Introduction to OPTIMATH
Online Practice and Testing in Mathematics

The testing system is located at http://msenux.redwoods.edu/optimath

The first page of the testing site contains a list of course sections using the system. Click on the link for your section (corresponding to your course and instructor) to take you to your section login page. You also may want to bookmark this page on your browser.

Login page: Your login name is just like the one that you use for WebAdvisor and Blackboard: first initial + last name + last three digits of your student ID#. For example, if your name is John Doe and your student ID# is 1234567, then your login name is jdoe567. Your initial password is your full 7-digit student ID#, but you can (and should) change it once you log in.

After you log in, you have just five options (each of these options is explained in more detail below):

• Choose Assignment to take online.
• View Assignment Results (includes your answers, the correct answers, and solutions).
• Change password
• Email your instructor
• Log out

Important: Do not use the "Back" and "Forward" buttons on your browser when you are using the testing system. If you do, you will be immediately logged out of the system. Instead, use the links on each page to move around (there are really only five places to go, namely the options listed above ( Choose Assignment, View Assignment Results, etc.).

Choose Assignment:

• Click on the link for the assignment that you want to take. A new assignment will be prepared for you (it might take a few seconds), and then you will be presented with a second link for your particular version of that assignment in pdf (Acrobat) form.
• Click on this second link to download the assignment to your computer. If you have a dialup connection, it might take about 30 seconds or so to download this pdf document. Assuming that your Acrobat Reader software is correctly configured, the assignment should open up inside your browser. If the document does not open up in your browser, see the System Requirements section below.
• Follow the instructions given in the assignment.
  • You must click on the Begin Assignment button to start.
  • Then proceed through the assignment, using either the Back and Next buttons at the top of each page, or the arrow buttons in Acrobat Reader.
  • Answer fill-in questions using the same syntax that you would use on your calculator. If you're not sure of the syntax to use, click on the Help with Math Syntax link located under the answer box (or click here to see the same help information).
  • You must click on the End Assignment button when you are done. This will grade your assignment immediately, record your score, and return you to the the View Assignment Results screen on the Optimath web site.
    • Note to dialup users: Make sure that you are connected to the internet before you press the End Assignment button! You can check your connection by opening up second window or tab in your browser and then refreshing your home page.
  • You will now be at the View Assignment Results screen, where you can see your answers and the correct answers, along with detailed solutions.

View Assignment Results:

• Click on the link corresponding to the previous assignment that you want to view. You will again receive a pdf document that should open up within your browser. You will see your answers, the correct answers, and solutions to each problem. This is also a page length document that you can print if you wish.

Change password:

• Click on this link to change your password to something that will be easy to remember. If you ever forget your password, you will need to contact your instructor.

Email your instructor:

• This is a convenience link if you want to email your instructor. For example, you might want to ask about a particular question from one of the assignments. The link will open up your default email program.

Log out:

• Please remember to log out from the system when you are done.
  
  

System requirements: The testing system requires an internet browser along with the Acrobat Reader software. In particular, it requires that your Acrobat Reader software be configured to open pdf files within your browser. That is the usual behavior after you install Acrobat Reader, but it's possible that you may have changed that behavior in the Acrobat Reader preferences.

• Windows: Your best option is the Firefox 3 browser with Acrobat Reader version 9.
  
• Firefox 2 or Internet Explorer 6 or 7, with Acrobat Reader version 6, 7, 8, or 9 will also work. If you have Windows XP, it is recommended that you install Acrobat Reader 7, 8, or 9.
• Other browsers may or may not work.
• If your dialup or cable internet services uses "web accelerator" technology, then it is recommended that you use Firefox instead of Internet Explorer.
• Mac OS X: Safari browser, with Acrobat Reader version 8 or 9.
  • This is the only configuration that currently works in OS X.
• Linux: Firefox browser, with Acrobat Reader
  • Other browsers may or may not work.

If pdf files do not open up within your browser, first try opening up Acrobat Reader, look at the Preferences, check off the Internet preference item which says "display PDF in browser", and then check that preference item back on again. Then quit your browser and restart it, and test your setup again. If it still doesn't work, then you may need to reinstall Acrobat Reader. Make sure that you install the browser plugin if the installation program asks you.

Finally, you must also have Javascript enabled in Acrobat Reader (this is the default setting).

Protecting your answers from system errors: As with all computer applications, occasionally problems may occur. For example, your computer or browser may freeze up and you may be forced to restart your system. In that case, you will need to start the assignment over. It's important to realize that while you are working on an OPTIMATH assignment, the assignment is actually located on your computer - your results are not saved until you finish the assignment. Thus, you should take precautions to preserve your answers, as follows:

• To guard against losing answers in event of a system problem, be sure to carefully write down your answers on your scratch paper. When you go back into OPTIMATH to retake the assignment, you will see a message stating that you have an "active" assignment that you may restart. In this case, OPTIMATH will retrieve the exact same version of the assignment that you were working on, but all of the answers will be blank. You can then retype your answers into the assignment.
• Remember to stay within the assignment window while working on the assignment. Don't use the Back or Forward buttons on your browser. Also, only use single-clicks with the mouse on buttons and links, not double-clicks.
• If a computer malfunction ultimately causes you to miss a problem, please contact your instructor right away. You may just have to take the assignment again, but at least your instructor can give you a deadline extension in this case.

Grading questions: When you view your corrected assignment, remember that the the listed correct answer is usually just one possible correct form of the answer. In most cases, there are various forms of the answer that will be graded as correct. If you are ever unsure why OPTIMATH graded your answer as incorrect, be sure to contact your instructor in person or by email. Your instructor can look at your answer and the listed correct answer, and then provide you with an explanation.