Q. When does the password expire?
A. One semester--maximum of 20 weeks.
Q. How long does the student maintain access?
A. One semester--maximum of 20 weeks.
Q. Currently with Academic Systems, we have an instructor from AS field questions in the lab, will a representative from MHHE or ALEKS do the same?
A. Technical and other support are provided to instructors and administrators by the ALEKS corporation by telephone and email. Information on obtaining technical support is outlined in the instructor's manual. The ALEKS support desk is manned during regular business hours, Pacific Time, but they will answer questions received at other times as soon as they can. Students using ALEKS should approach their instructors, who can then contact ALEKS directly if there are technical problems. If the school is using Dugopolski there is a section of the text-specific web site that provides an on-line tutor center. There are actual tutors that hold office hours. If the student can not make the office hours they can leave a question that will be answered within 24 hours. There is also a threaded chat line for other students to view the questions and answers left by students from all over the nation.
Q. How does ALEKS handle incompletes from students?
A. If a student drops or takes an incomplete for the class and they have already activated ALEKS then they must purchase a new password access for the next time they choose to take the course. This is the same structure that the schools have in place for the course itself. The student must pay tuition again for retaking the course.
Q. How do students register? Can students self-register or does the professor need to "Activate" the account in some way?
A. The professor gets an access code and must set up their course. They then tell the students the course code. The student uses this course code when going into ALEKS for the first time.
Q. What actually is packaged with the MHHE book - a password or just the web address?
A. A user's guide with an access code for the student.
Q. If this can be a stand-alone distance learning product, then where are the grading mechanisms, discussion areas, etc.? It seems much more like a supplement than an actual "course in a box".
A. There is no grade given as such, just a record of what the student has mastered. The instructor can translate this mastery to a grade if they want, for example, a "C" for 70% of the items mastered, a "B" for 80% mastered, etc. or whatever bar they want to set. We don't currently have a discussion area for the students on the ALEKS web site. However, if the Professor is interested in creating a discussion area this could always be achieved via PageOut.
Q. What server houses the videos? I'm assuming MHHE. How are low band-width modems and long download times being addressed if these files are to reside on the web? Will there be a CD alternative?
A. Digital video and interactive applications will reside on the MH server. If they are using Dugo or Hutchison, there is a CD with the book and this contains much of what is on their corresponding OLCs. If they are using ALEKS with the ALEKS worktext, they must have a healthy connection for the assets on the MH server since some of these are 1.5 Megs. No CD is planned for this version.
Q. How are used books addressed - will the student be forced to buy a $50.00 password simply because they want to save $$$ on a used book (that kind of seems to penalize the student doesn't it?)
A. If they are using ALEKS with one of our textbooks, to get the discounted price of $20 net they must purchase a new book. This is super inexpensive for a product like this. Remember there are no set up or site license fees. However, if an institution wants to site license ALEKS and buy it for each student they are welcome to do it--at $50 per student.
