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Help and frequently asked questions
General Info:
What are learning modules?
Modules are advanced learning tools, designed to accelerate instruction in a particular learning domain.
Each module is a web-delivered application that will run directly in your web browser.
Modules are personalized for your learning speed and strengths. Insight analyzes your learning data in order to optimize instruction.
PLMs engage students in a form of learning that is somewhat different from other kinds of instruction that are more familiar to both students and teachers. PLMs are designed to engage humans' natural capacities to recognize and process patterns and relationships through repeated interaction with the input. Students will complete many short, interactive problems, with immediate feedback provided each time.
How can I use modules?
Subscribing gives you unlimited access to a module during the payment period (1 month). Access your subscribed module from any computer at any time.
When you log into the Insight website you will have access to all of your subscribed modules.
System Requirements
In order to access modules you need a computer capable of accessing the internet, and a web browser that supports Adobe Flash. The most recent versions of the following web-browsers are supported (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer). Please contact us if you are having trouble accessing modules.
Currently Insight's modules are not accessible on iOS devices (iPhone and iPad), however if you are using a tablet computer capable of displaying Adobe Flash (e.g. Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab) you can access our modules through the web browser of your device.
Learning Technology:
What is perceptual learning?
A characteristic of experts in any domain is that they selectively pick up relevant information, discover important patterns, and see key structure in new cases or situations. They are able to extract structure quickly and fluently with little effort (cognitive load), freeing up attention for higher-level problem solving. It had been thought that this kind of learning could not be systematically taught and could only be slowly acquired through experience.
However, from recent applied research we now know how to teach and accelerate the development of perceptual learning. This has been a crucial missing link in learning. In mathematics, for example, students are ordinarily taught facts, concepts, and procedures, but there have not been effective ways to teach students to SEE -- to classify what they are looking at in novel situations, to know which procedures or facts are relevant, and to be able to process fluently so that basic information extraction does not overload complex problem solving.
See more about our research in these news sources
Using Modules:
Login and Instructions
As students begin using a module, you'll want to make sure that they understand the interface for the PLM - how to log in, how to enter a response, how to move to the next problem, and so forth. The PLMs are designed to be intuitive to use, so most students catch on quickly. When a student logs in for the first time, he or she will see some brief instructions and then will start on the short interactive problems that make up the PLM learning experience. PLMs usually contain several different problem formats, and students will encounter these naturally as they work with the module.
Instructions for modules are available directly here:
Algebra Insight™
MultiRep Insight™
Multiple Sessions
It is important for students to understand that the software is meant to be used over multiple sessions. Just as you need to play a video game repeatedly until you get good at it, so, too, do you need to work with the PLMs over multiple sessions spread across a number of days. Teachers and parents can help students experience this learning process successfully by planning and scheduling repeated sessions with the PLMs over a couple of weeks and communicating to students that they aren't expected to complete the module in just one or two sessions.
Adaptive learning
The software is designed to adapt in a unique way to each individual student based on his or her performance and progress to date in the module. Thus students should not work together on a PLM and students should not share their accounts or login information with each other. Having more than one student working under the same account or having the same student accessing the module from different accounts will defeat some of the PLMs' most powerful learning features. If a student changes login accounts midway through a PLM or if more than one student uses the same login account, the software will not be able to track the performance history appropriately and the adaptive features will not work properly. Students can, however, use their unique account login to access the PLM from different computers. For example, if students have internet access at home, they can continue working on a PLM as homework.
When you log into the Insight website you will have access to all of your subscribed modules. You can log in at https://insightlt.com from any computer (also see system requirements).
