How do I Take Online Exams in Math 25?
(but first read about the
testing system below)
Using the
online testing system
Testing for the exams in this course is done at a
special web site named OPTIMATH (link given at the top of this page). You can check your
scores, review previous exams, and take Pretests and Practice
Exams from any computer you want, using any web browser. You
must take the Proctored Exams in the presence of a
designated proctor (see the proctored exam instructions for
details). The Practice Exams are especially useful for reviewing
material for the final exams. The final exams themselves are also
online Proctored Exams.
Instructions:
- Read the material below and
read the Math Syntax page.
- Try the Online Testing Practice
assignment. This assignment will quiz you on the various question
types used in OPTIMATH and on some of the course rules. Take this exam as many times as you need to get all or
most of the questions correct. This exam does not count for any credit,
but it will help you learn how the testing system works and help you
avoid problems in the future.
- If the testing system doesn't seem to work
correctly for you, be sure to consult the System
Requirements and the Technical
Notes page. Contact
your instructor if you are unable to
resolve the problem.
- Now you are ready to move
on to Unit 1. Follow the
instructions given in the Study Guidelines for Unit 1.
Be sure to read the Unit 1 Exam Description.
__________
Basic
procedures:
The testing system is located at http://msenux.redwoods.edu/optimath (use the link for section E2026).
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 preference which says "open within browser", and then check that
preference back on again. Then 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).
__________
OPTIMATH Question Types and Syntax
OPTIMATH has a number of
different question types. While some questions are multiple choice,
most of them are "free response" with an answer box for you to type in
your answer. For the most part, you can enter your answer in
"calculator syntax", pretty much as you would on a graphing calculator.
For more details, you should read the Math
Syntax page. This page is also
accessible to you during the tests (look for the link underneath each
answer box). Most of what you need to know is mentioned on that page.
There are a few additional
items that should be emphasized:
- Remember to look
under the answer box for the description of the expected format of the
answer. If you are not sure of the correct syntax, click on the
math syntax
link which is also located under the answer box.
- Unless explicitly specified
otherwise, all questions take exact answers. If the
answer is sqrt(2), then 1.41421
is not a correct answer, even if you type in 10
decimals.
- Be sure to include enough
parentheses, and put them in the correct places.
OPTIMATH evaluates your answer according to the usual rules of
precedence in mathematics; operators of equal precedence get evaluated
left to right. The order of precedence is (from highest to lowest):
- parentheses
- functions (like sin or
sqrt)
- powers (^)
- multiplication and
division
- addition and
subtraction
For example:
- sqrt(2)*x: The sqrtfunction
has a higher precedence than multiplication; OPTIMATH sees this as
(sqrt(2))*x, not as sqrt(2*x).
- 2^3*4: the power has a higher
precedence than multiplication; OPTIMATH sees this as (2^3)*4
or 32, not as 2^12.
- 1/2/3/4: the divisions have equal
precedence, so they get evaluated left to right: 1 divided by 2, then
divided by 3, then divided by 4, or 1/24. If you want (1/2)
divided by (3/4), put in parentheses, as (1/2)/(3/4)
- Spaces in your answer
are ignored. Thus, the answers 5*x+2, 5x+2, and 5 x+ 2
would all be graded in the same way.
- Equivalent
expressions are graded the same, in general. For example:
- 6/4
and 3/2
- 1/sqrt(2)
and sqrt(2)/2
- 3(x+4)
and 3x+12
However, there are
some exceptions. If the question expressly indicates that your answer
must be simplified, then you must enter the answer in a simplified
form. A typical example would be a factoring problem, such as factoring
the expression x2-4. In this
case, you would have to enter either (x+2)(x-2) or (x-2)(x+2).
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.
