Site FAQ
Teachers
What do I do first?
Create a login for yourself - fill out the required information (for yourself and your school). If you are doing this independently of a school, enter in wherever the chips will be received. Once you've signed up, you'll see a link to "Manage My Challenge" (login required) - from there you can update your registration information and create one (or more) classes.
What are the classes?
A class is a group of students. When students create their login, they'll enter in the class ID that shows up on your management page. You (a teacher) can create any number of classes that you think will help in organizing your portion of the Potato Chip Challenge. You can name each class whatever helps you to differentiate between them (like 1st period, 2nd period, physics, chemistry, etc.).
How do I make a class?
Look at the picture on the right. In the management page, you click on the highlighted part to create 1 or more classes. Notice that each class has a Class ID (in the picture 7, 14, and 21). This is the ID that students will have to enter when they register.
How many classes should I create?
If you teach classes in different grades, you MUST have at least one class per grade. Since the chips will be compared between equal grades, this is very important. Other than that, you can create any number of classes that you like.
Should I create logins for my students (or their groups)?
No - they will do that themselves. Right now you sign yourself up as a teacher. The students will have separate logins, which can be registered here. Each student (or group) will create their own login. Eventually we expect to have teacher-only sections where teachers can upload pictures, etc.
Where do I get the ChipID/How do I enter the chips?
Chips must be entered by students. To enter a chip, the chip package must be ready to be put in the mail (except for the address). Your student(s) must enter in the mass of the package and its volume to register a chip. Only one chip per group is allowed. The ChipID will be given out automatically when it is entered in the website. The students will also be able to give the chip a name. The students' "My Chips" page is the central page for entering chips, rating received chips, and getting ChipID's, Chip Names, and Chip Addresses.
What if I can't enter all of the information now?
Once you've successfully entered in your (teacher) information, you can log in at any time to finish entering the required information. Remember, until the school information is entered, your class will not be able to participate in the Potato Chip Challenge. The reason for this is logistical: we need to know to where the chips are being sent and who to contact if there are problems.
Where do I get the addresses for the chips?
One of two ways: The first is that your students can view their address through their "My Chips" page (login required). Once they have been given a match, the address to which the chip should be sent is displayed to them. The second is to click on the "Download" link next to each class on the "Manage My Challenge" (login required) page. This will give you a text file that is delimited by the vertical bar (|). This text file can be imported into Excel or other spreadsheet programs. Click here to figure out how to import this file.
How can I contact the other teachers?
The email of teachers with whom your students have been matched is visible in the "View Class" screen. Just browse over to "Manage My Challenge" (login required) and click on the appropriate link (see the picture). Note: "View Class" gives you a list of your students, their sent chip IDs, the teacher they've been paired with, that teacher's email, and the same of the student/group with whom your student has been paired. "Edit Class" allows you to see your student's names, logins, emails, sent chip IDs, and the date they last logged in. You can also edit the class name, grade, and estimated number of students in your class. "Download Class" gives you everything "View Class" gives you (except email), plus full addresses for mailing in a downloadable text file.
Students
Where do I sign up?
Right here. When you are ready to register, make sure to get your Class ID from your teacher. Look at the picture on the right to see where your teacher can find the Class ID.
Should I sign up as a group or individually?
At this point, sign up as a group. Right now the site is only designed for one chip per one student account.
How do I enter my chip?
Go to your "My Chips" page (login required). To enter a chip, your chip package must be ready to be put in the mail (except for the address). You'll need to enter in the mass of the package and its volume to register a chip. Only one chip per group is allowed.
Where do I get the address for my chip?
Go to your "My Chips" page (login required). Once you have been given a match, the address to which the chip should be sent will be displayed.
How can I see my results?
Go to your "My Chips" page (login required). Once your chip has been entered by your partner, the chip's stats will be displayed.
Anything else I should know?
Lots of stuff! Never stop asking questions! Nothing else that I can think of right now.
Everyone
How do I change my password or retrieve a lost password?
Password reset is on this page. If you are logged in, you can change your password here.