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General Information
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What science programs does Scientific Minds offer?
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Scientific Minds currently offers the following products: the bilingual Science Sidekicks for grades 3-5, the Middle School Science Starters for grades 6-8, the Biology Starters, the Chemistry Starters, Professional Development bundled with access to a science program, and the MC² in Agriculture program (to support agriscience classes). View our product catalog. Each program is a series of web-based science modules that follow the 5E instructional model. Our science programs are designed to support any existing curriculum. Each program breaks state science standards into "chunks" that students more readily absorb. The learning modules can be teacher-directed in whole class instruction or can be played as video with audio by individual students to provide the review and remediation necessary for success. All science programs include guided note-taking sheets, assessments, and vocabulary. They are exceptionally versatile and can be adapted to fit your existing strategies. The programs include features for all student abilities as well as intervention tools.
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What data supports the programs?
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Find supporting data by clicking the Research link on the gray bar at the bottom of the page.
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How does each lesson module follow the 5E instructional model?
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ENGAGE: Each lesson module begins with a page that focuses students on the lesson objective and encourages critical thinking. This page can be used as a journal topic, for class discussion, or to generate further questions about a phenomenon.
EXPLAIN: Each lesson is explained clearly and concisely with images and graphics that promote retention.
ELABORATE: In the grades 6-12 products, interactive vocabulary flashcards are located within the lesson module on the Elaborate tab. Each flashcard presents terms in English and in Spanish. At the Elaborate button, grades 3-5 Science Sidekicks also include audio for each term/definition and Spanish definitions. Additionally, all Science Sidekicks include an Elaborate vocabulary activity.
EXPLORE: Each Science Sidekick includes an explore activity at the Explore button. The grades 6-12 programs have explore activities located in the Bonus Materials. These can be found in the Bonus Materials drop-down on the right side of the page that lists lesson modules alphabetically. High school labs are also located in the Teacher Ancillaries.
EVALUATE: Each lesson module has questions embedded within the lesson that the teacher uses for formative assessment. In addition, each module has a digital assessment located at the Evaluate tab/button. Biology Starters also have a vocabulary assessment on the Elaborate tab. All products have print-on-demand unit assessments.
Purchasing students accounts give students digital access to all the above assessments as well as data disaggregation and individual intervention plans.
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What do Scientifc Minds' programs provide for students requiring modifications?
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All programs include modified quizzes, which have a larger font and a reduced number of answer choices. Modifications are also available for web-based benchmark testing.
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What is provided for ESL/ELL/Bilingual students?
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The graphics provided in each program are critical to making connections between vocabulary and concepts. The “ELABORATE” option specifically targets students with language gaps and barriers. Spanish terms are included to assist students with making Spanish to English connections. The Science Sidekicks (grades 3-5) can be used for bilingual instruction because the entire program is provided in English and in Spanish.
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Should Science Starters be used in Honors or Pre-AP classes?
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All students will benefit from the Science Starters, which provide graphics, animations, and text that teach science fundamentals. When students have sound fundamentals, they are better prepared for the project-based learning that builds on that foundation. Science Starters are a perfect tool for flipped teaching where teachers assign modules as outside instruction. A flipped classroom inverts traditional teaching methods by providing students with online instruction outside of class.
Note: Chemistry Starters contain advanced content.
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How can the Science Sidekicks and Science Starters be used for RTI?
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Both Science Sidekicks and Science Starters are used in the integrated general education classroom to support all students, including struggling subpopulations, English language learners, special education, gifted and talented, Title 1, and at risk students. Used daily in whole-class instruction, the highly visual science programs provide early tier 1 intervention in science literacy to prevent failure and promote success. When you purchase student accounts and take advantage of the benchmark tests and data disaggregation, you can identify areas of need and provide individual intervention assignments for tier 2. Both programs can continue to be used for intensive individualized instruction in tier 3 intervention.
