How do
I Take Online Exams in Math 30?
(but first read about the testing system
below)
Using the computer 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.
- Now you are ready to move on to Unit 1. Follow the instructions given in the Study Guidelines for Unit 1, and then in the Unit
1 Exam Description.
- If the testing system doesn't seem to work correctly for you,
be sure to consult the Technical
Notes page, and contact your instructor if necessary.
__________
Basic procedures:
The testing system is located at http://msenux.redwoods.edu/optimath (use the link for section E7462)
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: browser Firefox or Internet Explorer, with
Acrobat Reader version 6, 7, or 8. If you have Windows XP, it is recommended that
you install Acrobat Reader 7 or 8.
- 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
7 or 8.
- 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.
__________
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 things I would like to point out:
- 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.
- It never hurts to put in too many parentheses. It may
hurt you if you don't put in enough. 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 sqrt function 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.
- 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 digits.
In this case, any answer within 0.001 of the first number counts as correct. Thus,
if the listed correct answer is 1.41421356237, then responses such as 1.414 or 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.
__________
Other hints and information:
- How many questions? Each exam has between 16 and 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, each proctored unit exam will be rescaled to 20 points total, so they
all have equal weight. Each unit pretest will be rescaled to 5 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 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 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.
- These Pretests have the same time limit as the proctored Unit
Exam.
- 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 Pretest counts 5 points toward your
course grade (your best score will be scaled to 5 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 8am-8:30pm, F 8am-4:00pm
- Del Norte campus: Academic Support Center.
The center's hours are given below, but you will need to make appointments in advance.
Please contact Barbara
Schneider to discuss testing arrangements (707-465-2330).
- M 8am-noon & 1pm-5:30pm, Tu 10am-noon & 1pm-7pm,
W 1pm-7pm, Th 8am-noon & 1pm-5:30pm, F 8am-noon & 1pm-5pm
- Mendocino campus: Academic Support Center.
The center's hours are given below, but you will need to make appointments in advance.
Please contact Josh
Edelman to discuss testing arrangements (707-962-2639).
- MTu 8:30am-noon & 1pm-4:30pm, WTh 8:30am-noon &
1pm-6:30pm, F 8:30am-11:30am
- Klamath-Trinity campus: computer lab (room 100C).
You will need to make appointments in advance. Contact DaVita Fraser to discuss testing arrangements
(530-625-4846).
- Students may also find an alternative exam proctor if necessary
(see the Proctor Arrangements page for more details).
Instructions:
- At Eureka (all days) and Arcata (MWF), you do not need to
make an appointment. Just bring a picture ID and check in with the testing
center supervisor. You will also need to provide your OPTIMATH login name to the
supervisor.
- At Del Norte, Mendocino, Klamath-Trinitiy, and Arcata (TuTh),
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 February 1.
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 Past 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 30 home page