Registart Homepage
Table of contents
1. Introduction......................................................................................................................................................
2. Installation........................................................................................................................................................
3. Quickstart..........................................................................................................................................................
2-clicks to go.........................................................................................................................................................
What next?.............................................................................................................................................................
4. Main
Modes: Registart and Games...............................................................................................................
5. Registart
– Electronic Register and Quiz......................................................................................................
Options...................................................................................................................................................................
Questions screen..................................................................................................................................................
6. Registart
Games................................................................................................................................................
Games available.....................................................................................................................................................
Game Options........................................................................................................................................................
Multi-Quiz..............................................................................................................................................................
Bingo......................................................................................................................................................................
Pairs........................................................................................................................................................................
Penalty Shootout..................................................................................................................................................
Noughts and Crosses..........................................................................................................................................
7. Classes/Pupil
Files...........................................................................................................................................
About class files...................................................................................................................................................
Class file types – Excel and CSV........................................................................................................................
Pupils files using MS Excel.................................................................................................................................
Pupils files without MS Excel (using CSV).......................................................................................................
Layout of class files.............................................................................................................................................
8. Using
Your Own Classes..............................................................................................................................
Controlling Files - Registart Options screen..................................................................................................
How do I import my own pupils?.....................................................................................................................
Import manually..............................................................................................................................................
Import from Excel file or a text file................................................................................................................
Edit directly into Excel...................................................................................................................................
How do I add or remove individual pupils from an
existing class?.............................................................
How do I remove a whole class?......................................................................................................................
How do I change the class file being used?...................................................................................................
9. How
Do I See a Summary of my Class’s Results?....................................................................................
10. Equipment
and Homework Checks.........................................................................................................
Equipment check.................................................................................................................................................
Homework check.................................................................................................................................................
11. Registering
Registart.................................................................................................................................
12. Troubleshooting........................................................................................................................................
Other problems....................................................................................................................................................
[back to table of contents]
1. Introduction
Registart maths is a PC based application that asks questions and takes the register, and provides a range other ways for engaging the whole class. Versions of Registart Maths support Key Stage 2 (KS2) [Registart Primary] and Key Stage 3 (KS3) Maths lessons on a daily basis, and is designed to be used on interactive whiteboards.
2. Installation
a. Double-click the file ‘install_registart.exe’ (or choose Run, if you are downloading it straight from the Internet).
b. The Installation program asks you to agree with the terms and conditions regarding copyright and trademarks. Read and click I agree.
c. The Installation program asks you to choose a directory for Registart. It is recommended you accept the default location (your ‘programs’ directory). However, if you are using Registart on a network, you may wish to choose a location accessible from all machines.
d. You will be asked to select Start, to complete the installation.
e. The pupils files (containing your class lists) will be put in your ‘My Documents’ folder, in the folder ‘Registart_classes’.
f. Upon completion, the folder Registart will be placed in your Programs menu. This folder will contain a shortcut to launch Registart.
g. Also, a shortcut labelled Registart will be placed on your desktop.
h. You have now successfully installed Registart, it can be launched by either of the shortcuts detailed above.
3. Quickstart
2-clicks to go
Upon installation and launching, you can be using Registart in 2-clicks.
1. On the first use, click Continue with trial (after 5 seconds) on the first screen (you can enter your registration key if you have one later).
2. On the second screen, choose either Start Registart or Games.
If you have chosen Start Registart …
Each pupil from the demo class list will be asked a random question in turn. Follow on screen instructions.
If you have chosen Games ….
· Choose a game. e.g. Penalty shootout.
· Select a question set from the “Select Questions” box in the centre. e.g. 2D Shapes
· Click the green Start button. Play the game.
What next?
By following the Quick Start instructions, you have chosen the default options to get going on Registart. If you exit from your chosen screen, you can try other option or games. For full details of the options, see below.
4. Main Modes: Registart and Games
There are 2 principal modes of operation for Registart maths
1. Registart – asks a question to each pupil in turn from the built-in register. All scores and absences are recorded for future assessment.
· To start Registart immediately with the current settings click Begin Registart
2. Games – a choice of several different curriculum-based activities and games.
·
To start click Registart
Games
5. Registart – Electronic Register and Quiz
Options
After you click the green Registart button, you will be presented with the screen shown below.
To start using Registart in this mode, you must do 2 things
1.
Select a class to register/quiz
You select a class by clicking on the available classes in the ‘Current Class’ list. The selected class is then highlighted. Registart comes with demonstration class files installed, which you can use to try out the features. The top box lists the classes, which are available in the currently selected file. The left box indicates the actual file in use. You can create, change and delete these files in various ways to match your own classes and pupils. How to do this is explained in later sections.
