Suggested Usage

Is 30 minutes a day really enough?

For most students, 30 minutes per day is sufficient to reach the end of their enrolled grade level. As an educator, you know that what's important for students to learn math is consistent and frequent use. So, we recommend students log in for 30 minutes as many days a week as possible. This gets most students the time they need to succeed!

Understandably, your class schedule may not accommodate this​. Because iLearn is web-based, students can log in anywhere they have access to a computer and the internet. If some days are too tight to fit in 30 minutes of iLearn, identify windows of opportunity before or after school, or ask students to spend time in iLearn at home (remind parents to not help students during tests!).  We even have a new Notification that can send you a report documenting activity outside of your class period or school day!

How much total time do students need?

Generally, students need about 10-15 hours times their enrolled grade level. For example, the typical 3rd grader would need to spend about 30-45 hours (across the entire school year) to reach and complete the final chapter of their grade level. Some 3rd graders will be above grade level by 30 hours, so pay close attention to the many iLearn Math Reports.  

You know that students enter your class with different levels of understanding. Some 3rd grade students might only need 10-15 hours, while others may need 60-70 hours to get back to and complete grade level. The amount of time students need is highly dependent on their gap density (the number of gaps they have below grade level).

Monitor your students' progress and make sure they are spending their time efficiently in the program (i.e., advancing), and that they are getting enough time. Also pay close attention to the Flag Report to assist students who need help the most.

How should we use iLearn?

We strive to provide a robust and flexible learning system. The most important thing for any iLearn implementation is for each teacher to know the range of possibilities they have at their fingertips.

When students log in to iLearn, they typically click Start. Clicking Start opens the iLearn Math program that customizes based on the needs of each student, without the need for micromanagement by the teacher. iLearn Math will identify the student's lowest math gap, place the student at that location, and manage the student's progress through the course.  The teacher monitors that progress, and intervenes as appropriate with praise or assistance. We also encourage for teachers to ensure that each student has available a pencil and paper, or even better, a notebook into which students enter the date each day they log into iLearn Math. This gives you and the student a written record of student activity in iLearn Math.

With Assessments, a district or school administrator can easily assign a Multi Grade Diagnostic (questions across multiple grades in one pre-built test) or Benchmark (questions at grade level in the pre-built test), to all students or selected grades of students across the district or school to document student growth throughout the school year.  Teachers can also easily assign different pre-built tests to students that can help track the student's progress back to grade level, monitor a student's growth at grade level, or provide detailed data on the students understanding at and below grade level. Click here to learn about assigning Assessments.

Outside of iLearn Math's prescriptive approach, teachers also have the ability to assign assessments (pre-built tests) to students for additional practice and monitoring purposes, and make targeted Assignments (groups of content) that retain some of the mastery-based components of iLearn Math. At any point in the school year, students could be below, at, or above their enrolled grade level in iLearn Math.  By making Assignments, teachers can target grade level content to students at any time. Students thus have the opportunity to correct their gaps below grade level while concurrently learning at grade level.  For students beyond grade level, it's a great way to refocus at grade level near the end of the year.  Click here to learn about making targeted Assignments.

As a teacher, what's my daily role?

The best thing about iLearn for teachers is that your role doesn't change at all, it's just less burdensome. 

While students are working in iLearn, it is important that you monitor their activity to make sure they are actively engaged. Monitoring their activity is easily accomplished by viewing the many reports, including the Highlights report (click here to see the Highlights report).

Inevitably, students will come across a topic that challenges them more than other topics. In these cases, it's important to quickly identify the student who is struggling, why they are struggling, and to help the student learn the concept. The Highlights report or the mobile report will help you see who in your class might be struggling by a Progress Flag, or a high number of questions answered paired with a low percent correct. When you see a student who might be struggling, be familiar with the particular lesson or chapter in iLearn, observe the student's interaction with the program, and intervene to help them return to productive activity in the program.

As the teacher with iLearn, you will have the ability to help each student individually on a wide range of topics from varying grade levels. If a student is struggling in a Lesson you aren't familiar with, we recommend viewing that Lesson Instruction prior to assisting the student. Click here to learn how you can view a Lesson Instruction.​