- Exact answers vs.
approximations: All answers must be exact, unless you are
specifically requested to give an approximation. If you are asked to
give an approximation, then your answer must be accurate to at least
the requested number of decimal places after the decimal point. For
example, you might be asked to provide an answer that is accurate
to at least three decimal places after the decimal point. In this
case, any answer within 0.001 of the listed correct answer counts as
correct. Thus, if the listed correct answer is 1.41421356237, then responses such as 1.414or 1.4142
or 1.415 would
all be graded as correct.
- While we are on the subject
of approximate numerical answers: some word problems require you to
find some intermediate results first. Make sure you
use enough decimals of accuracy for those. If you round some
intermediate value to two decimals, your final answer will not be
correct to three decimals. You should use at least four or five
decimals for the intermediate calculations, to be on the safe side.
- When it comes to typing in equations
of curves, the basic rule is: your answer must be a single
equation which has the same graph as the given correct answer. So,
if the given answer is y=x+2,
and you type in y-x=2, that is correct. However, if the answer is x=y^2, and you type in y=sqrt(x), that is wrong. The reason is that the graph of x=y^2 is a parabola, but
the graph of y=sqrt(x) is the upper half of a parabola. You also
cannot combine equations (for example, an answer such as y=sqrt(x) , y=-sqrt(x)would be incorrect).
- Answers with units: You are
probably used to adding units (such as "meters" or "seconds") to the
answers of application problems. However, grading algorithms in
OPTIMATH are not designed to accept answers with units. Therefore,
do not add units to any of your
answers. In particular, do not add "degrees" or "radians" to any
of your answers.
- 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.
__________
Other hints and information:
- How many questions?
Each unit exam has 16-25 questions, with a range of difficulty. Each
unit exam description (for example, see the Unit 1 exam description) gives more detailed information on that particular
exam. When computing final grades, your best exam score will be
rescaled to 20 points total, so all of the unit exams have equal
weight. Each unit pretest has the same number of questions as the
corresponding unit exam, and your best pretest score will be rescaled
to 10 points total.
- Which
browser? You will need access to a
computer with an internet connection and one of the supported operating system / web
browser / Acrobat Reader combinations. Alternatively,
you can of course use computers at CR if you don't have your own
computer and you come to CR frequently.
- Grading:
Be sure to always grade your
pretests and exams. Your online assignment is
not complete until you have finished the grading process. If you leave
an assignment ungraded, then a score of 0 is recorded.
- Security:
Be sure to log out of OPTIMATH or quit your browser when you are done
working within the testing system. Otherwise, you will remain "logged
in" to the testing system, and the next person to use the computer can
assume your identity.
- 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, 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 you get an error which ultimately
causes you to miss a problem on an exam, please show it to your proctor
and have the proctor send me a confirming note about the problem. You
will probably just have to take the exam again, but at least I can give
you a deadline extension in this case. The point is that you need to do
something right away when this happens. You cannot come back a week
later and tell me that you had a problem on an earlier exam.
- Exam errors:
I will pay you one extra unit exam point if you find an error in one of
the unit exams. This means an error in the answer to one of the
problems on either a pretest, a practice exam, or a proctored exam.
However, I will only pay the first person who finds the error. Of
course, even if you are not the first to report an error, I will
certainly give you back the point if you did the problem correctly on a
proctored exam. Just bring the exam in and show me, or send me an email
detailing the exam and problem.
I will post all errors on the errors page, and each person in the class can then check his or her
own exam using the "View
Assignment Results" link on the testing
web site.
- Technical problems:
If the testing system doesn't seem to work correctly for you, be sure
to consult the Technical
Notes page.
Instructions for Pretests:
Each unit includes a Unit
Pretest which will help prepare you for the proctored Unit Exam.
- You can complete the
Pretests at the testing web site from
anywhere on the internet.
- There may be more than one
Pretest for any particular unit. If so, be sure that you complete all
of them.
- You may repeat these
Pretests as many times as you like (your best score counts). The
questions will change each time you repeat a Pretest.
