Personal Tutor Main Contents
Welcome to Personal Tutor Help Index

If you are not familiar with using windows help facility choose "How to use help" from the "Help" menu.

What is Personal Tutor ?

How to use Personal Tutor (An Overview)

Error Messages

The Main Menu

Click on any of the following buttons to get their respective help.


  Select Unit

Personal Tutor  has divided this course into various groups called 'Units'.

Click on this button first to select the unit you want to study.

Click on the required unit.

The unit must be chosen first before clicking on any other button in the main menu.


Contents

Click on this button to see the contents covered by the program on the chosen unit.

This shows you the names of the chapters and lessons in the unit.

Click "OK" after reading the contents.

If you can't find the topic (lesson) you want, look it up in the Contents List for each unit.


Lessons

Click on this button to choose a lesson for you to learn. Click on the chapter you want and then click on the lesson.

You  use  Lessons  for learning .  This can be to help you with your homework,  to prepare for class tests,  or to revise for exams.

You should keep an exercise book for your Personal Tutor sessions,  the same as if you were having a tutor come to the house.

When you go into a lesson, you first read a Tutorial which is like the teacher writing on the board.  You can study the  Tutorial carefully before answering Questions,  or you can refer  to it while answering questions.

Unlike a text- book, Personal Tutor teaches you by  helping you through questions.  Every question comes with help, like a tutor teaching you.  The first time you do a lesson, Principles and  a Clue come up automatically, to make sure you learn these important points.

If  you don't finish a lesson, you can go back  and finish it  later.

When you have completed a lesson, you will see a report .

If you go into a lesson  you have previously completed,  you can still have help from Principles and  Clues, but they do not come up automatically.

Buttons available while answering questions are:   Tutorial,  Principles, Clues and Solutions (for calculations ).


   Revise

Click on this button to choose a lesson from your personal Revise Box.

Personal Tutor will start keeping track of your revision program after you complete 3 lessons in that unit.

If you do a lesson badly, Personal Tutor will put it into "Revise" mode.   Also,  your weakest lessons will be put into "Revise" , even if  all your grades are quite high.

It is a good idea to try and clear your "Revise" box regularly.

It doesn't matter whether you go to "Revise" or "Lessons" to repeat the lesson.  If you do well, that lesson will come out of "Revise".


 Select Drive

Personal Tutor requires the student disk to be present in the floppy drive during the entire session. The student disk records your progress and the information required to build your revision program.

Click on this button to choose whether you are using drive A or drive B for the student disk.

Please make sure the student disk is not write protected.


 Tests

Doing "Tests" is like sitting a test in school :

You  do the work in a fixed time,  you can look back over your test and see if you want to change any of your answers,  then your test is marked and given back to you and you can go through it  and see where you went wrong .

Principles, Clues  and Tutorials are not available during  tests.

You are given reports on your tests.

Questions for tests are selected by Personal Tutor from the lessons you pick.  You can be tested across a whole unit.

You may select to continue after you have run out of time.

Related Topic:

Selecting a Test


 Backup

This option will back up your student disk which records all your progress. It is important that it is done after every session of Personal Tutor.

It is necessary to backup your student disk in case your student disk gets damaged.

The first time you backup use a blank formatted disk. Keep  this disk and use it every time you backup Personal Tutor.

Do not try to restore the student disk from the backup yourself.

In case your disk gets damaged, send the student disk and backup disk to Memory Banks and Memory Banks will restore it for you.


 Reports

Click on this button to choose the report you want.

The Following reports are available

1. Lesson Report

2. Test Report

3. Parent Teacher Report

4. Knowledge Graph


 Exit

Click here to exit Personal Tutor


Tutorial
Tutorials screen

You can use the Tutorial to help you with your homework and assignments or to help you with the questions  in this Personal Tutor lesson.

Use Next and Previous buttons to read through the Tutorial.

You can use the Tutorial button to look up the Tutorial while answering questions.


Questions
Questions screen

There are 3 kinds of questions :

Multiple Choice:  answer a, b, c, d, e.

(Note: the answers are shuffled every time you do a question).

Mix and Match:

First find the answer to a)

If you think the answer  is 2 , enter A2 and so on for all the answers to a,b,c,d,e.   Typically the answer could be A2B5C3D1E4

True or False

Decide whether the statement is True or False and .enter T or F at the answer prompt.

Click on the following buttons to -

  get the clue to answer the question.

 see the principle you need for the question.

 read the tutorial of the lesson.

 see the solution to the question.

Note: The Principles and Clues come up automatically the first time you do a lesson, to help you learn these important points.


Solutions
Solution Screen

If you are stuck on a question, you can click on the solution button to see the first step of the solution.  Very simple questions only have one step.

You can copy this step into your work-book and  try to continue.   If you are still stuck,  click on next step button  for the next step.  Use Prev and Next buttons to go to  previous or next page of the solution, if any.

You may also use the solution after getting a wrong answer, and have another go at solving the problem.

