to receive guidance on how to solve the problem.
• Step-by-step help: For many problems, ALEKS includes step-by-step instructions that can walk you through the solution process. These can help clarify what to do next. There is a button at the bottom of each problem: EXPLANATION, that can provide support. In addition, there are four buttons to the right of the problem which provide access to the teacher’s notes, text e-book, videos, and email your teacher.

2. Review Learning Resources:

• Learning Objectives: ALEKS offers learning objectives for each topic, which outline the key concepts and steps needed to understand the material. You can refer to these objectives if you need a clearer understanding of the topic.
• Skill Checks: Sometimes, ALEKS will provide additional skill checks or practice problems on specific areas where you're struggling. Completing these can reinforce your understanding.

3. Ask Your Instructor:

• Instructor Support: If you're having difficulty with certain concepts or problems, reach out to your instructor for help. They may be able to provide additional explanations, resources, or a more detailed breakdown of the concepts you're struggling with.
• Office Hours: Many instructors hold office hours or have virtual meeting times where you can ask questions directly.

4. Use ALEKS' "Help Me" Feature:

• ALEKS has a “Help Me” button that can guide you through solving specific problems. This feature often breaks down the problem into smaller, easier-to-understand steps.

5. Collaborate with Classmates or a Study Group:

• Discussing problems with classmates or working in study groups can be a great way to deepen your understanding. You can learn different approaches to solving problems and reinforce each other's learning.

6. Online Resources:

• ALEKS Support: ALEKS provides a variety of tutorials, FAQs, and customer support options on their website. You can check out these resources if you're encountering technical issues or need further clarification about the platform.
• External Websites: If you're struggling with certain math concepts, websites like Khan Academy, Wolfram Alpha, or YouTube tutorials can offer additional explanations and practice problems.

7. ALEKS Community Forums:

• Some students find it helpful to search for questions or ask in ALEKS-related online forums. These can provide insights into common struggles other students face and offer solutions or different ways of approaching the material.

8. Request a Tutor:

• Many schools offer tutoring services, either in person or online. If you need more personalized help, consider scheduling time with a tutor to work through challenging material.  Wyzants is an on-line tutoring service you might consider.

9. Revisit Previous Topics:

• Sometimes, struggling with a new problem stems from a gap in understanding earlier material. ALEKS lets you go back and review earlier topics to fill in any knowledge gaps.

By using these resources, you can get the help you need to make progress in ALEKS and improve your understanding of the material. Don't hesitate to ask for support—ALEKS is designed to guide you through challenging concepts, and there are many avenues for assistance!

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For more information on how to get the most out of ALEKS watch this informative video:

Student Experience in Aleks

Or to access a publication visit:

Aleks Student Reference Guide