- I recommend that you
take several Pretests on each unit (preferably on different days)
before you try the actual proctored Unit Exam. Organize your work in a
notebook, with the Pretest dated and each problem numbered. After you
take the Pretest, you can print it out, check over each problem, and
get help with the problems that you missed. This is one of the best
methods for preparing for the exams.
- A record of your
Pretests is retained in the system. You can then go back and look up
any of your old Pretests, review which problems you missed, etc. You
will also have a record of your improvement as you repeat these
Pretests.
- I can also look up your
old Pretests, so if you have a question about a particular problem, I
can then look and see what the problem is and what answer you entered.
- Remember that the Unit
Pretests count 10 points all together toward your course grade (your
best scores will be added and then scaled to 10 points).
Instructions for Proctored Exams:
Locations: We
have arranged for proctored exams to be taken at the following testing
centers:
- Eureka campus:
Academic Support Center in the library (LRC).
The ASC's hours are:
- M-Th 8:00am-8:30pm, F 8:00am-4:00pm. Note
that
you must finish your exam before the end of the time block.
- Arcata
Instructional Site: main office
You will need to make appointments in
advance. Please contact Amber
Cavanaugh to make an
appointment (707-822-8629).
- Testing hours are M-Th 8:00am-5:00pm, F 8:00am-4:30pm. Note
that
you must finish your exam before the end of the time block.
- The new Arcata Instructional Site is located
at the former Stewart School at 1125 16th Street, across the street
from the Arcata Community Pool (see map). You must
enter the building from the parking lot side at the basement level, and
follow the signs to the CR Arcata Site Office.
- Del Norte campus:
Academic
Support
Center.
You will need to make appointments in
advance. Please contact Lynn Durkee to discuss testing arrangements (707-465-2330).
- Testing hours are M-Th 8:00am-8:00pm, F 8:00am-5:00pm. Note
that
you must finish your exam before the end of the time block.
- Mendocino campus:
Academic Support Center.
You will need to make
appointments in advance. Please contact Michelle
Rosensteel to discuss testing
arrangements (707-962-2639).
- Testing hours are M-Th 8:30am-6:00pm, F 8:30am-3:00pm.
Note
that
you must finish your exam before the end of the time block.
- Students may also find an
alternative exam proctor if necessary (see the Proctor Arrangements
page for more details).
Instructions:
- At Eureka (all days), you
do not need to make an appointment. Just bring a picture ID
and check in with the testing center supervisor.
- At Del Norte, Mendocino,
and Arcata, you should make testing appointments in advance
with the testing supervisor. Also, remember to bring a picture
ID.
- After you select your exam
on your computer, the supervisor will authorize the beginning of your
exam, using the supervisor's computer.
- When you are done with your
exam, notify the supervisor, and he or she will authorize the grading
of the exam. You will then be able to look at all of the details of the
graded exam. Be sure to complete the grading
process - don't leave your exam ungraded.
- Be sure to close your
browser when you are done.
Rules:
- Just like all exams in
other classes, you must not talk with anyone else in the
testing center during the exam. Any such violation
amounts to academic misconduct. Likewise, if you are in the
testing center and NOT taking an exam, do not attempt to talk to anyone
who IS taking an exam.
- Work on the exam
only, and no notes or books. While taking the exam, you cannot
consult books or notes, and you cannot use the computer for anything
other than the exam - in other words, no other applications or windows
may be open. You may work out problems on pencil and paper, and
calculators are allowed on all exams.
- If you need a restroom
break while taking an exam, be sure to ask the testing center
supervisor.
- You can repeat the
proctored unit exam as many times as you want up until the deadline
date (the best score counts), except that you must abide by the
following rule:
- You
cannot take more than one proctored exam on the same unit on the same
day. The idea is that you should spend some
time reviewing the material and your previous exam before trying again.
Note that no proctored testing will
be available until September 2.
My testing has shown that the
OPTIMATH testing system appears to work fine in the ASC on the Eureka
campus. If you have any trouble at any of the various testing centers,
please let me know.