Errors and Feedback
Students may make frequent errors at first - that is normal and is part of the learning process. On every problem the learner will get immediate feedback that will help them identify errors and see the patterns that underlie correct responses. Most students start to self-correct as they gain experience, and this is how the PLMs are intended to work, so you shouldn't feel that you need to intervene too early, while students are gaining experience with the PLM. It is not important to get every problem right from the beginning. Some students may find it uncomfortable to make errors and may worry that their grade is going to suffer. You can reassure them that it's okay to make errors and that they can use the software to learn from errors. The errors they make are between them and computer, which won't judge them or grade them but will help guide them. Some students find it reassuring to think about this kind of learning as being similar to learning a new video game, practicing a sport, or learning to play a musical instrument. When acquiring a new skill like this, no one gets everything right from the beginning.
Response Time
Another unusual feature of the PLMs is that they encourage the student to respond relatively quickly - trying to develop an eye for seeing what structures and relations are important in a problem rather than engaging in long chains of calculations or problem solving. If a student is unable to respond quickly enough, the problem will time out and offer feedback on the correct answer. The amount of time available is relatively generous, so students should not feel that they are racing against the clock. However, they should expect to run out of time occasionally when they are first learning. Getting faster - becoming fluent - is a learning goal, and when students meet the PLM's mastery criteria, you (and they) can be sure that their performance is fully fluent. Because the learning trials are paced a bit like a video game, many students approach them with the same focus. You'll notice, though, that while the problems are timed until the student enters a response, feedback is generally available for as long as a student wants to look at it. Indeed, paying attention to feedback helps students make faster progress.
Progress Indicators
As students work with the module, they'll see progress indicators - usually a row of bubbles or a continuous bar that gets filled in as they make progress toward meeting the mastery criteria for the types of problem categories in the module. After every 10-12 problems, students will also see a summary feedback screen that shows them their average accuracy and speed for previous blocks of items. Students generally take this feedback seriously and understand that the way to improve is to increase their accuracy while decreasing the amount of time they take to answer a problem. When they have met the mastery criteria for all of the problem types, the software will automatically congratulate them for having completed the whole module.
Achieving Mastery Criteria
As students make progress and they see that they are getting faster and more accurate, they should concentrate on trying to avoid errors while not going too slowly. Errors matter more as the student gets closer to mastery. For the program to retire a category of problems as "mastered," the student must be correct and reasonably fast on a high percentage of the most recent problems of that type that they've seen. Thus a careless error or a slow response can delay meeting the mastery criteria. Students are generally motivated when they see that they are advancing on the progress indicators and are close to completing the module. If they are getting fatigued or distracted, they may want to take a break so their performance doesn't deteriorate; otherwise, they should concentrate and work carefully but not too slowly. (Note that meeting the response time criteria for mastery should be comfortable for a student who has learned the material well. They don't need to race the clock.)
Parents and Teachers:
How do I get started?
As a parent you'll need to set up a subscription for each student that will access the module. As a teacher you should set up a class or school subscription (contact Insight via email). First you will need to subscribe to the module you wish to access. It is important that each account be used by only one student because the learning software is tailored to the learning data in each account.
PLMs use web-based software that tracks and adapts to each individual student's performance in real-time. To do this, the PLM operates from a secure remote server that tracks each student's performance within and across sessions and adjusts the learning experience for that student. All information transferred is confidential and secure. You and your students may choose usernames that are anonymous as well, and no other personal identifying information is transmitted or stored.
The PLM accesses the secure server through a regular internet browser, and requires Adobe Flash. It is recommended that you use a recent version of Firefox or Google Chrome on either a Mac or Windows PC (modules are not accessible through iOS due to its lack of support for flash).
Instructions for modules are available directly here:
Algebra Insight™
MultiRep Insight™
Student accounts
Each student will have a unique individual account for each PLM. To access his or her account, the student logs in with a username and password. Students can access the PLM repeatedly, working with the PLM for as many sessions as needed until they meet all mastery criteria and complete the module. It's very important that each student uses the same account login every time and that no other student shares that account.
