Adaptive LessonsThe A+nywhere Learning System™

Welcome

Hello,I’m Hootie and I’m here

to guide you through the steps to create an adaptive lesson using the A+nywhere Learning System™ (A+, for short).

Why Adaptive Lessons?

Adaptive lessons in the A+ program are designed to help you, as the teacher, provide individualized, targeted instruction to your students who are in need of intervention.

How Does A+ Work?

The A+ system provides students a pre-test based on a set of TEKS or TAKS objectives you choose. A+ writes the pre-test for you! As the student takes the pre-test, A+ determines the specific TEKS for which the student needs instruction.

How Does A+ Work?

Once A+ diagnoses the students’ areas of weakness, the system constructs a series of short modules that provide additional instruction as well as assess the students’ mastery of the instruction.

What Will You Be Doing Today?

You and I will be looking at and practicing the 7 basic steps to creating an adaptive lesson in the A+ system.

What Will You Be Doing Today?The steps (or tasks) are:• Identify instructional needs of

students• Log onto A+• Open Class in which the

lesson is to be created• Create new A+ List• Add appropriate standards to

list• Create Adaptive Assessment• Exit System

How Do You Get Started?

Like any great teacher, you are probably already aware of one or two students who are struggling with a particular concept.

How Do You Get Started?

You will need to dig a little deeper into the assessment information available for those students in order to decide what additional instruction will help them the most.

Where Will You Find That Information?

You already have most of the information you will need. Take a look at your grade book. Those homework, project and test scores tell you a great deal.

Where Will You Find That Information?

You’ve also been given a copy of your students’ individual TAKS scores from last year. You should also have a copy of the most current Benchmark test results.

Where Will You Find That Information?

But don’t just rely on formal assessments. Informal assessments are just as valuable.

Where Will You Find That Information?

You are with your students every day. You know who does and doesn’t participate in class. You probably have heard the phrase “I don’t get it” occasionally. Those are valuable observations.

You have the information, what’s next?

Here’s where you sit down with all of the information along with a copy of your lesson plans and the TEKS for the subject.

You have the information, what’s next?

Find what lessons, or TAKS objectives the student had difficulty mastering. Determine which TEKS were a part of that lesson or TAKS objective and write them down.

Where Do You Go From Here?

You’ve done the preparation work needed in order to create the A+ adaptive assessment.

But, before we move on to Task 2 (yep, that was Task 1), let’s take some time to answer a couple of questions to be sure you’re A-OK with Task 1.

Question #1

1. Which of the following can be used to determine the instructional needs of your students?a) TAKS benchmark

resultsb) Teacher-made testsc) Projects/portfoliosd) All of the above

Question #1

The Correct Answer is d) all of the aboveFormal assessments are

great qualitative data to be used to help determine a students’ instructional needs.

Question #2

2. True or FalseInformal assessments

should not be considered when determining the instructional needs of students.

Question #2

The Correct Answer is FALSEInformal assessments are

an integral part of determining a students’ instructional needs.

Okay, you’ve completed Task 1.

Now on to Task 2Log on to A+

Okay, you’ve completed Task 1.

Before we go on to Task 2, there are a few “techno terms” you need to be familiar with to help you complete the unit.

Cursor – the little arrow that follows your mouse movements.

Double click – Depress the left mouse button twice.

Left click – Depress the left mouse button

Right click – Depress the right mouse button

Mouseover – Place the cursor over a specific area or selection

ONWARD TO TASK 2!!!!

Find the A+ Logo on your desktop and double click on it.

It’s a little red “A+”

Type in your Log-On Name

Your Log-On Name is your first initial and last name all “scrunched” together

Type in your Password

Your password is the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number

Left click on “Log Me On”.

The management screen appears

We’ve enlarged the screens from this point forward so you can see them better!

Time for some questions

Now what kind of teacher would I be if I didn’t ask YOU some questions?

Ready?Let’s Go!

Question #3

3.Your password consists of a) Your employee IDb) The last 4 digits of your

SSNc) Your middle named) None of the Above

Question #3

The Correct Answer is b) The last 4 digits of your

SSN

Question #4

4. True or FalseYour Log-On Name

consists of your first initial and last name all “scrunched” together.