2. Select a topic for their
questions
You need to select a topic for the class to be quizzed on from the “Current Question Set” list in the
centre. There is the option to filter the topics available in Current Question Set” list using the “Select Curriculum Area” list. To do this click the area to the
right of the box and a list of curriculum areas will appear which you can
select from.
When you select a curriculum area, you will see the questions list below is reduced to only those topics within that curriculum area.
Whether you choose to filter the questions or not, a question set must be highlighted in the ‘Current Question Set’ list to be able to proceed.
With a class and question set selected, you can now use Registart by clicking on Begin Registart. However, other options are available (mainly under the Options menu) before you start. The options are :-
· Time per question – by sliding the bar, you can alter the time available for pupils to answer their question.
· Sound Effects – turns the sound effects on or off.
· Accumulator – opens a ‘Weakest Link’ style window, to build up chains as the pupils answer.
· Random pupil order – will quiz the class in a random order, rather than register order.
· Excel visible – makes the Excel spreadsheet being used become visible in the background (option only available if class file is held in an Excel file and computer has MS Excel installed)
When you are
happy with your options, click Begin
Registart.
Questions screen
After you have clicked Start from the options screen, you will
be presented with the questions screen, shown below.
The layout is fairly intuitive and easy to follow:
The name of the pupil being asked the question is at the top (Pupil C) and the question being asked is below the name. The picture may relate directly to the question or be a topic dependant image not directly related to the question.
The 3 options for an answer (A, B and C) are shown to the right of the image and below the question.
At the top right, you are shown how far through the class register you are (4 of 26) and a countdown of how long the pupil has to answer the question (13 seconds). When you have an answer, then either the teacher or pupil can click on their answer choice (A, B or C).
· If the answer is correct, then a positive noise is played and the background goes green.
· If the answer is incorrect, then a negative noise is played and the background goes red.
The previous question and answer are then displayed in the orange box below the answers (What 2D shape is this ? circle), whilst the next pupil and their question are displayed.
The are also several “teacher options” displayed in the yellow section to the bottom right of the screen. These options are:
Question
category sub-options
Further
options to the question set may be presented by radio buttons in the
teacher’s options. For example if you select ‘Algebra – brackets’ questions – then you will get the options
below.
This enables the teacher to switch between single brackets, double brackets or factorisation at any point during the register. For example, you may wish to make it harder or choose to give specific pupils more challenging questions. The best way to see the impact of these buttons it to experiment. You need to click on the circles to select the option.
Change question button
After the question has been presented, if you are not happy with the random option – then click the “Change the Question” button to get a new one.
Skip questions button
If you are running out of time, then you can switch the quiz to a normal register by clicking the “Switch to Normal Register” button. Then the pupils only need to answer “Present” or be marked absent
Sounds Checkbox
Turns the sound effects on or off
Absent and Other buttons
If the pupil is absent from school, they cannot answer their question – so click “Absent”. They will be recorded with a zero in the register.
If the pupil is in school, but out of the classroom, you can click “Other” and their question is skipped. They will be recorded with a ‘–1’ in the register.
Either way, the background will go gold and the quiz continues. In the analysis of the pupils’ results it makes no difference whether you clicked absent or other.
[back to table of contents]
6. Registart Games
Games available
By clicking the Games button, the games available are:
·
Bingo-Time – a bingo game to be played by the whole class
· Multi-Quiz – a multiple-choice quiz is generated on the whiteboard for the class to attempt simultaneously
· Pairs – pick pairs of questions and answers.
·
Penalty Shootout – 2 team game. Get the
question right to score a goal.
·
Nought and Crosses - 2 team game. The
classic game, with Maths questions in order to get your go.
Game Options
Each game starts with an options screen. Each screen has a
similar layout. For example, the options screen for Multi-quiz is shown below.
On the left-hand side you will need to select your questions set (as with Registart – see section 5 for details).
On the right-hand side of the screen are the game-specific options and the Start and Exit buttons. You must have a question set selected to start the game.
Multi-Quiz
Multi-quiz is a whole-class activity. Registart generates a timed multiple-choice quiz for pupils to do in their books. They just need to write down the question number and A, B or C. At the end of the quiz a screen is presented for the answers to be marked. The questions screen detailed in Section 5 is used to show the questions.
The options are:
· Number of questions – the number of questions in the quiz
· Time per question – how long is allowed per question
· Run automatically – if selected, the question will automatically be changed when the time per question has expired. The quiz can be paused, if required.
Bingo
The Bingo game requires each pupil to work on an individual grid. The grids can be pre-produced or pupils can quickly produce their own in the back of their books. The options screen [below] gives instructions as to the grid required.
