FAQs - IDL Literacy

To schedule a Literacy/Numeracy test for an individual pupil please see the following steps:

1. Login to your IDL administration area
2. Go to the menu bar on the left and side and select ‘People’.
3. Click on to the pupil’s name to access their details.
4. Go to ‘Manage’ and make sure the pupil is enrolled to Literacy/Numeracy
5. Now go to the Literacy/Numeracy tab.
6. Then select schedule a test.
7. If you are setting a test for a group, go to ‘progress’ select Literacy or Numeracy
8. Select the white box which says ‘Groups’ in the right-hand side and select a group.
9. Then select the blue box which states, ‘Set Group Test’ and select a date.
10. Please note the Literacy test is taken on pen and paper which is found in ‘Resources’ > ‘Tests’. The Numeracy test is taken online from their pupil log in area.

• You can see progress by going to ‘People’ > pupils name > ‘Literacy/Numeracy’ tab > ‘full and detailed progress’ you can also schedule a test here by selecting ‘Tests’ > ‘Schedule a Test’.
• Alternatively, you can go to ‘Progress’ > ‘Literacy/Numeracy’ and view progress there and you can also ‘Set Group Test’ to schedule a test for all pupils.

Completely at your own discretion, however, as part of the Lottery Funded Project “Lifting Barriers”, all participating students were tested after 26 hours. We recommend that schools test once a term (having used IDL for a minimum of 1 hour per week in this time) due to the fact that over testing can diminish self-esteem if no progress is made. This also allows for learning retention and consolidation.

• The spelling test can be administered on a one to one basis or in small groups
• The reading test should be administered on a one to one basis

• IDL is a revision-based programme (80% revision and 20% new learning)
• This means that once a student has completed 70 new lessons, they will then be alternated with revision lessons

• Find out what lesson and module this is happening on and what type of lesson this is
• It could be because it is a comprehension lesson, in which a question will be asked and the student is to type the answer correctly and press space bar to enter it

• Results that show regression are indicative of an inconsistent testing environment (too lenient in the initial baseline test or various members of staff testing differently)
• Not completed enough lessons in-between testing (recommend just once a term and using a minimum an hour a week)

• Are they using the lesson book (for revision purposes only) instead of clicking ‘start here’ when logging in?
• You must retest students termly and enter up-to-date scores into subsequent orange test boxes within the ‘Your People’ icon in order to see graphs and monitor progress

Log into your admin page and click ‘Progress’ > ‘Literacy’ / ‘Numeracy’ > ‘usage’ > and filter the dates OR you can go to ‘People’ > pupils name > ‘Literacy/Numeracy’ > ‘full and detailed progress’ > Activities.

To lock a product for a pupil you can just simply un-enrol them. To do this go to ‘People’ > click pupils name > ‘manage’ > unselect the product.

• A licence for IDL includes unlimited student numbers therefore a school should never reach their limit in terms of adding students to the programme
• Only 5 students can be added to a trial of the IDL programme

• Find out what type of lesson this is (in a dictation for example, no words will appear on the screen)
• It is possible that the student has chosen the same background colour as the text colour and these need to be a contrast. A student can amend the text colour/background colour by logging in and selecting the ‘Colours’ icon

• The log in details may be being entered incorrectly (check for spaces, punctuation etc.)
• Another member of staff may have changed the password
• Ensure that the details are not being copied and pasted directly from the WELCOME email. IDL will not work if log in details are copied and pasted in

The dates in the programme are taken from the dates of the computer being used. If the dates differ, this will be to do with the date on the school PC. Tutors can check their settings and perhaps liaise with the schools IT department to rectify this.

• Due to the visual stress associated with dyslexia and those who struggle with literacy
• Tutors should suggest that students pick whatever colours they are comfortable with. However, these need to be contrasting colours

Any age from 5+, there is no upper age limit to IDL

We recommend that students access the programme for a minimum of one hour per week, split up however best fits with school, better in short, sharp bursts (10 or 20 minute sessions)

IDL is designed to be easy and simple for tutors to administer and for students to use, it is built around independent learning. Most schools will facilitate IDL in groups with a member of staff, potentially a TA, to supervise.

• An unlimited, multi-user IDL site
• Home access
• Can be accessed on all platforms. IPads, Andriod, Laptops & PCs

• The renewal fee for IDL is for continued access to the programme following the first year
• This also covers all technical support and updates

The renewal date for your IDL licence is exactly one year from the date of purchase.