User Guide version 1.1
Contents
1. ie d AUN Individualised worksheets for every student One worksheet to practise three Rs User Guide Version 1 1 The CodeBreaker 2012 Contents pg2 1 Introduction to The CodeBreaker pg3 2 Instructions to use The CodeBreaker 2 1 Step 1 Selecting the Grade and Number of students 2 2 Step 2 Selecting the arithmetic for a set of worksheets pg4 2 3 Step 3 Selecting literacy selecting ready to use messages personalising the worksheet 2 3 1 Literacy levels 2 3 2 Ready to use messages choose from existing list pg5 2 3 3 Personalising the worksheet Uploading information overview pg6 2 3 3 1 Uploading questions messages and checking them 2 3 3 2 Uploading Student Names pg7 2 3 3 3 Uploading a logo which will appear on all worksheets 2 4 How to create a logo 2 5 Generating the pdf worksheets for printing pg8 3 1 Past and current CodeBreaker applications 3 2 Further potential applications pg9 4 Future upgrades pg 10 5 1 An example of a worksheet generated using Composite level of literacy pg 11 5 2 Composite worksheet solution pg 12 5 3 An example of a worksheet generated using Simple level of literacy pg 1 1 Introduction to The CodeBreaker The CodeBreaker is an exciting new internet resource for both primary school and secondary school teachers It is a unique cross curricular pdf worksheet generator that incorporates maths drill with any other subject a teacher may wish to cover It has been d2. here The CodeBreaker assigns each arithmetic solution an alphabetic character or punctuation symbol There are 30 maths answers to solve so the letters and the several punctuation symbols are shared out this is also done uniquely for each pdf worksheet among all these numerical answers If the correct maths answers are all different then decipherment of the coded message has no impediment Each number in the coded section has a unique assigned letter or punctuation symbol with which the student uses to decipher their message This literacy level is called Simple Furthermore the coded section may be partially completed for this level of literacy See pg 12 for an example On the other hand some equal numerical solutions will lead to some difficulty when deciphering the message This literacy level is referred to as Composite The worksheet example at the end of this document pages 10 11 illustrates this idea A student has correctly identified that one of the solutions in their first set of arithmetic is 7 The letter n has been assigned to this answer to be used in their code That student has also correctly identified that one of the solutions in their third set of arithmetic is also 7 The letter e has been assigned to this answer Therefore if the number 7 shows in the coded section of the worksheet then the student will be required to use their literacy skills and correctly place the letter n or e where appropriate This studen
3. be scrolled and they display completed versions of the worksheets This allows the teacher to check whether messages fit or not in the five lines of coded text If text needs to be altered they can use the back button on the browser screen to return to the field where the message had been placed and then appropriately edit This information can be resubmitted for further checking The teacher should return to the Upload Details screen to then enter students names and logo The default number of students is one so ensure the correct number of students is chosen in Step 1 to allow The CodeBreaker to generate the required number of worksheets Note that the alphabet the comma full stop question mark and exclamation mark will be the only characters acknowledged by The CodeBreaker message application Other characters can still be used in a message such as typical keyboard symbols like and numbers However such characters will appear decoded in the message section on the student worksheet Any text can be easily cut and pasted into the coded section by the teacher A Happy Birthday message to a particular student song lyrics riddles Jokes etc can be readily inserted This feature is unique to The CodeBreaker and it can transform the dynamics of classrooms Teachers now have the capability to provide any fun and educational message They could also include the actual name of their student within the coded section which impressively personal
4. teacher wishes to use this unique feature This is further explained below and an example of a worksheet and its solution on pages 10 11 will also help to illustrate this feature pg 2 2 Instructions to use The CodeBreaker The following instructions refer to the three steps shown on the left hand side of the web site front page to generate the pdf worksheets 2 1 Step 1 Selecting the Grade and Number of students e Selecting the grade is chosen to show the class grade number on the pdf worksheet e Selecting how many students from one to thirty enables the teacher to generate the required number of pdf worksheets 2 2 Step 2 Selecting the arithmetic for a set of worksheets Each worksheet allows for three different types of maths sets to be practised Each set of maths encompasses 10 arithmetic questions This step enables the teacher to set the arithmetic skills to be practised by their students P The three fields within this step are all identical When selected the teacher can choose any of the four basic operations e Addition Teacher can choose which number to add of numbers 1 12 to a set of 10 random numbers generated e Subtraction Teacher can choose which number to subtract of numbers 1 12 from a set of 10 random numbers generated e Multiplication teacher can choose which times tables to practise e Division Teacher can choose which division to practise Furthermore teachers can also set the