The grid size can be altered by using the sliders at the side.
The number of different questions can be changed by the slide bar on the right-hand side.
The countdown for time per question can also be changed on this screen.
In the default setup [shown above] pupils are asked to draw a 4 by 4
grid and fill it with numbers from 1 to 20. In this way each pupil has a
different grid and, since they have different numbers, there will be a clearer
winner.
After the game has been played once, the pupils quickly get the idea of what to do!
For example, their grid for 20 numbers on a 4 by 4 grid may look something like this.
You can play ‘Full House’ [all numbers] or ‘First to get a line’.
After the pupil’s have completed their grids, click Start Game to go.
The game play works by a series of questions being shown and the answers related to a number in the table.
For example, there are 6000ml in 6l – so pupils cross out the number 18 (if they have it in their grid).
Once a pupil believes they have Bingo then click Check Answers. This opens a screen to review which numbers should have been clicked so far. If you exit the answers window, you can continue the game.
If the answers do not initially fit in the box, use the “Font +” and “Font –“ buttons to change their size.
Pairs
The Pairs game involves picking a matching question and answer. The options only require you to pick a question set and select the number of pairs [defaults to 10 pairs]. Then click Start.
The pairs game is timed and records the number of clicks taken. The questions have a yellow background and the answers have a green background. When they have been matched the cards will stay face up and are coloured red. An example is shown below.
Penalty Shootout
The Penalty Shootout game is designed for 2 teams. The options only require you to pick a question set and goalie type then click Play Penalty Shootout.
When a team gets the question right, they will beat the goalie and score a goal. As in normal penalty shootouts, each team has 5 shots – then it goes to sudden death if it is a tie.
Noughts and Crosses
The Noughts and Crosses game is designed for 2 players/teams. The options require you to pick a question set then click Play Noughts and Crosses.
The player clicks the grid to show where they want their O or X, and then they have to get the question right to win the square.
7. Classes/Pupil Files
About class files
Registart stores pupils names and results in a separate file(s) that contains your class lists of pupils. They are referred to as classes files*. Once Registart has created and/or been linked to a class file(s), it will automatically remember where this file is and update it with any results and changes from Registart.
*Note for any computer boffins, Registart class files have absolutely nothing to do with programming classes!
Class file types – Excel and CSV
Registart uses XLS (MS Excel) or CSV (comma separated values) files to store your class/pupil lists and results. A single Excel file can contain several separate class lists whereas CSV files can only contain a single class per file. Pupils’ scores are stored in the file containing the class list.
Registart will create Excel files by default if MS Excel is installed. You can access and manipulate these files as you would any Excel or CSV file e.g. viewing in MS Excel. To find out where the files being used by Registart are located, go to the Registart Options screen, select ‘Change Pupils File’, and then ’Select File’. You will then be able to view the directory structure. If you don’t want to change the file, simply select ‘Exit’.
Pupils files using MS Excel
If you are using Excel files for your class files, then MS Excel must be installed on your computer. Registart is designed so each teacher’s set of classes can be held in a single Excel file, and is the most convenient way to manage your class files. Within that file, there will be one class per worksheet. For example, the demo file provided in the install of Registart (see …/My Documents/Registart_classes/) is called classes_demo.xls. This Excel file contains 3 classes - class 1, class PM (UK Prime Ministers) and class Pres (US Presidents). If viewing the file in Excel, you can switch between the classes (held on Excel worksheets) by clicking the labels/tabs at the bottom of the screen. The class name is displayed on the tab and can be changed by double clicking the tab.
Pupils files without MS Excel (using CSV)
If Excel is not installed, then Registart can still be used. In this case it stores each class in a CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file; you will have to create a .csv file for each class. These files can be viewed in various ways e.g. with Excel, with another spreadsheet program (e.g. Open Office), or with a text editor (e.g. MS Word).
Layout of class files
Whichever of the 2 systems are used, the format of the class sheets is identical. An example of a class in Registart stored in an Excel file is shown below. This example shows the sheet being viewed with a spreadsheet (Excel). The different classes are labelled at the bottom with tabs and can be switched between by clicking on the tab.
The information held in the file is as follows:
- List of pupils’ names - the pupils’ forename is held in column B and the surname in column C. The entries must start in row 7.
