The Task manager allows teachers to direct students to specific parts of our resources to keep them on track and focused.
Quick access to recent tasks is also available from the starting dashboard view.
Creating a Directed task
Directed tasks allow you to create pathways through the course content and are good for differentiated learning.
- Select the Create option from the Task manager screen or from the dashboard view.
- Give your task a name, select Directed task type and click Next. You can also add a description or notes for the students.
- The range of activities available for your resource will be displayed as icons. Select the first activity you want to set by dragging an icon up to the line. The resources available may depend on the mathematics product.
- For some resources you will need to select the course, chapter, and topic. Use the drop-down arrows and check boxes to make your selection and click Insert.
- If you set a measurable task such as a quiz, Scorcher or test, a set of arrows will appear next to the activity icon.
- Click on the arrows to bring up a slider that can be used to set a benchmark for results in an activity. For example, if you want all students who achieve over 60% to be sent on one activity path and students who score below this to be sent on a different path, set the slider at 60 and click Update.
- You can now add activities for the different paths based on the needs of the students. Your directed task will look something like this:
- You may want your students to self-assess at any point in a task. Drag the Self-assessment icon to the line and type in what you want your students to consider when they self-assess with a four-point scale. A self-assessment is also a measurable point where students can be sent in different directions.
Previewing an activity
- To preview an activity before adding it to your task, drag the icon to the line and if there are blue links within the name of the activity, you can click to preview.
Quick tasks
Quick tasks are an easy way to assign a single activity. Although they can be edited to create multiple paths like Directed tasks once they have been created.
- Select the Create option from the Task manager screen or from the dashboard view.
- Give your task a name.
- Select Quick task.
- You can also add a description or notes for the students.
- Use the drop-down menus to select the course, chapter and topic. Use the checkboxes to select the activities you would like to include. Click Next.
- The chosen activities will appear on the task line and look something like this:
- You can edit the activities chosen on this screen (see Directed tasks).
Assigning a task
Tasks need to be assigned for students to complete.
Tasks can be assigned from:
- The task creation screen by selecting Assign.
- The Task manager screen by selecting the task and selecting the Assign button.
- The dashboard by using the menu for each task.
To assign a task:
- Give the task a name.
- Add a message to the students.
- Select the class or classes to assign the task to.
- Once the class is selected, you will have the option to choose all students or select individual students from the class. Multiple students can be selected by holding down Ctrl (PC) or Command (Mac) as you click the student’s name.
- Select Assign to send the task to the students. Students will be notified that they have a task to complete.
What students see when they receive a task
Assigned tasks will appear in the My to do list section of the student dashboard.
To begin an assigned task, select Start.
Setting a task for your students does not limit them to only that task. They can still use other resources and return to the task activities later in the Tasks screen.
The Tasks screen shows all tasks, including:
- In Progress: tasks that are open and not started or incomplete.
- Completed: tasks that have been completed.
- Closed: tasks that have been closed by the teacher.
Checking the progress of your students in an assigned task
- From the Task manager screen select the Assigned Task tab.
- Select the task and choose the Check Progress option to see how students are performing in the task.
Closing a task and viewing the results
- From the Task manager screen select the Assigned Task tab.
- To close a task, select the task and choose the Close button.
- You can see the results for the task by selecting the task and choosing the Check Progress option.
- You can see results for All Users, or for a single student.