Reading Horizons v5 and v6 FAQ

Software

• I have a network version and am wondering what permissions I need to set on the server for the program to operate correctly.
  Read this page on the user permissions we require.
• Why does the program ask me to backup the database every time I exit the Administration system?
  This is just an automatic message to remind you to back up the database. If it has been more than 15 days since the last time you backed it up, it will ask you if you want to back it up again. If you do not wish to back up the database, you may ignore this message and click cancel.

General Errors

• When I run the program, I get an error that says "Control File Missing! Please make sure that this computer is connected to the network and try again."
  This should happen only if your computer is not correctly connected to your local network. Verify that you are on the same network as when the client installation was performed. Make sure that the server's name hasn't changed (computer on which the server installation was performed) and that you can see it on the network! This could also be a permissions issue. See the permissions instructions here. If you are still having difficulties, contact HEC for support.
• I tried to "Import Old Database" in the administration, but it gives me the error "[Microsoft][ODBC Drive Manager] Data Source name not found, and no default driver found. Please verify that the Data Source is listed in the ODBC control panel."
  To import from a previous version's database, you will need the previous version currently installed on the computer on which you are trying to perform the import.
  Once installed, the database can be imported into the new version, and the old version can be uninstalled.
  Please contact HEC if you are stillhaving difficulties.

Student Account Access

• My students keep complaining that, when they finish a lesson, it won't let them move on to the next lesson.
  This may be one of a couple of things: Make sure that your students are exiting the lessons correctly. They may be getting to the end of the lesson and pressing the 'Restart' lesson button instead of the 'Exit' button to go back to the lesson manager. Make sure that your students are completing the entire lesson. If they are using 'Reading Horizons, they may have to complete certain sections of the MDP before moving on to the next lesson. (This is a setting in the Administration system.) If they are using Discover Intensive Phonics, they may have to complete the practice and story sections at the end of the lesson before they can move on. Make sure that the student has not gone back to review a lesson and left it unfinished. If any reviewed lessons have been marked as "failed" or "incomplete," the student must finish them before moving on. It is possible that this could be a permissions issue; see the permissions instructions here.
• When I try to run the program, I get a "Too Many Users" error! But I haven't reached my license limit!
  This will occur if students do not exit the program correctly or if the computer unexpectedly shuts down during operation of the program. The program will think that a student is still logged in, and the student will be counted as one of the license spots. The solution for this is to run the Optimize Database function in the Management system.
• Every time one of my students tries to log in, she gets a message saying, "This account is currently in use, please try again."
  This will occur if the student didn't exit the program correctly the last time she used it, or if the computer was shut down while that student was still logged in. The solution is to manually Reset the student's login record through the Administration system.
• When I try to edit a students record, I get a message saying, "The student is logged in, have the student log out before editing," but the student is not logged in.
  This will occur if the student didn't exit the program correctly the last time the he/she used it, or if the computer was shutdown while that student was still logged in. The program still thinks the student is logged in and won't let you edit the record. The solution is to manually Reset the student's login record through the Administration system.
• When I try to delete a student, group of students, or all of the students, I get an error that the student(s) are either logged in, or that someone else is editing them, but no one else is using the program.
  This will occur when an administrator has recently accessed the student's record, and he or she did not exit the program properly, or the computer was shut down before the session was finished. The solution for this is to run the Optimize Database function in the Management system.
• When I try to edit a student's record, I get a message saying, "Another instructor is editing this student, please try again later," but no one else is editing the
  student.
  The solution for this is to run the Optimize Database function in the Management system.

Online Student Account Access

• When I try to run the program, I get a "Too Many Users" error! But I haven't reached my license limit!
  This will occur if students do not exit the program correctly or if the computer unexpectedly shuts down during operation of the program. The program will think that a student is still logged in, and the student will be counted as one of the license spots. The solution for this is to run the Optimize Database function in the Management system.
• Every time one of my students tries to log in, she gets a message saying, "This account is currently in use, please try again."
  This will occur if the student didn't exit the program correctly the last time she used it, or if the computer was shut down while that student was still logged in. The solution is to manually Reset the student's login record through the Administration system.
• Every time one of my students tries to log in, he gets a message saying, "This account is being accessed by an instructor, please try again."
  This will occur if someone is currently editing the student's record in the Administration system. It can also happen if the student's record was recently edited by an administrator, and, for some reason, the record didn't get released back to the system. The solution for this is to run the Optimize Database function in the management system.
• When I try to edit a students record, I get a message saying, "The student is logged in, have the student log out before editing," but the student is not logged in.
  This will occur if the student didn't exit the program correctly the last time that he/she used it, or if the computer was shutdown while that student was still logged in. The program still thinks the student is logged in and won't let you edit the record. The solution is to manually Reset the student's login record through the Administration system.
• When I try to delete a student, group of students, or all of the students, I get an error that the student(s) are either logged in, or that someone else is editing them, but no one else is using the program.
  This will occur when an administrator has recently accessed the student's record, and he or she did not exit the program properly, or the computer was shut down before the session was finished. The solution for this is to run the Optimize Database function in the Management system.

Student Assessments Descriptions

• What are student assessments?
  Assessments are designed to test a student’s ability to read and pronounce words at increasingly difficult levels. The tests are to be administered on a computer for an individual student, with the assistance of a test administrator.

Administering Student Assessments

• When do I administer student assessments?
  In order to determine student reading level and his or her subsequent starting point in the program, it is recommended for instructors to administer the assessments before students begin lesson instruction. Follow-up assessments may be administered at any time to determine student improvement. Remember: If the tests are not administered before the student begins lesson instruction, there may be unwanted changes to student settings.

Overriding Lessons

• How do I override lessons?
  Student Overrides can be viewed when adding or editing a student. From the Add Student screen or Edit Student screen, click on the third tab, called Overrides. The Overrides screen provides overriding options that allow administrators to tailor student progress through the program, according to each student’s specific needs.
  1. Click on the Class Roll button.
  2. Double-click on the student name to enter the Edit Student screen, or click on the Add Student button to add a new student record.
  3. Click on the Overrides tab near the top right-hand side of the Edit Student screen.
  4. Select the lesson you want to override by clicking on the empty box next to the lesson (or by clicking on the lesson title). The lesson will be highlighted in light blue.
  5. Click on the Override button toward the bottom of the screen. The box by the corresponding lesson will change to black.
  6. To set a series of overrides quickly, simply select the lesson up to which overrides should be set, and then press the Set Next Lesson button. All lessons prior to that lesson will be overridden.
  Note: Overriding lessons is not recommended unless appropriate customization is necessary. Be aware that if lessons are overridden, students will not learn the content taught in those lessons, including the marking system associated with each skill. Be cognizant of this when considering whether you should override lessons.

Reading Library Access

• When do students gain access to the library?
  The Reading Library feature becomes available after Chapter 1 has been completed.

Reading Level

• How does reading level affect the passages available to read?
  Passages are divided into three levels: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Gold passages range from a quarter of a grade to a full grade above the student’s current reading level. Silver passages range from a quarter of a grade below to a quarter of a grade above the student’s initial reading level. Bronze-level passages are all passages a quarter of a grade below the student’s current reading level. When the student has completed all of the required reading and chapter requirements, the student’s current reading level is evaluated and new passages are made available based on that score.