Question #4

The Correct Answer is TRUEInformal assessments are

an integral part of determining a students’ instructional needs.

Okay, you’ve completed Task 2.

Now on to Task 3Open Class in which the

lesson is to be created

Left click on the Clipboard icon at the top of the screen.

The Assignment Management Window appears.

Click on the circle (also known as a "key) to the left of “Covington ISD”

A list of all of your A+ classes appears.

If the class you need to use is not on the list, email the A+ Administrator and request for it to be added.

Left click on the circle (also known as a "key) to the left of the class in which you want to create the adaptive lesson.

The Class “opens” and you see the “Default Lesson Plan” folder. Please note: Do not touch the “DO NOT USE” folder.

Another quick self-check!

Let’s see if you have the basics of opening a class.

Ready?Let’s Go!

Question #5

5.Which icon is used to access the Assignment Management” page and the class list?a) Group of four facesb) Clipboardc) Hand writing on a folderd) Papers spilling out of a

folder

Question #5

The Correct Answer is b) Clipboard

The clipboard icon is the only icon used to manage your lessons in A+.

Question #6

6.On what do you click to open the class?a) The “open class” buttonb) The “stop” buttonc) The “key” to the left of the

class named) All of the above

Question #6

The Correct Answer is c) The “key” to the left of

the class name.

The circle to the left of the class name is also called a “key”. From now on, we will call those little circles “keys”.

Okay, you’ve completed Task 3.

Now on to Task 4Create new A+ list.

Right click on “Default Lesson Plan” and a selection list appears. The screen also changes to the “Usage Settings” screen.

Left click on “Create New List”.

The “New Assignment List Settings” pop-up appears.

Change the List Name to reflect your lesson.

For now, don’t worry about the other settings. These will be discussed in another instructional unit.

Left click on “OK” to save the new List Name.

A pop-up appears letting you know the list has been added.

Left click “OK”.

You return to the “Usage Settings” screen.

Left click on the “Default Lesson Plan” key and your new list name appears.

Just a quick note.

After completing these steps, you will have created a List. This is a folder to hold the actual adaptive lesson you will create in Task 5.

Once again, time for questions!

Creating a List is quite simple, correct?

Let’s see if you get these questions correct!

Question #7

True or FalseThe lesson name is

customized by overtyping the default (“New Assignment List”) lesson name on the “New Assignment List Settings” screen.

Question #7

The Correct Answer is TRUE

You can change the default name of the List by simply overtyping the default list name.

Question #8

8.What two things occur when you right click “Default Lesson Plan?I. The cursor turns blueII. A selection list appearsIII. A whistle blows and confetti fallsIV. The screen changes to the Usage Settings

screen

a) I and IIb) II and IIIc) I and IVd) II and IV

Question # 8

The Correct Answer is d) II and IV

A selection list appears and the screen changes to the Usage Settings screen.

Sorry, no whistles or confetti. Although that would be cool.

Task 4 is now complete!

Forward to Task 5.Add appropriate standards

to list.

This is where that list of TEKS you wrote down in Task 1 will be needed.

Right click on your new assignment list. A selection pop-up appears and the screen changes to “Assignment List Settings”.

Mouseover “Add Assignment” and a selection list appears.

For this unit, left click on “From Standards”.

The “Add to Assignment List” window appears. This window contains 4 drop down menus to help you select the TEKS for your adaptive lesson.

Left click on the on right side of the “Select a Standard Set” drop down.

Left click on your choice.

This unit will use the “Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills”.

Left click on the on right side of the “Curriculum Area” drop down.

Left click on your choice.

This unit will use “Science” as the curriculum area.

Left click on the on right side of the “Standard Subset” drop down.

Left click on your choice.

This unit will use “Biology” as Standard Subset.

Follow the same steps to select the Curriculum Level (or grade level) for the lesson.

A list of appropriate TEKS appears based on your selections.

You can select the TEKS you want to include lesson three ways.

Right Click on and individual TEKS Standard OR

Hold down the CTRL key and right click on multiple TEKS Standards OR

Hold down the SHIFT key and right click on first and last TEKS Standards in a range of TEKS.

