The PPC (Pre-pre-calculus) program is the component of the Math Workshop which reviews your high school algebra in order to bring you up to the level needed for your required or desired M and Q classes.

This requirement can be met by completing an on-line math program "ALEKS," (an acronym for "Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces").  ALEKS is a web-based program for the assessment and individualized teaching of mathematics for the purpose of raising your Wittenberg University math placement score to a level 22, 23 or 24.

ALEKS is the new way to learn math on the World-Wide-Web.  By knowing exactly which math concepts the student has mastered, which are shaky, and which are new but within reach, ALEKS enables the student to work on those concepts the student is most ready to learn.  ALEKS is a full-time automated tutor, including explanations, practice, and feedback.  ALEKS closely interacts with the student, continuously updating its precise map of the student's knowledge state.  ALEKS combines the advantages of one-on-one instruction and evaluation with the convenience of being on-call, on your computer, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  To learn more about ALEKS, please visit http://www.aleks.about

Math Placement Levels
       Level 22 (MA) - Minimum needed for all M courses      

• Required for students majoring in American Studies, Art, Communication, East Asian Studies, Education, English, Global Studies, History, Languages, Music, Philosophy, Religion, Russian Area Studies, Theater and Dance, Urban Studies, and Women’s Studies.
• Level 22 is referred to as Minimal Algebra (MA) and students can take those classes requiring that placement to fulfill their math requirements.  Students can choose from such courses as Computing in the Arts & Sciences, Principles of Economics, Language of Mathematics, Math for Elem/Mid-School Teachers, Logic and Critical Reasoning, and Astronomy.

Level 23 (MS) - Needed for algebra based statistics courses

• Required for students majoring in Forestry and Environmental Studies, Occupational Therapy, Geography, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology.
• Level 23 is referred to as Math for Stats (MS) and students needing this placement for their major are required to take Statistics.

       Level 24 (PhD) - Needed for Math 120, Elementary Functions

• Required for students majoring in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Engineering, Aquatic Biology, Nursing, Pre-Health, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Geology, Management, Mathematics, and Physics.
• Level 24 is needed by students who will need to take Pre-Calculus and then continue on with Calculus.

In order to proceed with the ALEKS program, first visit the Math Workshop for advising so that all your questions and concerns can be addressed along with providing you explanations of the program in detail.  In order for a student to register as an ALEKS user, they will need an Access code.  They will also need a Course code provided by the Math Workshop.  There will be three different course codes to correspond to the math placement levels of 22, 23, and 24.  When the student registers with the ALEKS system, their name is entered into the database and records of their progress are kept.  After being advised about the ALEKS program, visit the Wittenberg University Bookstore to purchase an Access code.  DO NOT OPEN the packaging until you return to the Math Workshop.  (The access code can also be purchased online under the direction of the Math Workshop).

Then follow these steps:
NOTE:  Your first time into the ALEKS system must be done in the Math Workshop.  When you return to the Math Workshop, the receptionist will direct you to a head tutor who will then assist you in the following steps:
 1.  Go to the web address http://www.aleks.com

2.  This is the home page.  In the upper right hand corner of the screen, click on "Register with ALEKS" (first time users).

3.   Under "For Students", click on REGISTER

4.  At the end of this very long paragraph, click on I ACCEPT

5.  At the beginning of registration, you will be asked for your Access Code.  It is on a sticker inside the back cover of your booklet. This access code is good for only 18 weeks from the time you register.  Enter the access code in the spaces provided and click on “Next.”
6.  There are 4 sections listed for you to complete.  It is essential that you allow yourself at least an hour to complete the Registration, Tutorial and the Assessment.
 
7.  Near the conclusion of the Registration, you will receive a login name and password, with an option to change the password assigned to you.  Every time you log on from the ALEKS website you will enter the Login Name and Password provided at this registration.  These should be noted carefully as they will be essential for all further work with ALEKS.  If by some chance you lose your Login Name or Password, contact your instructor. 
8.  Following registration you will be asked for your Course Code.  The course code is given to you by the Math Workshop.  You will receive a course code based the math placement level of 22, 23 or 24.  Enter this in the spaces provided and click on “Next.”
9.  After registration, you will enter a brief Tutorial on the use of the ALEKS input tools, called the "Answer Editor.”  This is intended to show you how to input your answers.

10. You will directly proceed from the Tutorial to your first Assessment.  You will need to have paper and pencil on hand in order to answer the open-ended problems (no multiple-choice).  This initial assessment is adaptive and variable in length.  Some of you will have very short assessments whereas others will have assessments that are considerably longer.  This assessment is to determine where you should start and it will show what areas of knowledge you already know and what areas you will need to work on.  It is extremely important that you answer truthfully and honestly, and if you don't know the answer, click on the key "I don't know."

11. At the conclusion of the assessment, you will be given a brief Tutorial on how to interpret the Assessment Report.  This will be in the form of one or more color-coded pie charts with explanations.  Please ask a tutor if help is needed in evaluating your assessment.

12. You can then enter the Learning Mode by clicking on one of the topics contained in your pie chart (topics you are "ready to learn").  In the Learning Mode, you will be required to solve an appropriate number of practice problems correctly before the system will conclude that the concept has been mastered.  The Learning Mode will provide you with many resources to help you in mastering a particular concept, which includes explanations, practice problems, feedback on problem solutions and access to a student Mathematical Dictionary.  (NOTE: feel free to ask any math tutor working here for additional assistance.)  As you master topics, you will begin to "add concepts to your pie." 

13.  You will continue to work in the Learning Mode until you are requested to complete a progress assessment.  These assessments are automatically prompted by ALEKS when you have spent sufficient time in the Learning Mode or when you have made adequate progress.

14.  You can end a session with ALEKS in either of two ways:  1) Click on the "Exit" button in the upper left-hand corner of your browser window or 2) simply close the window in one of the ways provided by your browser.  Note, if no input is supplied to the system for 15 minutes, the session will automatically terminate.  No matter which way you exit, ALEKS will return you to the same place when you next log on.

15.  When you have covered 100% of the material, you will be required to complete the final assessment in the Math Workshop.

16.  Once you have completed ALEKS and attained an 80% on the final assessment, your score will manually be changed to reflect your achieved math placement level.
 
Remember this:    It is highly suggested that you schedule time for ALEKS as you would a class.  Since the access code is only valid for 18 weeks, spend at least 3 to 5 hours on it per week.  You are more than welcome to use the Math Workshop to schedule time and work on ALEKS here.  This is extremely advantageous due to the tutors that are always available for your assistance.  If your ALEKS account expires and you would like your account extended, please contact the Math Workshop Coordinator (Director) for assistance with this process.