K-12 Connect - SmartBook FAQ
Understand why SmartBook assignments include many questions in K‑12 Connect.
Why are there so many questions?
SmartBook is a learning system with modules that cover most of the material in a textbook, so if you work your way through all the modules, you will cover most of the material that you need to learn in your course. The system will present you with the most important material first.To complete a module, you need to show mastery of a certain number of items. Each item is a topic or concept, and if you get an answer to a question on a specific topic correct, the topic will be removed from your queue. If you get the question incorrect, the topic stays in your queue and you will be asked to answer another question on it later.
In addition, SmartBook keeps track of which topics you should revisit to practice again, so that you don’t forget the material and because of this, it may seem like there are a lot of questions to answer, but SmartBook is helping you to study in an efficient way in order to guide your through learning, remembering and mastering the course material.
Why Does SmartBook Repeat Items I have Already Learned?
A SmartBook assignment consists of items (topics) that you must learn. If you answer a question on a topic incorrectly, the topic will be repeated later in the same study session to give you a chance to learn. You might not see the exact same question, but rather a variant that represents the same concept.
Additionally, the system will present some of the same topics in the next session. The first day, you might see a multiple-choice question about a concept, and the next day, a fill-in-the-blank for the same concept to make it more difficult. This will assess whether you really know the subject. It closely monitors the exact questions you have been exposed to before, and will vary this in an attempt to match and improve your knowledge level. This process helps to make sure you know and remember the material.
Why Is SmartBook So Strict About Spelling?
SmartBook applies different spelling rules to different questions based on the content. For instance, if you are using SmartBook to learn Spanish, it is important that you spell the new vocabulary correctly. However, in other cases, it isn’t as important to spell words exactly. In these situations, if you make a small spelling mistake, the program will accept your answer as good enough. If you make a larger spelling mistake, you will be prompted to complete a question on the same topic again later. This gives you an opportunity to make progress toward completing your assignment and prove that you really know the material. You might not see the exact same question again, but the program will give you another chance to prove your knowledge.
Fill-in-the-blank questions are often the most difficult questions because they rely on active recall, rather than recognition. Once you know the fill-in-the-blank questions, chances are that you are really learning things.
Assignment Tips
- Make an honest attempt to assess your confidence level on each question. Doing so allows SmartBook to more accurately direct you to the materials you need to study.
- Before answering each question, click on the most appropriate confidence level to ensure you receive the most efficient learning experience.
- Return to your completed assignments to rework the material and refresh your memory before quizzes and tests. Don’t be alarmed if you have forgotten some things – it’s natural when learning a new subject!
- Click the Feedback option on the right in SmartBook after answering a question where you feel the content is incorrect or unclear.
- Progress in SmartBook assignments is made by completing concepts. The number of questions you get is influenced by your accuracy. If you answer a question incorrectly, it will be repeated later in the same session to give you a chance to learn. It might not be the exact same question, but rather a variant that represents the same learning objective.