- If the first 6 rows are held summary info relating to Registarts taken. The info held is :
- Date – the date the Registart was taken
- Questions – the question set used
- Best Chain – the most right answers in a row
- Time – how many seconds it took to do the Registart
- Banked – how much money was banked, if Accumulator was used
- Score – an overall class percentage
- The scores, held in the sheet, are as follows
- 10 (usually coloured green) – pupil was present and got question correct
- 1 (usually coloured blue) – pupil was present and got question wrong
- 0 (not coloured) - absent
- -1 (usually coloured orange) – other, not in class – but not absent
NB
Colours may not appear if you have formatted your file yourself or if using CSV
files.
You can view a class file spreadsheet directly e.g. using MS Excel, to check on a pupil’s attendance on a specific day or to see how the class faired. If you wish to see a summary of the pupils’ overall performance and the classes’ performance on a specific topic, then you can use the class summary tool detailed in Section 9.
NB If you make changes directly to the file, it may no longer work correctly with Registart.
8. Using Your Own Classes
Controlling Files - Registart Options screen
The class/pupil file and classes in use by Registart is controlled from the Registart Options screen (see section 5) using the options in the Pupils File menu. The key thing to remember is that the currently selected file will contain one or more classes which are listed separately to the file. The currently selected file is at the bottom of the screen along with the controls to change it. The classes available within that file are towards the top of the screen along with the controls to make changes to that class.
The functions available are:
· Ammend/view last entry. This applies to the previous session of currently selected class.
· Add/Remove pupils. This applies to the currently selected class from the file.
· Delete class. This applies to the currently selected class from the file.
· Import Class list (see below)
· Change file. This will change the file, and therefore the classes which are available. This is the option to use if you have created your own Excel or CSV file (as described later in this section). Even if some of the classes in the new file have the same names as classes in other files, they are part of entirely different files and are therefore entirely separate.
How do I import my own pupils?
Registart provides a number of options for creating your class files containing your pupils’ names:
1 Manually enter the names of your pupils using Registart’s built-in interface, and Registart will create a new file based on this for its own use.
2 Import a list of pupil’s name into Registart from an Excel, text or CSV file that you already have, and Registart will create a new file based on this for its own use.
3 Prepare your own Excel or CSV file as described later in this section, and then select it from the Registart Options screen.
To import a new set of pupils into Registart, open the Registart options screen detailed in Section 5. At the top of the screen, you will see some menus. Under the Pupils File menu [second from the left]; select Import Class List. You will be presented with 3 options: to import from Excel, to import from a text/CSV file, or to Import manually. The result of each option is detailed below.
Alternatively, if you are using the demo file, click the purple Change Pupils File button then click Create File. This will present the same 3 options.
Import manually
If you select Import Manually, you will first be asked to give your class/set a name. Click OK and you will get the screen below.
To add, you need to type in a Forename and Surname and click Add Pupil.
To delete, select a pupil from the list and click Remove Selected Pupil.
Add pupils until you have completed your class and you will be prompted to Save Changes before you exit. The class will be saved as a new class in a new file, or as changes to the currently used pupil’s file depending on the initial option chosen.
Import from Excel file or a text file
You would use this option if you already have an Excel, text or CSV file that contains the list of pupils you want to use with Registart. You don’t want that file to be changed, but you want Registart to read the list of pupils’ names from it and create its own Registart class file for using with Registart.
Once you have selected Import Class List from the menu you will get the screen shown at the beginning of the section.
·
To import a class list held in
Excel, select the Excel option
1
You need to select the file
the data is held in
2
Then select the Excel
worksheet with your data
§
Registart will do its best to
work out where your data starts and what form it is in. It will auto-select
what it believes are the correct options on the next few screens.
3
Select whether your data is
held:
§
In separate cells
§
Merged in a cell
4
Enter the location of the
top cell [header]
§
A header cell means it has Name/Forename/Surname etc. above the data
§
You need to enter (or confirm
the auto-selections) of the Excel cell the data starts in
5
Recognise the end of the
list, either:
§
Blank row – containing no data
§
A specific character to look
for
§
Tell Registart how many pupils
there are
6
Once you are happy with the
selections, the next screen will prompt you to enter the name of your new class
§
It will confirm the name of
your first pupil, to verify your previous selections
7
Click Import and the new class will be imported
·
To import a class list held in
a text or CSV file, select the text/csv option
1
You need to select the file
the data is held in
2
Then select the csv file
with your data
§
Registart will do its best to
work out where your data starts and what form it is in. It will auto-select
what it believes are the correct options on the next few screens.
