Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS)
Southern Oregon University has partnered with ALEKS to administer math placement tests for new and current students. These tests are used to assist students with beginning in the most appropriate math course, based on previous background. Students who take the math placement exam will using the ALEKS Placement, Preparation, and Learning (PPL) system. Below you will find information on the background of the ALEKS exam itself, and how it is used to assist students.
What is ALEKS PPL, and how does it work?
ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (ALEKS PPL) offers colleges & universities a complete solution for math placement and course preparedness. Combining a research-based, accurate placement assessment with personalized learning tools to help students refresh on lost knowledge, ALEKS PPL gives students the opportunity to succeed before they even begin class.
THE KEY COMPONENTS THAT MAKE ALEKS PPL UNIQUE:
- Artificial intelligence efficiently assesses course readiness
- Open-response, adaptive assessment covers 314 topics in 30 questions or less
- Places students from Basic Math up to Calculus I in single assessment
- Seamless transition from placement assessment(s) to individualized Prep and Learning Modules
- Six months access to Prep and Learning Modules to refresh their knowledge, and 12 months to take up to four additional assessments to improve their course placement
- Mastery-based learning motivates students to achieve higher placement results
- Online flexibility allows for on- and off-campus testing and simple implementation
The most important feature of ALEKS is that ALEKS uses artificial intelligence (AI) to map the details of each student’s knowledge. ALEKS “knows,” at each moment, with respect to each individual topic, whether each individual student has mastered that topic. If not, ALEKS knows whether the student is ready to learn the topic at that moment. ALEKS uses this knowledge to make learning more efficient and effective by continuously offering the student a selection of only the topics she is ready to learn right now. This builds student confidence and learning momentum.
ALEKS avoids multiple-choice questions and instead uses flexible and easy to use answer input tools that mimic what would be done with paper and pencil. When a student first logs on to ALEKS, a brief tutorial shows him how to use these ALEKS answer input tools. The student then begins the ALEKS Assessment. In a short period of time (about 60-75 minutes for math placement), ALEKS assesses the student’s current content knowledge by asking a series of about 30 questions. ALEKS chooses each question on the basis of his answers to all the previous questions. Each student, and therefore each set of assessment questions, is unique. It is impossible to predict the questions that will be asked.
By the time the student has completed the assessment, ALEKS has developed a precise picture of their knowledge of the course, knowing which topics they have mastered and which topics they haven’t. The student’s knowledge is represented by a multicolor pie chart.
The pie chart is also the student’s entry into the Learning Mode. In the Learning Mode, a student is offered a choice of topics that they are ready to learn, based on placement outcome. When choosing a topic to learn, ALEKS offers practice problems to teach the topic. These problems have enough variability that a student can only get them consistently correct on understanding the core principle defining the topic. If a student doesn’t understand a particular problem, they can always access a complete explanation. Once a student can consistently get the problems for a given topic correct, ALEKS considers that the student has learned the topic and the student chooses another topic to learn. As the student learns new topics, ALEKS updates its map of the student’s knowledge. After completing these learning modules, a student can potentially retake the math placement exam, and have an opportunity to improve their score, moving from one score-tier to the next.
Navigating ALEKS for Users
ALEKS Tutorial
Accessing Your ALEKS Account
If you are not sure how to access your ALEKS account, please follow these steps:
- Visit inside.sou.edu, and log into your student account.
- Locate the box labeled “Online Services”. This is generally on the right side of the page for desktop views or near the bottom of the screen on most mobile devices.
- Locate the link for “ALEKS”
- Your account will pair with your individual assessment package, which includes 5 assessments.
Please note: The first, and only the first, assessment can be used as a practice assessment.
The ALEKS User Tutorial
Once you begin to access ALEKS, the system will automatically prompt you to work through the Tools Tutorial, which is meant to introduce you to key features such as arithmetic operators, equations, graphing, and using the on-screen calculator.
First-Time Testers
Did you know that ALEKS comes in a package of five assessments? These five attempts are free for students to take, and only the first assessment can be used as a practice assessment.
Please note: Once you activate your ALEKS account, your access to the system will expire after one year, and you will be required to purchase an additional set of ALEKS tests.
When taking the ALEKS Assessment for the first time, students will have the option to access a practice placement (no proctor, 48-hour assessment duration) to get an idea of their current skill level and find ways to improve. Students may also opt to use the first placement as an actual proctored assessment by clicking on the link labeled “Unproctored” on the landing for their first assessment.
To take an official placement, the assessment must be proctored. Please schedule by emailing mathplacement@sou.edu.
The video below is a visual guide (no voice, no caption) to show students what they will see on their assessment page.
Finishing the Assessment
When students complete any ALEKS assessment, they will be taken to a page where their final score is presented, along with where they placed in terms of Math Level. There will be a link to visit SOU’s page on Math Levels, which will allow students to see exactly what courses they may be able to take.
If you are a new student, or just learning more about math placement, you may find it helpful to see what kind(s) of courses your major(s), or Pre-Professional Programs require: Math Requirements by Program
The following video is a visual guide (no voice, no caption) to show students what they will see on their post-assessment, scoring page.
Learning Modules
Once a student has completed a placement, they will be required to prepare themselves for the next assessment. There must be a cool-down period of 48-hours between placement attempts, and a minimum amount of time in Learning Modules prior to additional attempts. Here is a quick reference of required Learning & Prep time:
- Before taking a 2nd placement: 3 hours in Learning Modules
- Before taking a 3rd placement: 5 hours in Learning Modules
- Before taking a 4th placement: 5 hours in Learning Modules
- Before taking a 5th placement: 8 hours in Learning Modules
The following video is a visual guide (no voice, no caption) to show students what they will see when accessing the Learning Modules.
Additional Resources
Are you interested in getting tutored?
SOU students have access to the excellent peer tutors in our Math Tutoring Center located in the SOU Library.
Are you away from campus?
That’s okay! Our Math Tutoring Center is proud to offer distance-based tutoring through Zoom calls.
For questions, please contact MathPlacement@sou.edu