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👨‍🎓 Learner Quick Start Guide

Welcome to Caliper! This guide will help you get started as a student, from logging in to submitting your first assignment.

🎯 What You'll Learn​

By the end of this guide, you'll be able to:

  • Log in to your account
  • View your classes and assignments
  • Submit work before deadlines
  • Check your grades and feedback
  • Track your progress

🎥 Video Tutorial: First-Time Login​

Watch this video to see the complete first-time login process, including POPIA consent:

What this video shows:

  • Logging in with your credentials
  • Understanding POPIA privacy requirements
  • Accepting Essential Processing and School Data Sharing
  • Accessing your dashboard for the first time

View all video tutorials →

Step 1: Log In to Caliper​

  1. Go to https://caliper.restrat.co.za
  2. Enter your username (provided by your teacher)
  3. Enter your password
  4. Click Log In
First Time?

If you don't have login details, ask your teacher or email info@restrat.co.za

When you log in for the first time, you'll see a Privacy & Consent screen. This is required by South African law (POPIA - Protection of Personal Information Act).

What You Need to Do:​

  1. Read the Privacy Policy

    • Click "View Full Privacy Policy" to understand how your data is protected
    • This explains what information is collected and why

  2. Accept Essential Processing ✅

    • Toggle this ON to enable core platform features
    • Required for assignments, grades, and teacher feedback

  3. Accept School Data Sharing ✅

    • Toggle this ON to allow your teacher to see your work
    • Required for assignment submission and marking

  4. Click Continue

    • After accepting both consents, click "Continue" or "Save"
    • You'll be taken to your dashboard
Privacy First

Your data is protected and only shared with your teacher and school. Caliper is fully POPIA compliant. You can review and change your privacy settings anytime in Settings.

Step 2: Explore Your Dashboard​

After logging in, you'll see your Learner Dashboard with:

📊 Overview Cards​

  • My Classes: All your enrolled classes
  • Pending Assignments: Work due soon
  • Recent Submissions: Your latest uploads
  • Grades: Your current marks

🔔 Notifications​

  • New assignments posted
  • Upcoming due dates
  • Grades published
  • Teacher feedback available

Step 3: View Your Classes​

  1. Click My Classes in the sidebar
  2. See all classes you're enrolled in
  3. Click on a class to view:
    • Class details
    • Assignments
    • Classmates (if enabled)
    • Grades

Step 4: Check Assignments​

From Dashboard​

  • View Pending Assignments card
  • Shows due dates and submission status
  • Click on any assignment to open details

From My Assignments Page​

  1. Click My Assignments in sidebar
  2. See all assignments across classes
  3. Filter by:
    • Status: Not submitted, submitted, graded
    • Class: Specific subject
    • Due date: Upcoming, overdue

My Assignments The My Assignments page showing all your assignments across classes with submission status

Assignment Details​

Each assignment shows:

  • Title and description
  • Due date and time remaining
  • Maximum points possible
  • Submission requirements (file type, format)
  • Rubric (how you'll be graded)
  • Your status: Not submitted, submitted, graded

Step 5: Submit Your First Assignment​

Prepare Your Work​

  1. Read requirements carefully
  2. Check file format (PDF, ZIP, etc.)
  3. Save your work with a clear filename
  4. Test your file (make sure it opens)

Upload Submission​

  1. Open assignment from My Assignments
  2. Click Submit Assignment button
  3. Choose file from your device
  4. Review file details
  5. Click Upload
  6. Wait for confirmation
File Formats
  • PDF: Best for most assignments (code + explanations)
  • ZIP: For projects with multiple files
  • Code files (.py, .java): Single programming files
  • Images: Screenshots or diagrams

After Submitting​

  • ✅ Confirmation message appears
  • 📧 Email confirmation sent
  • 📁 File backed up automatically
  • 🔍 Teacher can now see your work

Step 6: Check Your Submissions​

My Submissions Page​

  1. Click My Grades/Submissions in sidebar
  2. View all your submissions
  3. See status for each:
    • Pending: Waiting for marking
    • Marked: Graded by teacher
    • Needs Revision: Resubmission required

Submission Details​

Click on any submission to view:

  • File you uploaded
  • Submission time (to verify before deadline)
  • Marking status
  • Score (if graded)
  • Feedback from teacher/AI

Step 7: View Grades and Feedback​

When Grades Are Published​

  1. You'll receive a notification
  2. Go to My Grades/Submissions
  3. Click on graded assignment
  4. View:
    • Total score (e.g., 42/50)
    • Percentage (e.g., 84%)
    • Criterion breakdown (score per rubric item)
    • Teacher feedback
    • AI analysis (if applicable)

Understanding Feedback​

AI Feedback:

  • Identifies strengths in your work
  • Suggests specific improvements
  • Explains why points were deducted
  • Provides examples of good practice

Teacher Comments:

  • Personal observations
  • Additional guidance
  • Encouragement and praise
  • Next steps for learning

Step 8: Track Your Progress​

Grade Analytics​

View your performance:

  • Average score across assignments
  • Trend (improving, stable, declining)
  • Comparison to class average (if enabled)
  • Submission rate (on-time vs late)

Class Performance​

  • See grades by class
  • Filter by subject or assignment type
  • Identify areas needing improvement
  • Celebrate your achievements! 🎉

Important Tips​

✅ Do's​

  • Submit early (don't wait until deadline!)
  • Check requirements before submitting
  • Save backups of your work
  • Read feedback carefully
  • Ask questions if confused
  • Track deadlines on your calendar

❌ Don'ts​

  • Don't submit the wrong file
  • Don't wait until last minute
  • Don't ignore rubric criteria
  • Don't forget to save your work
  • Don't plagiarize or copy
  • Don't skip feedback review

Common Questions​

Can I resubmit my work?​

It depends on your teacher's settings. Some assignments allow resubmission, others don't. Check assignment details or ask your teacher.

What if I miss the deadline?​

  • Assignments may be locked after deadline
  • Some teachers allow late submissions with penalties
  • Contact your teacher as soon as possible
  • Provide a valid reason

How do I know my file uploaded successfully?​

  • Confirmation message appears
  • Email confirmation sent
  • Submission appears in "My Submissions"
  • Status changes from "Not Submitted" to "Submitted"

What file size limit is there?​

  • Typically 50MB maximum
  • Compress large files (use ZIP)
  • Optimize images/videos
  • Contact teacher if you need to submit larger files

Can I see other students' work?​

No, for privacy and academic integrity, you can only see your own submissions and grades.

What if I can't access an assignment?​

  • Check if you're in the correct class
  • Verify assignment is published (not draft)
  • Check your enrollment status
  • Contact your teacher

Privacy & Security​

🔒 Your Privacy Rights (POPIA)​

Caliper is fully POPIA compliant and gives you complete control:

🎥 Watch: Privacy Features Walkthrough Video

Your Controls:

  • ✅ Privacy Settings - Control AI processing, analytics, and research use
  • ✅ Consent Management - View and manage all your consents
  • ✅ My Data - See exactly what information is collected about you
  • ✅ Processing History - Complete audit trail of all data processing

Quick Access: Click Privacy Settings in the sidebar

Complete Privacy & POPIA Guide →

Your Data​

  • Only you and your teacher see your submissions
  • Grades are private
  • Personal information protected
  • All AI processing anonymized
  • You control data retention

Best Practices​

  • Keep your password secure
  • Don't share your account
  • Log out on shared devices
  • Report any suspicious activity
  • Review your privacy settings regularly

Getting Help​

If You Have Issues​

  1. Check this help guide first
  2. Ask your teacher in class
  3. Email support: info@restrat.co.za
  4. Check class announcements for known issues

Technical Support​

  • Browser issues: Try Chrome or Edge
  • Upload problems: Check internet connection
  • Login issues: Reset password or contact teacher
  • Missing assignments: Verify class enrollment

Next Steps​

🎉 You're Ready!​

Congratulations! You now know how to:

  • ✅ Log in and navigate Caliper
  • ✅ View assignments and requirements
  • ✅ Submit your work on time
  • ✅ Check grades and feedback
  • ✅ Track your progress

Good luck with your assignments! 🚀

Study Smart! 📚

Use Caliper's feedback to identify areas for improvement. Review AI suggestions and teacher comments to enhance your skills!