3
Enter the location of the
top row [header]
§
A header cell means it has Name/Forename/Surname etc. above the data
§
You need to enter (or confirm
the auto-selections) of the Excel cell the data starts in
4
Select the order of your
data and the separator:
§
The ‘separator’ mean the
character between bits of data. Usually a blank space or a comma (in CSV)
5
Recognise the end of the
list, either:
§
Blank row – containing no data
§
A specific character to look
for
§
Tell Registart how many pupils
there are
6
Once you are happy with the
selections, the next screen will prompt you to enter the name of your new class
§
It will confirm the name of
your first pupil, to verify your previous selections
§
In the name looks wrong, try
using further left and further right
7
Click Import and the new class will be imported
Edit directly into Excel
If you are familiar with using Excel, you may wish to enter the data into the spreadsheet directly.
· Open up your pupils file, usually in My Documents>Registart_classes
· You need to stick to the format of the sheets detailed in Section 7.
· It is easiest to copy an existing sheet and delete the old data first
How do I add or remove individual pupils from an existing class?
You add or remove single pupils from a class via the Registart options screen, detailed in Section 4.
· Select a class in the Current Class box
· Select Add/Remove Pupils from the Classes_File menu
· This takes you to the manual import screen shown earlier in this section.
· Uses the boxes to add or remove and click Save when you have finished
How do I remove a whole class?
You a whole class via the Registart options screen, detailed in Section 4.
· Select a class in the Current Class box
· Select Delete this class from the Classes_File menu
How do I change the class file being used?
You change the file holding your classes via the Registart options screen, detailed in Section 5.
· The file in use is displayed the Current Class box
· Click the Change button
· On the next screen, choose Select File
· Select an alternate file on the next screen
9. How Do I See a Summary of my Class’s Results?
This option is only available if you have Excel installed. Select Class Summary item on the Links menu at the top of Registart options screen, detailed in Section 4.
· Select which class you want to view the results of
· Select the time period since
o All year – means all the data held for that class
o Christmas – all data since Christmas
o Easter – all data since Easter
· Click See Summary
This opens up an Excel spreadsheet that summarises:
¨
On the left, each pupil’s
Ø Percentage of Questions correct
Ø Number of questions correct
Ø The classes attended
Ø The best scores are highlighted in a different colour
¨ On the right, the whole class’s score on each set of questions
Ø How many times the question set was attempted
Ø The overall percentage
Ø Total questions right and total questions wrong
The results of equipment checks and homework checks, detailed in section 10, can be seen by clicking the equipment and homework tabs at the bottom.
[back to table of contents]
10. Equipment and Homework Checks
As an alternative to the maths questions, you can use Registart to do equipment and homework checks. The results of these are stored in the class files and can be summarised using the summary tool. You start the checks via the Registart options screen, detailed in Section 5. The option to do them is found on the questions menu.
Equipment check
The purpose of the equipment check is to do occasional spot checks on the pupils’ maths equipment. The equipment check screen [shown below], is a similar layout to the questions screen. The pupils are registered as you do the checks. Click on the options on the left-hand side (a tick means they have it) and click Checked once you’ve done your selections. If pupils are absent or other, then these options are still available – so it works as a register too.
Examples of the results that can be view in the class summary are shown below.
The class has had 2 equipment checks overall. Only Dwight Eisenhower and JFK have had all their equipment both times. George Bush has been very forgetful and the only thing he managed was to bring a ruler one time.
Homework check
The purpose of the homework check is to use the Registart pupils files as a mark-book. The homework check screen [shown below] is designed to record:
·
Marks [switch between them with
the
o Numerical marks – you first need an ‘out of’ mark
o or Marks as a Grade
· or the reason why it is not available
o the default is complete – then you record a mark
o otherwise record the ‘excuse’
· or Absent/Other
. The pupils are registered as you do the checks. Click Checked once you’ve done your selections.
Examples of the results that can be viewed in the class summary are shown below.
11. Registering Registart
Registart comes with a free 21 day trial. The limitations in this trial period are the sets of questions available – otherwise Registart has full functionality.
During this period, you will be presented with the screen below.
Your options will be to:
· Buy now
o This takes you to the Registart website, where you can order the full version
· Enter Key
o Reveals the lower part of the screen
o Enter your Login and Key (after purchase) here
· Continue with trial
If you have any problems with your licence and need to update your key, hit the K on your keyboard during the 5 seconds on this screen.
Once you have registered, your key will be stored in a file and you do not need to enter it again. Your user details will be displayed on this splash screen.
If you are registered, you can click on this screen at any time to get into the main program.
12. Troubleshooting
If some question sets are not available, this occurs because Registart uses ActiveX components that need to be checked via the computer’s registry entries as the software loads.
To overcome this, ask your system administrator to change your privileges to Admin and reinstall.
The only question sets to be effected by this are indices, coordinates, reading/interpreting graphs and equation of lines.
Other problems
Exit Registart, exit Excel and restart. If this does not work or for persistent problems contact support@registart.co.uk