The prompts in italics are there to help you think.  You don't have to write them down in your solution.

Of course, you don't get full marks if you answer with the help of  a solution.  But it is  better to look up a solution than to make a wild guess.   Remember, the marks are given to tell you how well you are going. .


Lesson Report

This is designed to show you how well you understood the lesson.  The mark given is not like a test mark, as the degree of difficulty you had with the lesson is also taken into account.

The graph shows how your performance compared with the previous time you did the same lesson.

You can get lesson report even if you have not fully completed the lesson. The report also tells you if the lesson has been placed in Revise. All lessons that need to be revised can be selected by clicking the "Revise" button from the main menu.

Personal Tutor keeps a permanent record of all your lesson results. These are analysed in the 'Parent Teacher' reports and the 'Knowledge Graph'.


Test Report

This report shows your percentage mark, the time taken and the number of questions asked.

After reading this report, you can click on the Show Qns. button to look through your test and see which questions you got right or wrong. The answers displayed are the correct answers.

Principles, clues and solutions to calculations can be viewed at this time.


Parent Teacher Report

These are reports on Lessons done in "Lesson Mode". They are sorted into "Excellent" , "Moderate" and "Requiring Attention".

So the parent or teacher can tell at a glance which topics have not been well understood  - and  identify areas where the student needs help.

"Requiring Attention" may mean that the student should repeat  the lesson and read it more thoroughly.   If this does not succeed, it could be that the student lacks the "assumed knowledge" for that lesson and should first complete the earlier lessons in that unit.


Knowledge Graph

This graph shows an over view of your knowledge taken from your Lesson Reports.  Troughs and peaks indicate that the student is not reaching full potential on some lessons.

You should aim for a horizontal line at your highest level.  In particular,  try  to keep the graph above the "Revision Line".

You can go into  "Revision" on the Main Menu to work on the lessons showing below the Revision Line. Or you can do that lesson again in "Lesson" mode.  Either way, your result will be recorded on the "Knowledge Graph".


Choosing a Lesson

In Lesson Mode

Click the mouse button once on the Chapter you require.

This will display the lesson titles in that Chapter.  If the scroll bar appears, you must scroll down to view the complete lesson list.

Choose your lesson by clicking the mouse on the lesson.

In Revise Mode

Select the Chapter you want to revise.  Only Lessons which you have completed and which were selected by Personal Tutor for revision, will be shown. If no lessons are displayed, this means that you do not have any lessons in Autorevise for this Chapter.

Select each lesson and complete it carefully.

You can revise lessons which are not showing by going into Lesson Mode.

In Lesson Report Mode

Select the Chapter you want the lesson reports for. Only Lessons which you have attempted will be shown.

Select the lesson to see the report.


Selcting a test
Selecting a Test

It is best to do tests on Lessons you have already learnt.

In 'Lessons' you are given help with the questions, so go back to 'Lessons' if you are not ready for the tests.

To Select TESTS:

Click on the time required.

Select the level of difficulty: Standard, Easy, Challenge.

All Personal Tutor questions are graded as Easy, Medium, or Difficult so that the computer can pick suitable questions for the test you select.

Select the lessons you want to be tested on by clicking on each lesson. (Note: you should choose more than one 	lesson.)

Personal Tutor will select suitable questions from all the lessons you select.   If you want to be sure that you only choose lessons you have done in Lessons,  select Choose from completed lessons and highlight the lessons you want.

Please choose at least three lessons to get the full benefit of tests.


Test Results

This is your corrected test . You can now look at the Principles, Clues and Solutions (where available). The answers displayed are the correct answers.

Click on the following buttons to -

 get the clue to answer the question.

 see the principle you need for the question.

 see the solution to the question.


Why use Personal Tutor

In school, the teacher gives a lesson in class, possibly sets class-work or a homework on that subject - and the rest is up to you.

Most students don't look at the lesson again until they have to write an assignment or prepare for a test or examination.

Quite often there are distractions in class and there is no time  to really gain an understanding of the lesson.  So you when you try to do your assignment or start revising for a test, you are really struggling because you never understood it in the first place.

If  you go the  through the lesson on Personal Tutor after class you will:

 Understand your next class better.

 Be able to do your homework  and assignments quicker.

 Spend much less time on revision because you will be refreshing

           your memory instead of  trying to puzzle it out.

Maths and science subjects cannot be learnt parrot fashion.  But as soon as you understand what  you are doing, everything falls into place.

If you tried to play sport  without developing and practising your skills - you would not succeed and you would really hate it.  And this is true of any activity - playing music, talking  or even socialising.

The human brain only improves with use. The more you use it, the better it works for you.

So you think you're a bad student.

As a tutor,  I have often been told "I'm no good at maths" or "My mum couldn't do maths either".  In fact, I have never had a student who couldn't learn maths.

Don't let negative thinking and technofear from parents or peers take away your confidence.