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What are your product ISBN numbers?
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MC2 in Agriculture 978-0-9839739-3-5
Science Sidekicks 978-0-692-95091-3
Science Starters for Biology 978-0-9839739-4-2
Science Starters for Chemistry 978-0-9839739-5-9
Science Starters for Middle School 978-0-9839739-2-8
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The lesson modules are functioning, but I can’t play the videos in the Professional Development platform. What can I do?
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Scientific Minds recommends that you log in to your account from either a FireFox or Chrome browser.
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Purchasing Our Programs
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What funding opportunities can be used to purchase Science Sidekicks and Science Starters?
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Title 1A, Title 1, Special Education, High School Allotment, STEM, Curriculum Funds, Title III-English Language Acquisition, At Risk, GEAR UP, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Technology, PTA, Professional Development
Both Science Sidekick and Science Starter programs have an online professional development course, so all products can be purchased with professional development funds. The online professional development comes bundled with one year of access to the product of your choice.
In Texas, the Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters have been adopted in the Proclamation 14 Instructional Materials Adoption with 100% TEKS coverage. Both products can be purchased through the state's IMAT system.
Scientific Minds is a registered Buy Board vendor.
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What are the system requirements?
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The programs are web-based and are each sold as a subscription expiring one year from the date of purchase.
Requirements: Internet, Internet browser, and Adobe Reader. Adobe products are available as free downloads at www.adobe.com.
Note: Biology Starters have been developed in Flash and require Adobe Flash version 8 or newer. (They are currently being updated to an HTML5 product, available summer 2019.) In addition, MC² in Ag videos must be viewed in the Internet Explorer browser as other browsers no longer support the Microsoft Silverlight plugin required to view them.
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What is included with a teacher subscription?
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Biology: - 110 Biology Starter Modules
- 1000+ Interactive Flashcards
- 110 Digital Quizzes
- 110 Note-taking Sheets
- Print-on-demand Unit Quizzes
- Explore Labs
- Scope and Sequence
- Standards Alignment
Chemistry: - 101 Chemistry Starter Modules
- 450+ Interactive Flashcards
- 101 Digital Quizzes
- 101 Note-taking Sheets
- Print-on-demand Unit Quizzes
- Explore Labs
- Scope and Sequence
- Standards Alignment
Grades 6-8: - 120 Science Starter Modules
- 500+ Interactive Flashcards
- 120 Digital Quizzes
- 120 Note-taking Sheets (modified available)
- Print-on-demand Unit Quizzes (modified available)
- 120 Journal/Discussion Topics
- Explore Labs
- Scope and Sequence
- Standards Alignment
Grades 3-5: - 121 Science Sidekick Modules in English
- 121 Science Sidekick Modules in Spanish
- 400+ Vocabulary Terms with practice activities
- 121 Explore Activities/Labs
- 121 Digital Quizzes
- 121 Note-taking sheets (English and Spanish)
- 121 Journal/Discussion Topics
- 363 Exit Tickets
- Instructional Units with 15 Print-on-demand Unit Quizzes (modified available)
- Standards Alignment
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What are the terms of use?
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All users have unlimited use for one year from the date of purchase.
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What are the purchase options?
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Campuses can purchase in different ways to meet a variety of needs: 1) Purchase individual subscriptions for teachers
2) Purchase individual subscriptions for teachers + students 3) Purchase a campus-wide teacher subscription, which gives any teacher on the campus access 4) Purchase a campus-wide teacher + student subscription More pricing information can be found in our catalog or you can request a quote.
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Using Science Sidekicks (Grades 3-5)
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How do I access the student videos?
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Open the Sidekick module and click on the Student button in the Explain area of the Home page.
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Where is the vocabulary activity located?
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Open the Sidekick module and click on the Elaborate button. Scroll down to the bottom of the word list on the left and click on the verb phrase, such as "Compare It!".