5. the worksheets can be scrolled and they display completed versions of the worksheets showing the logo student names and message The teacher can perform a final check before printing and if necessary go back for editing or modifying the logo 2 4 How to create a logo The bordered diagram with text shown below is an example of a logo created and used on The CodeBreaker worksheets for a whole school event The picture and text were put together in a text document and then the Snipping Tool was used to copy the designated area This was then saved as a PNG file Alternative approaches to create a logo can be used so long as the correct ratio of dimensions is used and the file is saved in an appropriate format Do the maths and use the answers to solve your Boa rd er Vs Day G i rl coded message Chess requires you to be thoughtful about which piece to move a i The code below is designed with this idea in mind Be careful in choosing the correct letter with the bold boxed numbers so as to decipher a coherent correctly spelt question or special instruction Bring your completed sheet along to the Human Chess event to earn House Points 2 5 Generating the pdf worksheets for printing After all information is submitted a message appears above the completed worksheets The individualised worksheets you requested have been created In the box below you will see the completed versions Scroll these to check your messages fit within t
6. CORE 4 fe Mes x amp 8dsbo ete tt tt Pt tT mms Peel eee ee T T E Your Answer pg 11 5 3 An example of a worksheet generated using Simple level of literacy This is an example of a worksheet generated using one of the Australian History ready to use messages Note that no bold boxes are in the coded message section indicating that each numerical solution has been assigned a unique character Assuming all the maths is correctly solved by the student they can then solve their coded message Note that the application of using the Simple level of literacy will also partially decipher the coded message as shown MI Rae BREAKER School and Class details Name Student No 27 Date 17 12 2012 Set One Set Two Set Three Add 5 to these numbers Subtract 2 from these numbers Multiply these numbers by 3 e eer we EIS INHE S m o n pm ae latte se Lae eee eae mjmvisuim wwe ewe ee L tte Pt et EE EE ee ZARGA Joe wr BAAR eee ele jme eis Pelee TJ Jie ee TANE Fena eee www tiem 1i p epspspepe w spese e tT ttt tT tT PE TT a Your Answer pg 12
7. esigned to help motivate students as well as engage and challenge students literacy skills The following diagram shows the internet front page of The CodeBreaker including a completed worksheet The features of this front page will be discussed in the Instructions below Sea e Individualised worksheets for every student SU seee e Have you ever been able to create individual worksheets for your entire class everyone no matter the level Via Cono ean School and Class details Name WorkSheet_0 Date 04 07 2012 Set Two Subtract 3 from these numbers es OE Please Select noose Tron existing ISI Select code topic M You re just four clicks away from the world s first personalised maths and literacy worksheet thay fun and educational for n Arithmetic section each worksheet is designed to be unique for each student Coded message can also be easily individualised I255dut to each s ja s e js ria einjr s jJe speje e l ksh Upload Details w jsj je fmf ase re 2o fofeferfes ut worksheet The maths and literacy options are endless with The Code Breaker No matter the topic subject of maths and literacy level Mantant Ila Thien madden AE manbaa AAnthe Ci Ihi It is named The CodeBreaker because of its ability for teachers to insert coded text messages for their students to decipher on the worksheet Each maths answer is assigned a