Left click on the “Add” button to add the selected standards to your adaptive lesson.

The “Add to Assignment” screen appears. The A+ activities associated with your selected TEKS appears under “Available Activities”.

The basics are done!

The rest is easy, peasy!

But first, you guessed it, Question Time!

Question #9

9.How do you access the “Assignment List Settings” screen?a) Right Click the Lesson name and

highlight “Add From Standards”b) Click the “Clipboard” iconc) Click on the “Add from

Standards” button on the “Assignment List Standards” screen

d) None of the above

Question #9

The Correct Answer is a) Right Click the Lesson

name and highlight “Add From Standards”

Question #10

10.True or FalseRight clicking on each

TEK will allow you to select a range of TEKS.

Question #10

The Correct Answer is FALSE

To select a range of TEKS you must hold down the SHIFT key and left click on the first and last TEKS in the range.

Task 5 is now complete!

Next up – Task 6.Create Adaptive

Assessment.

Adaptive Assessments

RememberAdaptive lessons in the A+

program are designed to help you, as the teacher, provide individualized, targeted instruction to your students who are in need of intervention.

Adaptive Assessments

Once A+ diagnoses the students’ areas of weakness through the adaptive assessment, the system constructs a series of short modules that provide additional instruction as well as assess the students’ mastery of the instruction.

Adaptive Assessments

Let’s get to it!

Left click on the “Adaptive Assessment” button. A+ will create a pre-test using the activities you designed from the TEKS you selected.

The “Add Activity – Single User” window appears. Here is where you change the default Assessment Name to reflect your lesson.

Simply type in the name of your lesson. Don’t worry about changing the defaults for the other choices on the screen. Those will be covered in another instructional unit.

Left Click “OK”

The “Add to Assignment List” screen appears. Notice that your Assignment (or lesson) appears on the right side of the screen under “Assignments in Current Use”!

Left Click “Close”. You will need to close all the screens you have just used to create the adaptive lesson.

Left Click “Close”.

Hear you are back at the “Assignment List Settings” page. Notice your Lesson now appears in the “Assignments in List” box.

Left click the key to the left of the List Name. Your lesson will appear underneath the List Name.

You’re Almost Done!

Now all you have to do is Log out!

Almost the last questions for you to answer.

(Yes, I said “almost”)

Question #11

11.What is selected (clicked) on the “Add to Assignment” Screen to create the Adaptive Assessment?

a) “All Activities on List”b) “Close”c) “Adaptive Assessment”d) “Help”

Question #11

The Correct Answer is c) “Adaptive Assessment”

Question #12

12.Where will the new Adaptive Assignment appear?a) On the login pageb) Under the class name on the

“Assignment Management” page

c) Nowhere – you just have to trust that it was done

d) The top right-hand corner of each page

Question #12

The Correct Answer is b) Under the class name on

the “Assignment Management” page

Task 6 is now complete!

Last One – Task 7.Exit System

Exiting A+ is easy. Just left click the “STOP” sign in the upper right-hand corner of each page.

Left click “STOP”.

Left click “STOP”.

Left click “STOP”.

Here you are, back at your desktop!

Congratulations!!!!!!

You’ve just completed the study portion of this instructional unit.

Now it’s time to try it on your own.

Your Final Task

Your final task will be to create a “practice” adaptive lesson on A+ that could be used in your own classroom.

Your Final Task

In order to get credit for this instructional unit you must provide your Evaluator the following:

Your Final Task

1. A copy of the documents you used to determine the instructional needs of your students: Grades TAKS test scores Benchmark test scores Any observational or

informal assessments used

Your Final Task

2. A list of the TEKS chosen3. The name of the class

where the adaptive lesson is located

4. The name of the Assignment List

5. The Assignment Name

Just Remember

If, while you’re creating your “practice” lesson, you get lost or forget what to do next, just take a look at the printed guide you were given. Or, you could access this presentation from the District website.

Good Luck!

With practice, you will be able to quickly create adaptive lessons for your students and provide individualized, differentiated learning for any or all of them!