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Table of Contents:
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General and Administrative Questions
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Department and Bookstore Questions
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Technical Requirements and Thinkwell
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Using Thinkwell For Distance Learning and Online Courses
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How do I watch the Thinkwell videos?
Once you have received your Thinkwell CDs, just install and run the Thinkwell Player software to watch the videos.
- Download and install the latest version of the Thinkwell Player from our web site:
- Click on this link to go to the Thinkwell Download Center: www.thinkwell.com/marketing/downloadCenter.cfm
- On the Download Center page, click on the Latest Thinkwell Player Download link in the column for your computer operating system (e.g. Windows)
- Click on the link at the bottom of the page that reads Click here to download the new Thinkwell player ...
- In the File Download dialog, click Run or Open
If you receive a security warning (e.g. "The publisher could not be verified"), you may safely ignore it: click Run or OK
- Follow the InstallShield Wizard prompts to install the player
- Launch the Thinkwell Player:
- Double-click on the orange Thinkwell icon on your desktop
- Enter your Thinkwell user name and password, then click on the Submit button
- Click on the title of the video that you wish to watch
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Will I need training to use Thinkwell?
Probably not, but we will provide whatever support you need to feel comfortable. Most instructors just investigate the website that Thinkwell builds for them on their own. Some like to have a Thinkwell representative walk them through things on the phone. We also can provide on-site or online (WebEx) department "training" and orientation.
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Can I still use WebCT or Blackboard?
Yes, you can use these products if you choose; you may want to put a link to Thinkwell on your WebCT or Blackboard page. In addition to the content, Thinkwell provides the course management functionality of those products, so you probably won't need them.
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Can I add my own documents to my Thinkwell website?
Yes, you can upload any electronic document or web page links to your website table of contents.
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What technical expertise do I need to use Thinkwell?
If you can handle email, you have all the technical expertise required.
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Who helps my students when they have questions?
Thinkwell provides an outstanding Technical Support service, available by phone or email. Instructors never need to address any technical or functional issues regarding Thinkwell.
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Can the syllabus on my Thinkwell website be driven by date instead of topic?
Yes, it's your choice. You can do this yourself, or just send us your syllabus and we will do it for you.
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What if I want something customized to my specific needs?
No problem; you can change the sequence of topics or delete topics. Again, we can do it for you or you can do it yourself.
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Do I need to change my approach to teaching?
Not at all. However, almost all our customers find themselves doing more things they always wanted to do in class because Thinkwell allows them the opportunity.
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If students don't read my current textbook, how do I know they will use Thinkwell?
Students complete online homework exercises that are automatically graded and flow into your Thinkwell grade book. This is how you know the level of understanding your students have of a particular topic, both individually and as a class. If the Thinkwell exercises are 5% of your course grade, you get one level of participation … if they are 30%, you get a whole different level of participation. A little experimenting will show you how to effectively encourage your students will come to class prepared.
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Can I change my syllabus in mid-semester?
No problem. Students will need to click a button and the syllabus on their PC will be updated.
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How do I evaluate Thinkwell?
Watch a couple video lectures on your favorite topics (you can skip through them, just click the arrow button like a music CD); the format is always the same. You'll get a feel for how the author covers topics. Take a look at the table of contents to see if you might want to change or delete anything. Ask us to set up a website for you and take a look around. We are happy to walk you through any of this on the phone or in person, if possible. In less than a half hour, you will have a good feel for what Thinkwell will do for you and your students.
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How do I get ready for my semester with Thinkwell?
Order Thinkwell at the bookstore like a traditional book. Contact us to build your website and ask us any questions and we will make sure you are ready to go.
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Can I build PowerPoint® presentations with Thinkwell graphics?
Yes, every graphic that you see in a video lecture is available at the website for you to download into your own presentations.
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Can I write my own exercises?
Yes, you can use the standard exercises or author your own. You can write multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, or short answer/essay questions.
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Can students do exercises more than once?
You get to choose:- Students can take an exercises once and it counts for their grade
- Students get multiple takes, optionally with different questions, and the best take counts for their grade
- Students get multiple takes in order to review, but only the first take counts for their grade
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Can I export grades from the grade book?
Yes, the Thinkwell grades can be exported to an Microsoft Excel® file, or we can work with you if you need a custom format.
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How can I communicate conveniently with all my students?
Thinkwell provides a broadcast email feature that allows you to send email to all of your students at one time. You can also put an announcement up that is seen by your students when they log in to Thinkwell.
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Can I change the order of the topics?
Of course. You can do it, or we can do it for you.
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Will there be someone available to help me if I need it?
Always. The Tech Support folks have liberal hours for you and your students. Don't confuse us with big companies who view Technical Support as a necessary evil.
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Can Thinkwell be utilized in our computer labs?
Yes. For department adoptions, Thinkwell frequently makes generous offers to equip computer labs for student convenience. We work with your technical folks to make sure they are comfortable with how Thinkwell works. We have never had difficulty working in a computer lab.
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What if I make Thinkwell a supplement in my course?
Our experience shows that few or no students will buy it and no one will benefit. Talk with us about your situation and we will come up with a better solution.
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What about hybrid courses?
Thinkwell is perfect for courses that are part distance learning and still have classroom time as well. Thinkwell's course management features are especially helpful for these situations.
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We have several very traditional professors, any suggestions for them?
Sure. If there are some people on staff who can't live without a traditional textbook, they can always order a few of those books in the bookstore and let the students buy them if they want. We also have bundled Thinkwell with traditional textbooks with special pricing, making a powerful package for students and no changes are required for the reluctant instructor.
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Who can make changes to my website, me or Thinkwell?
Thinkwell provides you the tools to change your website yourself, but you are always welcome to have us do it for you.