So you think you are a good student

You can use Personal Tutor to give you that competitive edge.  And to find the gaps in your knowledge. If you are a busy person, you may want to work ahead, so that you have less pressure at busy times of year.

Using Personal Tutor, you can study when it is convenient to you.

Personal Tutor teaches by asking questions:

  Every Personal Tutor package has hundreds of questions,  and

            each question is chosen carefully, to help you learn.

  When you are answering a question, the relevant information is

             indicated, so you know exactly what you need to know.

 Full solutions are given to Maths calculations, and these are

           carefully explained.

 You can work at your own pace without any pressure.

Your PERSONAL TUTOR program was specially written for

 your course of study,  so it is easy to find what you need to know.


Personal Tutor overview

First, make sure you have an exercise book especially for your Personal Tutor studies.  This you will use for working out answers or taking note for future reference.

Personal Tutor is arranged in Units, Chapters and Lessons.

The Lessons in Personal Tutor are written in teaching order.  So it is a good idea to start at the beginning of a Unit and work through.

You should only skip lessons if you are sure you understand them from school.

However, sometimes you may want to look up a particular topic in a hurry  - maybe when you have a homework that you can't understand:

FINDING A TOPIC IN PERSONAL TUTOR

First, you need to  find the topic you are working on:  Make sure you know what that topic is called  by looking at your text book or class notes. It could help to check the name of the chapter in your text-book, although that may not be exactly the same.

To find a topic in Personal Tutor:

  Click on the "Select Unit" button.

  Select  the Unit you think  most likely.

  Click on the Contents button.  This will display all the Chapters

          and  lessons in that Unit.

If you are sure the lesson you want isn't there, quit and try another Unit.

If the lesson you want is there,  Click on "Go Back"  to return to the button  screen to select your lesson.

WORKING IN  "LESSONS"

1)  Click  on the "Lesson Button".

2) Select the chapter and select the lesson .

3) Now you are in  a lesson:

Click on the "Help" button for details on how to do "Lessons" in Personal Tutor.

Read the lesson carefully and do the questions given, working out the answers in your exercise book and taking down any notes that will help you with your homework.

If you don't have time to finish the lesson, you can escape by using the "Go Back" button. The next time you go into that lesson, you will be given the choice of continuing where you left off or starting all over again.

If you finish the lesson, you will be given a report.  You can print this report if you want to by   clicking the "Print " button.

This report will be stored and used by Personal Tutor as part of your Personal Profile.

The next time you go into a completed lesson:

 	Principles and Clues will not be forced on you.   But you can see them if you wish, by clicking on the appropriate button.

 	The questions will not come up in the same order.  But you should get the easy questions first and the harder questions last.

The multiple-choice answers will be shuffled - so it's no good memorising that (a) is the answer!

WORKING IN "TESTS."

You should only go into "TESTS" when you think you know how to do the lessons.  You don't get any assistance while doing tests.

Or you may go into "TESTS" to find out what you do and don't know.

Click on "TESTS" button.

In TESTS you can select :

  The topics you want to be tested on.

 The standard of the test (easy, medium or difficult).

 The time you are going to spend on the test .

Then Personal Tutor will construct a suitable test with questions selected from the lessons you chose. Personal Tutor will select questions from those lessons.

Practising in TESTS will help you to sit school tests and examinations with confidence.

WHEN USING "PERSONAL TUTOR"

   Take note of the hints you are given.

  Always keep an exercise book for your Personal Tutor sessions  and  write out  your notes or solutions clearly.

  Dont rush your work.

  Use the Help button whenever you go into a part of the program which is new to you.

For more information on how to use Personal Tutor, read the help for each feature - Lessons, Revise, Tests, Reports...

by clicking on the "?" button.


Error Messages

No reports available

Personal  Tutor is not able to find any reports to display. This is because there are no lessons done.

In Parent /Teacher reports the lesson must be fully completed before a report could be displayed.

Maximum 14 characters

This message comes when you are keying your name. Your name should not exceed a maximum of 14 characters.

Out of memory, Please exit some applications to free some memory.

Personal Tutor is not able to allocate memory. This may be because you are running too many programs in windows. Exit some programs and try running Personal Tutor again.

Please choose 'Select Unit' first

Before choosing any feature of Personal Tutor you must select which unit you want to work with. Click on "Select Unit" and choose the unit first.

There was an error in backup, Backup unsuccessful.

There was an error while backing you student disk.

Make sure your backup disk is formatted.  Try using a different disk for your backup.

Unable to access student disk. Retry ?

Personal Tutor is unable to read your student disk. Make sure you have inserted the right disk in the  drive. If your computer has more than one floppy disk drive make sure you have inserted the disk in the right drive. You can click on "Select Drive" button in the main menu to specify drive A or B for the student disk.

Unable to open file  <filename>

Personal Tutor is not able to open the mentioned file. This may be because the file is accidentally deleted from the hard disk or  the file is corrupt. Try re-installing the program.