SCHOLAR

Pupil Induction – Getting started

1. Click on your browser (e.g. Internet Explorer) and go on-line.

2. Put into the address bar and click on “go”. This takes you to the SCHOLAR home page.

3. Click on “login”. This takes you to the login page.

4. Put your user name and password into the boxes provided on the login page. Take care to put these in correctly. Then click on “Login”. This takes you to the SCHOLAR menu page.

5. From the menu page you can now access the materials for the subjects you are studying, which are covered by SCHOLAR. For example, if you click on “Higher Mathematics” you are taken in to the entire Higher Maths course.

6. On the menu page pupils studying Maths, Physics or Chemistry will see another heading which says “Maths input in the Assessment System”. This explains how to put complicated answers and mathematical expressions into the SCHOLAR tests. Practise in here before doing Maths, Physics or Chemistry tests.

7. At the bottom of the menu page, under the heading “SCHOLAR Links”, there is some very useful information you should read before you go into the subject materials. Simply click on the article you want to open up.

Pupils studying French, Spanish or German should click on “SCHOLAR Language Accent Bar” and follow the instructions to download the required software. This software enables language students to write answers using the proper accented letters required.

Tips

a) Software/plug-ins - On the login page you can check to make sure your computer has all the software you need to ensure SCHOLAR runs properly. In the rectangular box we are using a “traffic Light” system. A green light indicates you already have all the correct software loaded. Amber means there are one or two items you may have to install, and red means you have a lot to install. Click on the coloured light and follow the instructions (NB Chime is needed for Chemistry and Biology. VRML is required for Computing).

N.B. - Any software you need to download is perfectly legal and free.

b) Main Features - On the login page click on “How to use SCHOLAR” and you are taken into an animated description of the main features of the site. When you forget how to use any of them, this is an excellent reminder. (No password required)

c) You could add the login page to your “favourites” or make it your home page.

Why Use SCHOLAR? – 10 Good Reasons

1. It is free. You can access SCHOLAR in school, at home, in your local Library or anywhere where you can access the internet. (Please remember there may, however,be a cost for using the internet at home, so check with your parents)

2. It is specifically designed for student use. The team of writers has produced high quality materials which help you learn and understand the courses covered.

3. The materials are user friendly, kept up-to-date and include:

  • notes and summaries
  • quizzes
  • animations and simulations
  • end of topic tests for every topic in a unit.
  • end of unit tests for every unit,usually set at NAB standard
  • revision material at H and AH levels

4. Extra help is provided for the parts of the courses students perform poorly in when they sit SQA exams. (The “Feedback” icon which looks like a lifebelt and usually has “Extra Help” beside it locates these areas in the notes.)

5. It is a terrific back-up to help you understand the work covered in class, and help prepare you for your SQA exams.

6. You have instant feed back on all the quizzes and tests you try. The quizzes have hints to help you and are marked on screen, while the end of topic and end of unit tests are marked and stored in your own personal assessment record which you can view as soon as you finish a test. (Click on the “Reports” icon at the top of a page of notes to access your record.)

7. There are on-line tutors to help you. Go into the Discussion Board to ask your questions.

8. If you miss work (e.g. through illness), you can use SCHOLAR to help you catch up.

9. With SCHOLAR you are picking up new, and very useful, skills in using the internet and an e-learning environment. This is great preparation for going to college or university.

10. You can use SCHOLAR anywhere in the world.