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What is the difference between the Teacher and Student buttons in the Explain area of the Home page?
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Clicking on the Teacher button opens the part of the lesson module that explains the science concept. These pages can be advanced with a wireless remote presenter. The Teacher-guided lesson pages were designed for whole-class learning and contain at least 2 Partner Power opportunities for student discussion as well as 3 formative assessment questions.
Clicking on the Student button opens the same lesson pages that play as a video with audio. The video does not show the discussion opportunities or formative assessment.
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When using the teacher-guided lesson, how do I get all the text on the page to animate?
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You can animate each sentence on an Explain lesson page with a remote presenter, the click of a mouse, or a tap on a whiteboard anywhere within the page area. The yellow dots at the lower right tell you how many animations are on each page. If you only click the Next Page button to advance pages, you will not animate all the text on each page. Clicking the Home button (house icon) at the lower left of each page will take you back to the Home page.
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What is a remote presenter, and how can I use one with the Science Sidekicks?
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A wireless presenter is a plug-and-play device that allows you to move around the classroom as you guide students through the Explain portion of any Science Sidekick module. You can advance the lesson without being chained to a computer mouse. To use a remote presenter, plug the USB portion into the computer and turn on the device. Open a Science Sidekick and click the Teacher button in the Explain area. Click once with a mouse somewhere within the first page. Then use the arrows on the remote presenter to advance the pages forward and backward.
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How do you recommend that we, as a campus, begin using the Science Sidekicks?
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Using the Instructional Units:
Access the Instructional Units document found on the ancillaries page of the teacher account. With the list of units and the school calendar, determine the dates each unit will begin and end as well as the date each quiz will be administered. This is especially effective for a daily, comprehensive review during the 5th grade year. Schools have the best results when teachers are committed to adhering to the departmental plan as closely as possible.
Integrating with existing curriculum:
Use the list of Science Sidekicks to determine which modules (or parts of modules) will be integrated with each lesson in the curriculum. On the alphabetical page, you can search by keyword or standard to find Sidekicks for a specific lesson. Then determine how the Sidekick assessments will be used. Again, schools have the best results when teachers are committed to adhering to the departmental plan as closely as possible.
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Can I use the Science Sidekicks on my iPad or iPhone?
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Yes. The Science Sidekicks are developed in HTML5.
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When I open a Sidekick module, the bottom of my screen is cut off, and I can't see the buttons on the lower part of the module frame. How can I resolve this?
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It's likely that the display settings for your computer screen are set to a resolution less than 1280 x 768, which is the minimum resolution we recommend for proper viewing.
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Using Middle School Science Starters (Grades 6-8)
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How does using the Recommended Sequence differ for traditional schedule and block schedule?
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For block schedule, 2 lessons are presented per day. Schools on traditional schedule will present 1 lesson per day. A quiz is available after each set of 10 Science Starters.
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What is included in the guided notes, and what are the options for using them?
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Each notes sheet contains the script of the Science Starter with blanks that allow students to participate in active note-taking. This is followed by at least two independent, short answer questions. A link to each printable guided notes sheet is located next to the module link on the page that lists individual Science Starters alphabetically.
If you're following the recommended sequence, the script of ten Science Starters is included in each guided notes packet. A modified version with larger font and only one question is also available for download. These packets are found on the teacher ancillaries page at the bottom of each unit.
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How are the Science Starter guided notes packets designed to be used?
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The guided notes provide active note-taking that keeps students focused on the lesson. They also provide students with study material. Following the Recommended Sequence, the teacher distributes a guided notes packet every two weeks (a packet for each ten-lesson unit). Teachers have reported that they receive the best results when they keep the packets in the classroom until it is time for the quiz. On the day of the final Science Starter, students take the guided notes packet home to study for the quiz. If you don't want to use the packet sequence, guided notes for individual Science Starters can be found on the page that lists the Starters alphabetically.
