Setting Preferences: Program Control

Set the following options to control how the program works.

• Student Select Operation

Select Student Select Operation to be able to choose the current operation at any time at the main window. If you select this option, the main window shows the choice of: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. If you deselect this option, you cannot choose the operation at the main window, but the program manages progress.

• Student Select Skill Level

Select the option Student Select Skill Level to be able to choose the skill level at the main window in a number box on the left side of the screen. The default setting is not selected, so the choice of skill level is dimmed at the main window. If this is selected, Math Skill Builders still directs progress through the levels, but the user can change the level independently of the program decision. If the learner changes skill level at the main window (not by the results of Diagnosis or Practice), the program does not automatically save the skill level in the learner's file. If you choose Close or Quit to leave the program, a box appears that asks if you want to save changes to the file. If you want to save the selected skill level, choose Save to save the changes. If you do not want to save the selected level, choose Don't Save, and the status stays the same.

• Guide Student's Solution

Select this option to have Math Skill Builders show where to put numbers in the solutions. If you do not select this option, the answers are non-guided, and you can put numbers anywhere in the answer. Math Skill Builders guides students' solutions by default. You must deselect this option if you do not want help with number placement. Guided and Non-Guided solutions are available in both Diagnosis and Practice.

• Show Work in Solution

Click the checkbox labeled Show Work in Solution if you want the guided solution to prompt for numbers in all the steps in a solution in Practice and Diagnosis. If you do not select Show Work in Solution, the program only prompts to put the numbers in the final answer.

• Enable Talking

Select Enable Talking to be able to select Talk in the Tutor activity. The default setting is selected. If you deselect this option, the Talk checkbox will be dimmed at the Tutor screen and cannot be selected.

• Grid on by Default

Select Grid on by Default if you want the grid to show on the screen automatically in Diagnosis and Practice. The grid is useful for placing numbers in the correct row or column in a solution. You can also turn the grid on and off during the activity.