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If I customized my Thinkwell content this semester, will it be saved for next semester?
Yes, we can duplicate your site for next semester.
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What information about my students does Thinkwell provide to me?
You will know these things:- Which students have registered in your class
- The results of their exercises
- Whether or not they have opened any notes, videos, etc.
- The time they spent on the above activities
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What if a student drops the course and takes it next semester, do they have to buy another Thinkwell package?
No problem; they don't have to buy the Thinkwell package again. As long as an instructor directs us, we will move the student into the next section. The only requirement is the student still has the current edition of the Thinkwell CDs.
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How do I order Thinkwell for next semester?
Just like a regular textbook, turn in the Thinkwell ISBN to your bookstore. Click here for the ISBN list.
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What is the reliability and uptime of the Thinkwell website?
We served over 12 million exercises last semester with no down time, just like the semester before that and the one before that. We host our own servers in multiple locations eliminating the most common technical problems other publishers tend to have: slow response times or down servers.
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Can my students use Thinkwell with only a dial up connection?
Absolutely, there are no performance issues in completing online exercises with a slow dial up connection. The videos are on CDs, so they are not impacted by the connection.
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Are the presenters in the videos actually professors?
Yes, they are chosen because they are some of the great communicators in their respective field. It takes more than a great reputation to be a Thinkwell author.
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We have many adjunct professors, is there a way for an administrator to monitor different sections?
Yes, Thinkwell will allow you to see student progress in different sections.
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Do you offer site licenses?
Yes, sometimes site licenses are the easiest way for a school or department to do business with Thinkwell.
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How do I order Thinkwell for my class?
Just like a regular textbook, turn in the Thinkwell ISBN to your bookstore. Click here for the ISBN list.
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What is the cost to the department to use Thinkwell?
Nothing at all, we build the websites for all sections and do all the customization at no cost.
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What is the student cost to use Thinkwell?
About the same as a traditional textbook, but frequently it is even less.
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Are volume discounts available?
Yes, usually starting at around 1,000 copies.
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Is any student info used in any way by Thinkwell?
No. Our privacy policy is here.
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Can the videos be used on different computers?
Yes, a student's Thinkwell package can be used at an unlimited number of computers.
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What about Macs?
No problem, we provide a native version of our video player software for OS 9 and OS X.
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What is on the Thinkwell CDs and what is on the website?
Only the video lectures are on the CDs, everything else is on the website.
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Will old PCs run Thinkwell?
Yes, a Pentium 166 will run Thinkwell. The technical requirements are here.
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Is the Thinkwell system secure?
Yes, students have never been impacted by hacking, nor have students been able gain an unfair advantage.
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Tell me in 58 words how Thinkwell works
Students buy the Thinkwell package at the bookstore and register into your personalized Thinkwell website. Instead of reading a textbook, students watch 10-minute video lectures on CD-ROMs and then complete online exercises at your website. Armed with the feedback of how well students have comprehended the topics, you are able to conduct your class time accordingly.
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We teach 32 sections of a particular course, does Thinkwell build 32 websites?
Yes, and they can all be customized differently, if that is your desire.
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What do students say about Thinkwell?
It's no secret that students don't like reading textbooks, and we get great feedback every semester from all kinds of students who love the Thinkwell approach. Ask us for some testimonials. The "MTV generation" is perfectly comfortable with multimedia.
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Has anyone done studies on the effectiveness of Thinkwell?
A variety of professors have done studies with many different Thinkwell titles and the results have always been impressive. We always welcome department testing and comparing results.
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How does the content coverage compare to a traditional textbook?
Not only is the coverage robust, always meeting or exceeding traditional textbooks, but the content is also rigorous. While Thinkwell's delivery is friendly, it is in no way "dumbed down".
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Do students have to watch a whole video beginning to end?
No, they can easily skip around, fast-forward, or replay as they desire.
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Will students be able to use Thinkwell long after the course ends?
Yes, students can always view the video lectures for as long as they keep the Thinkwell CDs, and they can request access to the website functions after the course ends.
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What does Thinkwell provide me that traditional textbooks do not?
Thinkwell provides a delivery method that students enjoy, and detailed feedback that allows professors to save time and utilize class time more effectively. While traditional publishers use limited technology to maximize the sale of their textbooks, Thinkwell's objective is to simply maximize effectiveness.
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Can someone help me author quizzes and exams?
We are always available to answer questions, but as an added service for department adoptions, Thinkwell assigns an academic support person to assist departments in detail, including the preparation of quizzes and exams.
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For math exercises, is there a test generator?
Yes, although we find that customers don't necessarily want a test generator, they actually want an adequate number of exercises to meet their needs.
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How are exams administered with Thinkwell?
We encourage in-class testing like you probably do today, but we also support online testing, including proctoring functionality.
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Does Thinkwell provide the ancillaries traditional textbooks provide?
Yes, we have test banks, exercises, color notes, transcriptions of the video lectures, animations, and comprehensive course management functionality like broadcast email and threaded discussion boards. Some of our titles can be ordered with companion workbooks.
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Can I use Thinkwell with a traditional textbook?
Yes, in fact we bundle Thinkwell with a variety of the most popular textbooks at substantial savings. Some of our titles can be ordered with Thinkwell's own companion workbooks as well.
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Do I need anything else to teach an online class with Thinkwell?
No, Thinkwell is a turn-key system that allows your course to be online immediately. You do not need to develop any content yourself.
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Can I add my own online material?
Yes, all of your digital documents and website links can be uploaded to your Thinkwell site.
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Can I still use WebCT or Blackboard?
Yes, you can use these products if you choose; you may want to put a link to Thinkwell on your WebCT or Blackboard page. In addition to the content, Thinkwell provides the course management functionality of those products, so you probably won't need them.
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