Frequently Asked Questions                    View Instructional Videos

What browsers are supported by DiGIMS Online?
Why can’t I see the drop down menus?
Does DiGIMS Online grade my essays for me?
How does DiGIMS Online make grading writing assignments easier and faster for me?
Do my students log in to DiGIMS Online?
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What browsers are supported by DiGIMS Online?
     DiGIMS Online supports Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera and Google Chrome.  Each browser requires the disabling of the pop-up blocker in order to view the entire DiGIMS Online content.
     Click here for help disabling the pop-up blocker in Internet Explorer.
     Click here for help disabling the pop-up blocker in Mozilla Firefox.
     Click here for help disabling the pop-up blocker in Opera.
     Click here for help disabling the pop-up blocker in Google Chrome.

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Why can’t I see the drop down menus?
     In order to view the entire DiGIMS Online content, you must disable your pop-up blocker.  Click here for help turning off your pop-up blocker.

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Does DiGIMS Online grade my essays for me?
     No.  DiGIMS Online provides a way for you to quickly and easily grade student writing while gaining valuable information.  The creator of DiGIMS Online concurs with the NCTE & CCCC position statement on writing assessment.
We oppose the use of machine-scored writing in the assessment of writing.  Automated assessment programs do not respond as human readers.  While they may promise consistency, they distort the very nature of writing as a complex and context-rich interaction between people.  They simplify writing in ways that can mislead writers to focus more on structure and grammar than on what they are saying by using a given structure and style.  ("Writing Assessment: A Position Statement." NCTE.org. Nov 2006.) 
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How does DiGIMS Online make grading writing assignments easier and faster for me?
    Instead of the tedious process of correcting errors on a student’s paper, with DiGIMS Online, you simply select the skills you wish to grade for the writing assignment and then click on the student’s ability level of each skill.  Add comments if you wish.  That’s all you have to do!  DiGIMS Online does the rest.  You will receive individualized self-edit reports that reference your class language book for revision assistance, an automatically scored rubric, cumulative student growth reports, suggestions for individualized practice in your class language book, class assessment totals, and much more. 
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Do my students log in to DiGIMS Online?
     No.  DiGIMS Online is a grading program for the teacher.  Students hand their writing assignments in to you like they always do.  You log in to DiGIMS Online, select the skills you wish to grade, and select the student’s ability level of each skill.  DiGIMS Online then creates an individualized self-edit report for each student, scores a rubric, tracks student growth, alerts you to which skills need to be re-taught to the entire class, and helps you manage authentic individualized instruction throughout the entire writing process.
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How do students submit their assignments?
     Students hand their assignments in to you like they always do, handwritten or typed.  With DiGIMS Online, you are not required to scramble for computer lab time for your class.  Students can compose, edit, and revise in class or at home.  Although DiGIMS Online can include student writing that is created in a word processing program and emailed to you, it also allows for frequent in-class, handwritten assignments that emulate the procedure students are often required to follow during state-mandated testing. 
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Do I need a specific language book to use with DiGIMS Online?
     No.  There is no need to purchase new materials to supplement DiGIMS Online; your current language book will work with your account.  To use your current language textbook, you simply add a Language Book Index to your account.  A Language Book Index is an index of page/exercise numbers from your book.  DiGIMS Online references the index to provide differentiated instruction.  Page numbers and exercise numbers from your language book are automatically added to student reports, providing each student with completely individualized instruction in the book.  Self-edit reports inform each student of how you assessed him and where he can find individualized help in his language book with the revision process.  Based on your assessment of the student’s writing, DiGIMS Online will also suggest exercises in his language book that he should complete, based on individual need for practice or remediation.
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What is a Language Book Index?
     A Language Book Index is an index of page/exercise numbers from your book.  DiGIMS Online references the index to provide differentiated instruction.  Page numbers and exercise numbers from your language book are automatically added to student reports, providing each student with completely individualized instruction in the book.  Self-edit reports inform each student of how you assessed him and where he can find individualized help in his language book with the revision process.  Based on your assessment of the student’s writing, DiGIMS Online will also suggest exercises in his language book that he should complete, based on individual need for practice or remediation.
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How do I add my Language Book Index?
     You can import your index from our free bank.  (If you don’t see the index for your language book in our bank, contact us.)  You can also customize your own index by using any combination of textbook page numbers, worksheet numbers, website addresses, or references to class notes.  Or, import a customized index from a colleague.
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I don’t have a language book to use with my class.  Can I still use DiGIMS Online?
     Yes.  Adding a Language Book Index to your account is completely optional.  You can choose not to include an index in your account and still grade writing assignments quickly to receive self-edit reports, scored rubrics, cumulative student growth reports, and class assessment totals.  You can also create a custom index to use by using any combination of worksheet numbers, website addresses or references to class notes. 
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Does DiGIMS Online help me track student growth on writing content standards?
     Yes.  Since you choose the skills to grade on each assignment, you can focus on any writing content standards you desire.  DiGIMS Online will track each student’s growth throughout the year on those standards and will also provide you a class assessment report so you can see your entire class’ success on each standard, as well as which standards you need to re-teach to the class.
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Can DiGIMS Online help me meet IEP modifications of my special needs students?
     Yes.  DiGIMS Online allows for "chunking" of the writing process through short-cycle assessments.  The individualized self-edit reports are simple, easy to read, and are in a checklist format.  Self-edit reports inform each student of how you assessed her and where she can find individualized help in her language book with the revision process.  Each student can work from a language book that is most appropriate for her.  Additionally, tutors and parents find the individualized self-edit reports extremely helpful when assisting students with their revisions.  The cumulative growth report allows you to track the student’s writing abilities; this is a great report for IEP development and parent-teacher conferences.  DiGIMS Online also suggests exercises that the student can complete from her own language book to help with personalized review or remediation.
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Can I use DiGIMS Online with my honors and AP students?
     Yes.  Since you create the assignment and then select the skills you wish to grade using DiGIMS Online, you can create any length of assignment at any level of difficulty.  Differentiated instruction is provided by the Language Book Index that you add to your account.
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Does DiGIMS Online allow me to check for plagiarism?
     Yes.  DiGIMS Online provides a plagiarism checker right on the grading screen.
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Does DiGIMS Online allow me to use a rubric?
     Yes.  Once you complete the quick and easy grading process, DiGIMS Online automatically scores the student’s writing on a rubric.  In addition to specific assessment feedback, the rubric automatically calculates a point value, percentage and letter grade based on your grading scale.  You can use the default rubric or customize your own!

How can I purchase a DiGIMS Online annual subscription?

     DiGIMS Online accepts credit card payments for annual subscriptions through Google Checkout on the website. Need to use a school/district purchase order, no problem! Signed purchase orders should reference “DiGIMS Online annual subscription" and can be emailed to support@digimsonline.com, faxed with a cover page to 1-877-874-6504 or mailed to DiGIMS Online - 4411 Blacklick Eastern Rd. – Baltimore, Oh. 43105.

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