In addition, some of the staff
at the testing centers are new, and are still learning about the
testing system. Please be patient and cooperative as they learn the
system. Thanks!
Important rules:
- Deadlines: You cannot take a pretest or
proctored exam after the unit deadline has passed. Here is the Deadline policy:
- Because this is a partially self-paced
class, and you have lots of time to take each exam, I will not grant any exceptions for illness, travel,
car breakdowns, etc. It is best not to wait until the last day
to take the unit exam, because you might not feel good that day, or you
might get a flat tire, etc. Plan ahead and take the exam on a day when
you feel good and are ready for the exam. On the other hand, there are
a couple of exceptions to this "no exceptions" rule. These will be
decided on a case-by-case basis, but you must certainly contact me
promptly if you are in either of these situations:
- I will consider an exception if you
have a serious verifiable long-term illness or family emergency which
will heavily impact your ability to continue on schedule in the
class.
- I will also consider exceptions if we
have an operational problem with one of our testing centers and/or the
testing system which prevents you from meeting a deadline.
- Time limit:
Different exams may have different time limits, but most exams have a
time limit of 60 minutes. In general, most
people complete the exams within 45 minutes.
- Work on the exam
only, and no notes or books. While taking a proctored exam,
you cannot consult books or notes, and you cannot use the computer for
anything other than the exam - in other words, no other applications or
windows may be open. You may work out problems on pencil and paper, and
calculators are allowed on all exams.
- No talking!
Just like all exams in other classes, you must not talk with anyone
else in the testing center during a proctored exam. Any such violation
amounts to academic misconduct. Likewise, if you are in the testing
center and NOT taking an exam, do not attempt to talk to anyone who IS
taking an exam.
- Abandoned
exams: You cannot abandon a proctored exam once you have
started it. If you have left an exam ungraded, then you will receive 0
points on that exam. (However, if you just need a drink or a restroom
break, ask the proctor.)
- Repeats:
You may retake a pretest as many times as you wish up until the
deadline date. Your best score will be counted. You may also retake a
proctored exam if you wish, subject to the rule given below, and again
your best score will be counted. However, it is really better and more
convenient to use the pretest and practice exams to work out any
problems you are having, and then take the proctored exam. But in case
you do have a bad day, you can retake the exam subject to the following
rule:
- You cannot
take more than one proctored exam on the same unit on any single day
(the idea is that you should spend some time
going over your mistakes before trying again).
- Grade appeals: Computer grading is quite
rigid, and I know that can be a frustrating problem - sometimes
questions are missed just because of a syntax error, not a math error.
To avoid these problems, make sure that you do the following:
- Read the Unit Exam Description before taking any exams on that unit (pretest, practice, or
proctored). You will be warned about any new types of syntax problems.
- Take several pretests
before you take a proctored exam. Any problems with syntax will almost
certainly show up here, and you can then avoid them on the proctored
exam.
- Take the proctored exam by
the target date. Then you will have several chances to repeat the exam
if you made any errors.
- When taking an exam, make
sure that you look under the answer box for the type of answer
expected. You can also refer to the help
with math syntax page
at any time.
Because you are allowed to
repeat exams, grade appeals will generally not be granted. However,
they will certainly be granted if there is an error in the problem (see
the Errors page). If you want to appeal the scoring on any of your
unit exams, I will be most inclined to consider your request if you
bring it to my attention soon after the exam, but in any case you must
do so before the final exam of the course. I will not
consider any appeals after that time. Send me an email with the exam
number(s) and question number(s) that you would like me to look at, and
I will consider your request.
Reviewing your records and old exams:
- You can review your
records and old exams at any time using the "View Assignment Results" link on the testing
web site.
Exam Descriptions
Be sure to read the
description of each exam (available via the links below) before you
take that exam. These include reminders and announcements about syntax,
and other information about exam questions. I expect you to read this
information.
Math 25 home page