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How can Science Starters be used as a curriculum for a test remediation class?
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Science Starters are an excellent curriculum for a test remediation class because the program is comprehensive, covering the standards and core ideas students will see in testing. Sixth through eighth grade classes can use the interactive vocabulary flashcards and quizzes for formative classroom assessment. To conclude the class period and reinforce understanding, the Science Starter may be presented again at the end of the period.
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How do you recommend that we, as a campus, get started with the program?
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Using Scientific Minds' Recommended Sequence:
Access the Recommended Sequence document found on the ancillaries page of the website. With the Science Starter list and the school calendar, determine the dates each Starter will be presented and each quiz administered. Schools have the best results when teachers are committed to adhering to the departmental plan as closely as possible.
Using with existing curriculum:
Determine the Science Starters that will be presented with each lesson in the curriculum. In order to view all available Science Starters in the program, you can access the Recommended Sequence document found on the ancillaries page of the website or go to the alphabetical listing on the website. On the alphabetical page, you can also search by keyword or standard to find Starters for a specific lesson. Then determine how the assessments will be used. Again, schools have the best results when teachers are committed to adhering to the departmental plan as closely as possible.
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Can I use a wireless remote presenter to advance the Science Starter lessons?
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Yes, any wireless remote presenter can be used to advance the lessons. This feature greatly enhances the teacher’s ability to manage the class and keep students involved in the lesson. For best results, click on the link to open the selected lesson, choose "Teacher-guided" mode, press F-11 for a full screen appearance, and left click the mouse one time. The Science Starter is now ready to be advanced with the wireless presenter.
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Can I use the Science Starters on my iPad or iPhone?
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Yes. Middle School Science Starters are currently developed in HTML5.
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Our campus plans to take advantage of the student accounts and benchmark testing for Science Starters. How do we set up these accounts?
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1. For a larger number of student accounts, we recommend CSV file import for account creation. An appropriate school employee will be designated as the Data Manager. The Data Manager is commonly a PEIMS or technology specialist. The Data Manager has the ability to upload student and teacher data to a secure portal in the Scientific Minds system. This data, in the form of a CSV file, will automatically create student and teacher accounts. Teachers will receive email notification of account login information. Students will receive login information from their teachers. The district or campus administrator in the Scientific Minds system can create an account for the Data Manager.
2. For smaller numbers of student accounts, the teacher can create the student accounts or have the students auto-enroll themselves. All of these processes are explained more in detail here. If you have any questions regarding student account creation, please email support@scientificminds.com
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Using Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters
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What are Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters?
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Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters are web-based lesson modules that combine the successful features of the original Science Starters with options for increased student interactivity. The result is two highly versatile products that can be used by teachers for whole-class instruction or by students for independent study.
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How are teachers using the Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters in a whole-class setting?
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With one computer and a projector, a teacher can easily use Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters for whole-class instruction. The many ways that teachers use these Science Starters include the following:Recommended sequence – Scientific Minds provides a sequence that teachers can follow to spiral through state standards. Teachers begin class each day with a Science Starter. Following each block of ten Science Starters, a print-on-demand quiz is provided that teachers can use to evaluate student progress. (These quizzes are also available for students to take online when student accounts are purchased.) This method does not necessarily follow the sequence of the school curriculum but instead provides daily 5-minute lessons that review or preview curriculum content.
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How can the Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters be used for independent study?
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With the purchase of student accounts, students can access the Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters from any device with Internet access to help them study, prepare for tests, and practice new content. Teachers can also assign the Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters as outside instruction in a “flipped” classroom. A flipped classroom inverts traditional teaching methods by providing students with online instruction outside of class.
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I teach at a Texas high school, and we used the TAKS Science Starters in the past. How do the Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters differ from the original TAKS Science Starters?
