Self-monitoring

=Self-monitoringmedia type="custom" key="13695972" align="right" = = = = What is self-monitoring and why should I do it? = ====Self-monitoring is an activity where you regularly take note of how much work you've accomplished. This is meant to help you see how much progress you've made and to help you and your teacher set future goals for you. You can either use a chart on paper or you can use an online program called **icharts** to track your work. Each day that you do one or more reading comprehension exercises, count the number of vocabulary words you've used and add that number to your graph. Consider vocabulary words to be the ones that are restricted to this Biology unit.====

= **Paper chart** = If you want to work with a graph on paper, print out the following document:

You can access your Google documents online by logging into your account.media type="custom" key="13696146" align="right" Locate the Document Icon and follow the link:

= =

**TEACHER:** The following document contains the instructions and additional comments.

Drawing your chart

 * ====Each time you update the chart, use small and neat writing to indicate the date at one of the dashes on the horizontal axis.====
 * ====On the vertical axis of the chart, find the number of words you worked with in total.====
 * ====Find the place where the lines for the date and the number of words cross.====
 * ====Mark that place with a dot.====

= **Online chart** =

Creating your account

 * ====Go to icharts.net and create an account.====
 * ====Once your account has been created, and you've validated it, you must log in.====
 * ====Watch the introductory video to get an idea of how the site works, but remember that the instructions provided here will guide you through the creation and editing of your chart.====

Creating your chart

 * ====In the next window, select **Enter data manually**.====
 * ====Click on **create new chart**, a yellow button located at the top right of your screen.====

Naming your data source

 * ====In the top left of the window, find and select **New Data Source** and type in your name.====

Adding rows to the table

 * ====In the **Edit Dataset** window, click on **Label 2** and replace it with the number 0.====
 * ====Do the same for **Label 3** (replace it with the number 0).====
 * ====Click on **Edit** and then **Insert one row** until you have thirty rows. Unfortunately, this step will take a while, but it will save time later on.====

Labelling your data set and making your first entry

 * ====Click on **Categories**. In the drop down menu that appears, click on **Rename column**. Type in "Date". Each entry in this column will be a date that you have done an exercise.====
 * ====Select the first cell in the **Date** column and give it a short name indicating the date of your first session, such as Nov03.====
 * ====Insert a 0 in each of the remaining rows. This step will allow you to create a certain number of rows that will remain the same throughout your self-monitoring activities. The next time you log in and update your chart, you just need to replace the next 0 with the day's date.====
 * ====Click on **First Data Series**. In the drop down menu that appears, click on Rename column. Type in "Words used". Each entry you add to this column will indicate the number of words you used in your exercise.====
 * ====In the first row of the **Words used** column, type in the number of words you worked with during your exercise.====
 * ====In the **Edit Dataset** window, select **Refresh Chart**. Your data will appear in the chart. However, they won't make sense until you follow the next step to change the chart type.====

Selecting the chart type

 * ====On the Web site itself, look to the top right, and find the **Chart Toolbox**.====
 * ====Just below this title, click on **chart type**. An ensemble of chart type options will appear.====
 * ====In the **Area & Line Chart** section, find and select **Line**.====

Adding a title to your graph

 * ====On the graph, there is a text box that says **Click here to enter Chart title**. Click on this box and type in a title such as "Bob's Progress".====

Saving your graph

 * ====On the Web page, to the top left, select **Chart**. From the drop down menu, select **Save**. A small window will appear. Type in a name for your chart. It could be the same as the chart title. Wait until your chart has finished being saved. Now you are ready to log out.====

Logging out

 * ====At the top right of the page, find and roll over **Welcome (your login name)**.====
 * ====Select **Log out**.====

Adding data after each exercise

 * ====To add data to your existing chart, log in to the account.====
 * ====In the menu that appears, find the chart you want to update in the **Chart Name** column.====
 * ====Look to the extreme right of the row of the chart you want to change.====
 * ====In that row, roll over **Action**, and select **Edit**. Your chart will load.====
 * ====Look in the menu bar just above the chart. Find and click on **Data**.====
 * ====From the drop down menu that appears, click **View Data**.====
 * ====Your data set will appear.====
 * ====In the first row that contains a 0, replace the 0 with the date (in the **Date** column), and the number of words you worked on in the **Words used** column.====
 * ====To update your chart, select **Refresh Chart**.====
 * ====Remember to save your chart using the instructions above.====

Printing your chart

 * ====To print your chart, find and click on **Download** at the top left of the chart menu.====
 * ====Click on **Download Chart as Image**.====
 * ====After your chart has finished downloading, open and print it.====