New Features for Summer 2013

May 20, 2013

As happens twice a year, every year, MyLab Math, MyLab Statistics, and MathXL are about to get even better. Please read below for important release details and information on the new features.

Adjust Test/Quiz Grades

Instructors who find a problematic question in a test or quiz can adjust the score of that test or quiz even after students have worked in it. On the Item Analysis page, they select a checkbox “Score All Correct” to award credit for that question to all students, whether they have attempted the question or not. A message on the “bad” question window tells students that their instructor has removed that question from the test/quiz and they will receive full credit for it. This option is available for one question per test or quiz.

Automatic Import of Previous Results

Instructors now have the option to automatically import student results from a previous course that uses the same book. They can also specify a date to import only results from that date forward. This process is transparent to students, who will not have to do anything different when they enroll in the new course. Instructors can also delete all results from a student in batch mode, rather than one assignment at a time.

Student-Entered IDs

A new option on the Add/Edit Student IDs page allows instructors to require students to enter an ID before they can work in the course. By default, the ID type is the School ID, but instructors can specify any ID type they wish. In MyLab New Design or MyLab Plus courses, students are prompted to enter this ID the first time they cross over to XL; in MathXL, this prompt occurs when students enroll in a course/program. These student IDs can now be used for uploading offline grades and ordering the roster on the Gradebook front and assignments pages.

More Control over Course Home (Dashboard)

Instructors can now choose to hide the Course Timeline--i.e., the scatterplot--in the My Results area of the Course Home while still displaying other information such as Overall Score and My Progress bar graphs.

Site Banner and Navigation Panel Enhancements (MathXL only)

Instructors and students using MathXL will notice a few changes to the banner across the top of each page and a new style to the menu items in the left navigation panel. These enhancements are made as part of a larger mobile redesign effort to be completed later this year.