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The original TAKS Starters were proven effective for teacher-led instruction. The Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters were designed in a different platform for both whole-class instruction and for independent learning. Teachers can use a remote presenter or USB mouse to guide students through the lesson module, but students can also use the video mode to view the lesson with prerecorded audio. Biology Starters provide more flexibility as both the audio and the text can be turned on or off at any time. Both Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters also add interactive flashcards and digital assessments within each module to quickly assess understanding.
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How do the Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters support the 5E instructional model?
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All Science Starters provide the Engage, Explain, Explore, Elaborate, and Evaluate components of the 5E model.
ENGAGE: Each Science Starter begins with a page that focuses students on the lesson objective and encourages critical thinking.The "ENGAGE" page can be used as a journal topic or as a topic for class discussion.
EXPLAIN: Each lesson is explained clearly and concisely with images and graphics that promote retention.
EXPLORE: Explore labs are included in the teacher ancillaries.
ELABORATE: Interactive vocabulary flashcards promote science literacy. Spanish terms are included.
EVALUATE: Biology Starters have an assessment for the interactive vocabulary flashcards (found on the Elaborate tab) and a cumulative assessment at the end of each lesson (found on the Evaluate tab). Chemistry Starters have one assessment that combines both vocabulary and lesson content (found on the Evaluate tab). With the purchase of student accounts, the individual results of the assessments are captured by our system and delivered to the teacher for each of the 110 Biology Starters and 101 Chemistry Starters.
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Where are the interactive vocabulary flashcards?
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After selecting either the “Video” or “Teacher-Guided” option, the Elaborate tab will be visible in the upper right of the screen. Click this tab to find the interactive flashcards. Students can study the Biology Starter flashcards and then take a quiz over the vocabulary words. The quiz for Chemistry Starter flashcards is on the Evaluate tab.
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Where is the cumulative assessment located?
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After selecting either the “Video” or “Teacher-Guided” option, the Evaluate tab will be visible in the upper right of the screen. Click this tab to find the cumulative assessment.
Note for student accounts: In order for a Biology Starter to produce a grade in the student account, BOTH module assessments, vocabulary (Elaborate tab) and cumulative (Evaluate tab), must be completed, including any 2nd attempt at a question. The system produces one combined grade.
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When a student completes a lesson module quiz, a grade is displayed. How is this grade calculated?
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In the Biology Starters, the vocabulary quiz on the Elaborate tab and the 5-question quiz on the Evaluate tab are calculated together to produce a final grade. Each quiz has equal value. Note: BOTH of these quizzes must be completed in order for the system to produce a grade.
The quiz for Chemistry Starters is a 10-question combined quiz, so each question is worth 10 points.
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What is the value of purchasing student accounts?
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With the purchase of student accounts, students can access all the Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters from any device that has Internet access. This means that Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters can be assigned for pre-teaching, flip-teaching, review, remediation, or independent study.
Individual student accounts are also an excellent RTI tool when used to reinforce concepts students are struggling to grasp. Students can move through Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters over and over again at their own pace, on their own time.
Student accounts allow for grading flexibility for the teacher. Our system collects a grade from the interactive assessments that is delivered effortlessly to the teacher.
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My school purchased a package that includes teacher accounts only. How can I use the Evaluate assessments for quiz grades?
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In a whole-class setting, teachers can display the quiz questions on a screen and click on the white double arrow to advance through the questions. Students can record their answers on notebook paper or a Scantron®.
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Where are the hard copy quizzes?
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In addition to the digital quizzes found within each Science Starter module, hard copy assessments are available for printing. These quizzes are used by teachers who choose to follow the Scientific Minds recommended sequence. For Biology Starters, a 10-question quiz follows each of the 12 units in the sequence. For Chemistry Starters, a 20-question test follows each of the 14 units in the sequence. These assessments can be found on the ancillaries page.
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What is a remote presenter, and how can I use one with the Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters?