8. esources using The CodeBreaker pg 8 Aside from classroom or homework style activities the puzzle nature of the task also lends itself to being used in co curricular type activities Examples include e Excursions where the teacher could provide a series of facts or pose questions within the coded section of the worksheet e Sporting carnivals where students might be given fun questions to answer about the types of sport they are participating in and they could be encouraged to complete it by earning house points or receiving a prize It could be used as a resource for teachers with special needs students to reinforce a combination of arithmetic writing and literacy skills The pdf documents could be printed to A3 paper for students with special needs or early primary students who may require a larger writing area Italian French Spanish and Latin teachers could insert messages in those languages for their students to decipher 4 Future upgrades The CodeBreaker will be upgraded in several areas e Mathematics Further varieties of algorithms will be included as well as arithmetic beyond whole number e Literacy A greater range of levels of ability and code styles will be included e Providing choice of completing tasks on paper or electronically pg 9 5 1 An example of a worksheet generated using Composite level of literacy This is an example of a personalised worksheet provided at a co curricular event Approximate
9. following more difficult whole number skills e 2 Step Maths This choice will require the student to find a product and then add a number to the result eg multiply whole numbers by 4 and then add a random number e Squaring This choice will require the student to square numbers and also then add a particular number to the result For example a teacher could easily create a class set of different worksheets in which students e Add 5 to a series of ten numbers e Subtract 7 from a series of ten numbers and e Multiply a series of ten numbers by 4 Although each worksheet in a generated group has the same maths The CodeBreaker application will uniquely create each set of arithmetic for each pdf worksheet That is the series of numbers that need to be added to subtracted from and multiplied by will be set out differently on each sheet Furthermore the teacher could easily generate different set of maths worksheets for the particular needs of students or groups of students within their class pg 3 2 3 Step 3 Selecting literacy selecting ready to use messages personalising the worksheet Literacy level Please Select iteracy level Upload Details 2 3 1 Literacy level This refers to the level of difficulty of deciphering the coded message on the pdf worksheet There is a choice of two levels Simple or Composite Note that textual complexity where a message uses unusual language is not what is being referred to
10. he five lines of text These may also be printed if you wish Click here for your student worksheets The initial pages will show the messages you used in this set of generated worksheets After clicking on the blue message the requested set of pdf worksheets are generated for printing off Note that the first set of pages contains a list of the coded messages that were given to each student Following them each page will have a unique landscape oriented worksheet These can be printed and or saved pg 7 3 1 Past and current CodeBreaker applications The CodeBreaker has been successfully trialled in Australian schools Incorporated as part of a drop everything and read program at a disadvantaged high school all students approximately 500 were provided with an individualised worksheet These were issued fortnightly over one semester and on a roll call basis The students at this school typically had below average reading ages for their respective age groups and the majority of students were disinclined to bring reading material into school Students were all required to complete two sets of the 2 Step Maths and one set of Squaring both referred to on pg3 and then decode their message within the 20 minute time allocation Each student in each roll call class received a different message being a joke riddle to solve No formal conclusions were drawn about the efficacy of the fortnightly use of The CodeBreaker in terms of improvement in arith
11. idual worksheets again these can be entered directly or cut amp paste from a text document 3 A logo indicating a class school or school event which will appear in the top left corner of each of the pdf worksheets This logo needs to be in one of the following formats png gif JP tiff tif bmp O O O O O O These three features are further discussed below pg 5 2 3 3 1 Uploading questions messages and checking them Text can be typed or cut amp pasted directly into this field Each message needs to be a single paragraph The paragraph mark Enter button is used to separate each message to a different pdf worksheet so empty lines should also be avoided here Each message will be set onto the pdf worksheet The proviso that the message length be a maximum of 150 characters is a guide only and all messages should be checked before pdf worksheets are printed The coded message on the pdf worksheet appears within five lines Each line contains 32 characters including spaces When the messages have been entered the teacher should Submit the information to confirm that each paragraph fits within these given constraints If a paragraph were too long then any text that comes after the fifth line will not appear on the worksheet This can be verified by the teacher when they use the Submit button When submitted the screen returns to what looks like the original front page All the requested worksheets can
