Using the SAM software

Skills Assessment Manager (SAM) is among the most up-to-date and effective training and testing platforms available. To get started on your course in the CSA lab, just double-click the SAM 2010 icon on the desktop. This opens the SAM software.

You can log in using your nine-digit student number as your user name, and your 6 digit pin as your password. (Note: this is the same pin you use for Stu-View.) For example,

User name: student number
Password: 111111

If it’s the first time you’ve ever logged in, you’ll be asked to read and agree to a licencing statement. Click “ok”. Then click "ok" two more times on the two pages that follow. This will take you to your Assignments page in SAM.

On your Assignments page, you’ll see a list of modules. These are the modules in which you will train and take tests. You must pass all your tests to pass this course.

Click the link to your first module's training. Training has four modes, and all four are equally important. Do not skip any of the training modes. They are as follows:

Prepare

Prepare mode presents you with detailed information about the task or function you are about to learn. The information is textual—you read it from the screen—and it describes both the task and the logical steps involved in carrying it out. Prepare mode gets you ready to complete the task.

Observe

Observe mode is automated: the software will show you how the task or function is carried out. You watch what happens in Observe, then you try it yourself in Practice. You will need to click the "play" icon to run Observe. At the lab, Observe is a visual function; if you do your training at home, you can use Observe's audio feature.

Practice

In Practice mode, you’ll be asked to use the mouse or keyboard to complete the same task you just saw demonstrated in Observe. You’ll receive clues and tips as you carry out the task.

Apply

Apply is the final and most independent step. Without any clues, you’ll be asked to complete, by yourself, the task you’ve now followed and learned about through the three previous steps. Apply is similar to Practice, but without the clues. You must complete this step in order to have the task added to your record (in SAM) of completed tasks.

Be sure to use all four of the learning modalities for every single task you need to learn. Even if some tasks are familiar enough to you (if you have used computers before) that you can move straight to Practice and Apply, you should still spend some time in the Prepare mode. This is because some of the test material comes straight out of the Prepare mode.

Once you have completed the Apply part of the task, SAM will move you to the next question. If you aren’t able to successfully do the Apply, you should go back to Prepare and Observe before re-attempting Practice and Apply.

Just remember to always complete the Apply step, or your SAM training record will show the task as not done. Once you have completed the Apply step, SAM will automatically move you forward to the next task in your module.

When you have successfully completed your training, and you feel confident you can pass the test, let one of our lab facilitators know. The facilitators will get you seated in the testing area, and log you into your test. Only a facilitator can log you into the test.