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A wireless presenter is a plug-and-play device that allows you to move around the classroom as you guide students through any of our Science Starter lessons. You can advance the lesson without being chained to a computer mouse. To use a remote presenter, plug the USB portion into the computer and turn on the device. Open a Science Starter and select the Teacher Guided option. Use the arrows on the device to advance the lesson forward and backward.
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Can I use the Biology Starters and Chemistry Starters on my iPad or iPhone?
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Yes. Chemistry Starters are developed in HTML5, so you can view them in any browser. Biology Starters are currently developed in Flash, so you need a Flash browser for iOS. You can download the free academic Flash browser called Puffin Academy that will allow you to access the Flash content.
Note: A Biology product is currently being developed in HTML5 and scheduled for release in summer 2019.
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I have an Android device that doesn't play Flash. How can I view the Biology Starters on my tablet?
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1. Biology Starters are currently developed in Flash, so you need a Flash browser for Android OS. You can download the free academic Flash browser called Puffin Academy that will allow you to access our Flash content.
2. You can install a previous version of Flash Player. Instructions are here.
Note: A Biology product is currently being developed in HTML5 and scheduled for release in summer 2019.
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Online Benchmark Testing
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Our campus plans to take advantage of the student accounts and benchmark testing for Science Starters. How do we set up these accounts?
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1. For a large number of student accounts, we recommend CSV file import for account creation. An appropriate school employee will be designated as the Data Manager. The Data Manager is commonly a PEIMS or technology specialist. The Data Manager has the ability to upload student and teacher data to a secure portal in the Scientific Minds system. This data, in the form of a CSV file, will automatically create student and teacher accounts. Teachers will receive email notification of account login information. Students will receive login information from their teachers. The district or campus administrator in the Scientific Minds system can create an account for the Data Manager.
2. For a smaller number of student accounts, the teacher can create the student accounts or have the students auto-enroll themselves. All of these processes are explained more in detail here. If you have any questions regarding student account creation, please email support@scientificminds.com
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Purchasing MC² in Agriculture
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We plan to purchase access to MC² in Agriculture. How can we get our account activated as quickly as possible?
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You can fax your purchase order to 800-886-1226 or email it to info@scientificminds.com. Be sure to include the following information: District Name:
District Contact Name:
District Contact Email:
Campus Name(s):
Campus Contact Name:
Campus Contact Email:
Teacher Name(s):
Teacher Emails(s): Please verify receipt of your fax by calling 800-886-8145.
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What are the system requirements for MC²?
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Internet access and Adobe Reader, which is available as a free download at www.adobe.com.
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What are the terms of use for MC² in Agriculture?
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The program is web-based and is sold as an individual teacher subscription and 25 student accounts. Each teacher who purchases the program has access to the website for one year from the date of purchase and renews that subscription annually.
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What is included with the MC² in Agriculture subscription?
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30 Videos that integrate math and science with foundational agriculture concepts
30 Hands-on extension activities
120 Open-ended, cross-curricular extensions in science, math, ELA, and social studies
300+ Vocabulary words in a print-on-demand glossary
30 Worksheets for formative assessment of Ag content
30 Quizzes (available as print-on-demand or web-based)
State alignment
User guide
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Using MC² in Agriculture
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Why does the MC² video disappear when I open it and then try to move the time slider to a specific time?
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Open the video, hit play, and then move the time slider. You many need to view the video in full screen in order to see the time line. Depending on your internet connection speed, the player may not show the video right away.
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How do you recommend that our agriculture teachers get started with the MC² in Agriculture program?
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When a teacher logs in to an MC² account, he/she will see that a User Guide has been provided on the MC² ancillaries page. Use this PDF for information about how to begin using the program.
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When I open an MC² video, I can't see the time line.
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Make sure that the window you are viewing the video in is maximized. Check the top right hand of the window - if the second tab (in between Minimize and Close) shows a single window icon, you need to click this icon to maximize the window. You can also try adjusting your resolution to 1024x768.
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