12. ises the message This could only lead to improved teacher student relationships leading to improved motivation of students which leads to improved student outcomes 2 3 3 2 Uploading Student Names This feature enables the teacher to easily assign a specific worksheet to a specific student If names are entered in this field then they will appear at the top of the worksheet When the pdf worksheets are generated the first worksheet will have the name of the first student and this worksheet will have the first message The second student will have the second message and so on Names can be typed in this field directly or cut amp paste from another document pg 6 Filename Browse 2 3 3 3 Uploading a logo which will appear on all worksheets This enables the teacher to further personalise the worksheet with a picture For example using a school crest or perhaps a classroom icon Mrs Brady s Year 5 Brumbies The logo might be something special announcing some kind of school event such as an excursion or cross curricular activity Appropriate file formats were listed on page 5 This picture file must be created such that the ratio of length to height is 4 1 Once created and saved use the Browse button to locate and upload it for use If a logo is not uploaded The CodeBreaker logo will appear on worksheets by default When all the information is submitted the screen returns to what looks like the original front page All
13. ly 750 students each received a similar yet unique personalised worksheet Note that this has been reduced in size The actual worksheet is designed to cover an entire A4 sheet and to be printed landscape Note the bold boxes in the coded message section indicating that a Composite literacy level was used to generate this worksheet The bold boxes alert the student to be careful in choosing which letter or punctuation symbol requires to be used for that character when deciphering their message The solution to this worksheet is shown on the next page Da the maths and use the anie te valve your amp Day Girlcoded message Chess requires you to be thoughtlu ee Name Kate No 12 Date 11 11 2012 The de below i amp designed with this sdea in mind Boa rder s Vs fe careful im choosing the correct letter with the bold boxed numbers so as to decipher a coherent correctly spelt question ar special instruction Set One Bring your completed sheet slong to the Human Set Two Set Three Chess event te earn House Poirts Multiply numbers by 3 then Add on 7 Square these numbers then Add on 5 Multiply numbers by 7 then Add on f mw pris pwewww eie pxw mon 1131 Jill eT eet wie mur posue eire eer ee pi APS el SEP EE L Pot EIS ere I EIS ISISLT Shi EZEIET EZ B RC EZ E CO C TERN EIE ECIES ER CO ETE CON wwe jewesp ww TE IIIS Your Answer pg 10 5 2 Composite worksheet solution When all the maths s
14. metic or literacy skills However it was noted that a majority of students appeared to enjoy engaging with the task This may have been due to the nature of the fun message to solve and possibly due to the message being personalised Class groups of students at primary schools which were feeder to the abovementioned high school were also shown to enjoy solving the worksheets due to their personalised nature They were completed during class time and also occasionally given as homework activities by their teacher Teachers were enthusiastic about the flexibility to put their own messages within the worksheets The Boarder vs Day Girl Human Chess event referred to the logo section above was an example where The CodeBreaker has been used successfully as part of a co curricular school activity A week prior to the chess event approximately 750 students at this school were each issued with a CodeBreaker worksheet Each worksheet had an individual student name written on it and each coded message a question about the game of chess had also contained within it that students name The worksheet on pg10 shows an actual example with surname removed Students were invited to decode their message and answer the question about chess The CodeBreaker provided a fun and interesting way to explore cross curricular ideas Although reasons for completing it may have been primarily based on earning house points it was noted that a vast majority of students eagerly pa
15. olutions are determined the coded message can be deciphered This example illustrates certain literacy skills are required to successfully determine the hidden message Students know they will decipher a correctly spelt coherent sentence The choice of letters to use for the bold numbers is written above that line to help This example also illustrates how The CodeBreaker sets out the message The word invention will not fit in the first line so blank spaces are left Do thee maths and use thee anseris to solve your Day Girl coded message Chess requires you ta be thoughtful SRL desean ain Name Kate No 12 Date 11 11 2012 The eade below is designed with this dnd 1 mird Lo Be careful im choosing the correct Erg wine bold boued nimbers sa as to decloher a coher correctly spelt question or ee Set One Bring your completed sheet along to the Human Set Two Set Three Chess event te earn House Paints Boa rder Vs Multiply numbers by 3 then Add on 7 Square these numbers then Add on 5 Multiply numbers by 7 then Add on 7 wisiesiaisieiaiwie els les al else ele ejajiems si sie alee Baje 34 po r5 eas T 37 25 pae fso pa 19 My 6 ge grip op 223 jie ge gr fo t vis r sd o nio j2 m E nk ME aeiee Ese ee afe afe Bead BS I rr 1 b 6J Ale Afe aa 4 ale bjoj jc a l olblolul j jaje alu alel le le Ylelal s alese epum risi dete fell tel eraan EJCIXCOMZEJCUEL whale Tel COCOA EIE EROR ER