With a valid subscription, a student can log in to his or her account and use the PLM from any internet-connected computer, including home computers. However, to get the full benefit of the PLMs' adaptive learning features, which automatically customize the learning experience for each individual student, students should not work together or share accounts.
How can I monitor students' work?
The PLMs include a utility designed for students and adults to monitor the performance of their students. While students get a lot of feedback about their own progress during the module, it is useful to see a record of their performances across all of their learning sessions.
The PLMs include a stats reporting feature in addition to the feedback that students receive during the module. The stats view is accessible from the user dash board. The button labeled 'stats' associated with each module will show average performance data for each user for a) the last session completed and b) the cummulative record of sessions completed since the module was initially begun. Students can use the stats feature to get a sense of how they are improving, or to be reminded what their last mastery level or session performance was like if they are logging in after an extended period of time since they last ran the module.
Preventing browsing and distractions
As a parent, it may be useful to maximize the browser or make it 'fullscreen'. The module supports a 'fullscreen' mode which removes distracting elements of the Insight website, as well as a 'parent' mode which will password protect 'fullscreen' mode so that a student can only access the running module.
Spacing Learning Over Multiple Sessions
PLMs are designed to be completed over multiple sessions of about 20-40 minutes, spaced approximately one to three days apart. This feature, known as spaced study or practice, is strongly supported by research on learning as a great way to make learning long-lasting. It is much more effective than "cramming" by trying to complete a module in one long session. Spacing multiple short study sessions over time is a much more efficient and effective method for maximizing the strength and durability of learning in less total time.
Students will vary in the number of sessions it takes them to complete a module, but plan on multiple sessions -- typically between 3 and 10 sessions. Some students already know more than others at the start of a module; some students work more quickly or persistently than others; and some PLMs may be longer or contain more complex content than others. Because the PLMs are adaptive, they constantly diagnose how accurate and fluent each student is for all types of learning items contained in the module. The automatic adaptive features of the software also provide teachers with a powerful and effective tool for differentiating instruction in classes with students who have different ability levels and backgrounds.
Learning to Mastery
When a student demonstrates that he or she is reliably accurate and fluent for a given type of problem, the software automatically "retires" that category, allowing the student to concentrate time and effort on other types of problems that are less well learned. Because learners vary quite a bit, the amount of time needed to complete a module will also vary quite a bit. It is important to give slower students sufficient time to reach mastery. Although it may take them longer, they can nevertheless achieve the same level of proficiency as their peers. For many students who struggle in math, this can be a very empowering experience.
What are subscriptions?
Subscribing gives you unlimited access to a learning module during the payment period (1 month). Access your subscribed module from any computer at any time.
How do I subscribe?
Subscribe by clicking on the 'subscribe' button on the page for the learning module you wish to purchase.
How long do subscriptions last?
Subscriptions last for a period of 1 month and are automatically renewed. You are free to use a product as often as you like while its subscription is active. Subscriptions are not transferrable and cannot be resold. Only one user can actively use an account at a time, but you may assign an active 'learner', whose name is different than the primary account holder, to each account.
We will preserve your learning data if you cancel your account and want to sign up again at a future time.
What types of subscriptions are available?
Currently each module is subscribed to individually. If you would like to purchase more than one module at a time or have other questions about subscriptions, please contact info@insightlt.com
Who do I pay?
Payments are processed using Amazon.com's secure payment services. For your security and privacy, you will be sent to a page on Amazon's servers. Follow the instructions carefully. You can either use your existing Amazon account or you can create a new one.
When you return to the Insight website you will have access to all of your subscribed modules.
About Amazon Payments
Amazon payments are safe and easy. They automatically come with Amazon's industry proven fraud protection. Amazon accepts many payment types (e.g. bank account debit cards, Amazon gift cards in addition to typical credit cards). For more information see:
Amazon Payments subscription management page: http://payments.amazon.com/
Security and Privacy
Insight is committed to the safety and privacy of your personal information. We will not give your name or information to third-parties without your consent.
