Alternative

Instructional

Management

System

AIMS is…

Individualized

• You may work at your own pace• You can take as much time as you need

to successfully complete a unit.

AIMS is also…

Competency-based

• You must pass units and tests with a minimum score.

• In most cases, that score must be 80% of the total number of items on the test or lesson.

AIMS has…

Levels of difficulty: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, and L A is easy; L is the most difficult.

You will be working at a level somewhere in between, based on your Placement Tests scores.

AIMS has…

UNITS

Within each level are several units that you will be working on. You must complete all the units within a particular level before moving up to the next level.

AIMS units…Cover similar skills at each level, but the readingmaterials become more difficult as you move up.1. Is VOCABULARY2. Is MAIN IDEAS and SUPPORTING DETAILS3. Is INFERENCE, SUMMARY, and ANALOGIES4. Is PURPOSE, TONE, FACT, OPINION,

PERSUASION, ARGUMENT, PATTERNS, and TRANSITIONS

5. Is GLOBALS SKILLS6. Is FUNCTIONAL READING7. Is CONTENT AREA READING

Progress through the program.

As you progress through the units and levels, you will take tests and score your own results.

You will do assignments when needed to improve your reading skills.

You will follow a learning procedure of pre-test, activity, post-test.

At all times you can note the progress you are making.

AIMS Learning Procedure

AIMS Progress on paper

Choice of testing

You may use a paper test and a scoring card provided by your instructor and score the test at a computer OR

You may take the entire test online and the test will be scored automatically for you.

Use of dictionary

You may use a DICTIONARY for alltests EXCEPT J-1, K-1, L-1, andother units as dictated by yourteacher.

Paper test and scoring cardIf you are taking the test onpaper and using a scoringcard, please fill out thefollowing details on the card:

• Write your 7-digit Reading Lab folder number above or by the word Scantron. Note:  This number is marked as SSN: but is NOT your social security number. 

• Write the name of your class on the subject line.

• Put all the letters and numbers that identify your test on the test no. line, i.e., URJ4B

• Write your AIMS section number on the period line.

Paper tests and scoring card (cont.)POINTS TO REMEMBERFOR TESTING WITH ASCORING CARD:

• Please use a #2 pencil. • Please mark your answer

carefully and erase changes cleanly.

• Do NOT make stray marks on the card.

• Please do NOT have any materials on the desktop except a pencil, a test, a score sheet, and when permissible, a dictionary.

• Please do NOT talk to others while taking a test.

• If you have a question, please ask a tutor or instructor.

• Score the card on a special computer as directed by your teacher or a tutor.

• Please leave all tests, score cards, and borrowed dictionaries at the Reading Lab Counter before leaving the Learning Center.

Online testingIf you are taking the entiretest online, pleaseremember these details:

• All testing must be supervised by your instructor or a tutor in a learning center or computer classroom.

• Use the Reading Lab home page to log into Laulima (with your MyUH username and password) to access the Distance Reading Lab.

• Find the appropriate level, unit, test, and form or ask a tutor to help you find them.

• Ask a tutor or your teacher to type in the password for the test.

Online testing (cont.)

POINTS TO REMEMBER FOR TESTING ONLINE:

• Please do NOT have any materials near the computer except, when permissible, a dictionary.

• Please do NOT talk to others while taking a test.

• Take the test by reading carefully. • Click Finish when you have

completed the entire test.• Click Review to see your grade.• If you have a question, please ask

a tutor or instructor.

Scoring

After you score your paper-and-pencil test, the computer will send a printout of your results to a tutor at the Reading Lab counter.

After you complete your test online, the computer will make your results available to a tutor.

If you score 80% correct,  you will then progress to the next unit.

If you score less than 80%, you will need to do an assignment.

AIMS Assignments

No matter how the test is scored, a tutor will give you an assignment based on the items you missed in the unit test.

Be sure to read the assignment carefully and do only the parts that the tutor has highlighted for you.

An Assignment looks similar to this:

AIMS Assignments (cont.)

Your assignmentsmay be in print oron the computer

AIMS Assignments (cont.)

Regardless of how youscored a test and dependingon the nature of the activity,you may complete anassignment in differentways:

• With a book, pencil, and paper in the Learning Center

• Online in the Learning Center or on your computer at home.

AIMS Assignments (cont.)

You must do your bestto get 80% of theassignment correct.

AIMS Assignments (cont.)

Do the assignmentwith the attitudethat you will learnreading skills thatwill not only helpyou pass the B testof a unit but willalso help you be amuch better readerthe rest of your life.

Assignments (cont.)

If you are working in the Learning Center, correct your assignment as instructed by a tutor. 

If you are working online at the Distance Reading Lab, either inside or away from the Learning Center, the software scores the activity and provides immediate feedback. 

In either case, keep track of your performances either on the assignment sheet , the answer sheet, or another piece of paper.

Assignments (cont.)

If you are getting at least 80% of your assignment answers correct, ask for the B test of that unit.

If you find that you are missing more than 20% of your answers, please ask the tutor or teacher to explain what you are doing wrong with the assignment.

If you are having problems…

getting 80 % correctwith an assignment,do not hesitate toask for assistancefrom your teacher ora tutor.

AIMS in summary

The purpose to AIMSis to provide asystematic means fora learner to improvereading skills. Pleasetake advantage of itsmany lessons andpractices.