16. rticipated in completing the task due to the personalised nature of the coded message Also noteworthy was the research conducted by students to determine the answer to the chess questions that were posed The CodeBreaker has been used as a motivating device for students in lower ability junior high school classes The basic maths drill enables the students to practise multiplication skills as part of a classroom activity The personalised message has been shown to be the motivating factor for students accomplishing the task 3 2 Further potential applications These examples show that The CodeBreaker can be successfully used in Primary and Secondary schools as a fun classroom or homework task They can be used in a variety of classroom learning activities where the coded message could explore a recent topic of another key learning area The message could pose a question or simply reinforce learnt facts It is a resource that can be utilised for a variety of student arithmetic writing and basic literacy needs The level of maths can be adjusted accordingly by the teacher to meet the needs of individual students More able students can be given more challenging arithmetic to solve and or a more challenging question within the message to solve A more basic level of maths can be presented where appropriate and the literacy demands in decoding the message can be simplified if necessary Parents of home schooled students could easily create meaningful r
17. t will be alerted to the necessity of choosing In this case the 7 will be written inside a bold box within the coded section of the pdf worksheet 2 3 2 Ready to use messages choose from existing list The CodeBreaker has a series of ready to use coded messages covering topics from several key learning areas They demonstrate that the coded message can itself be a question for the student The student would then conduct research and answer the question as part of completing the sheet There are thirty questions in each of the following topic areas e Famous Places e Mathematics e English Phrases e Australian History e Geography e Riddles e Punctuation and spelling best used at Simple literacy level only Having selected one of these topics the worksheets can then be generated by clicking on the GO button at the bottom left To generate the pdf worksheets go to section 2 5 Generating the pdf worksheets for printing on page 7 pg 4 However the user has the flexibility to upload their own set of messages discussed in the following sections 2 3 3 Personalising the worksheet Uploading information overview Upload Details When the Upload Details button is clicked the following page appears Filename This feature enables a teacher to upload 1 Their own set of personalised messages which can be entered directly or cut amp paste from a text document 2 The names of students which will appear on indiv
18. text character By correctly completing all the arithmetic students are then able to determine their coded message The message provided by the teacher can be easily personalised to a specific student The CodeBreaker also has a series of ready to use coded messages covering topics from key learning areas for teachers to use They demonstrate that the coded message can itself be a question for the student to then research and answer as part of completing the sheet However any text can be easily cut and pasted into the coded section by the teacher A Happy Birthday message to a particular student song lyrics riddles jokes a poem written in Spanish or French etc can be readily inserted by the teacher The CodeBreaker exploits the human desire to solve codes and puzzles This is used to motivate students to practise their arithmetic Apart from helping to improve students basic techniques in maths the personalised coded message of The CodeBreaker has been shown to enhance classroom dynamics and improve the relationship a teacher has with their students A final exceptional feature of The CodeBreaker is that the actual code can be nuanced too such that the students literacy skills can also be challenged The idea here is to give the student choices of letters and or punctuation symbols to use to decipher their code The students know that they have to write out a correctly spelt coherent sentence Their language skills will be tested if the
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