Office Pro - Challenge Lab – TestOut

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Challange labs are similar to the skills lab in that it has a list of tasks and help is available.
The purpose, however, is to build proficiency and speed, or even “muscle memory” in completing tasks. Each time students start the lab it randomizes tasks from a bank so that they can’t just memorize the exact task in order for that scenario.
The lab includes a timer that keeps track of how long it takes to finish the lab. The score at the end includes a score for the number of tasks done correctly, but also a ranking based on time to completion. Studnets can compare their performance within your school or class or worldwide (names withheld for privacy).
A student's final score reflects the number of tasks completed without help, along with a time score. It is expected that students do the Challenge labs multiple times until they can quickly and accurately do all tasks.
The purpose of this lab type is kind of like practicing multiplication tables, helping to memorize and automatically do things in Office without thinking about the mechanics of using the interface.

After completing the Skills lab, run through the Challenge lab multiple times.
Because each Challenge lab includes three different task sets, you will see a completely new set of tasks when you start the lab a second and third time.
The Challenge lab tasks are presented in random order, providing even more variation each time you start the lab.
Challenge yourself to significantly improve your completion time before moving on to the Applied labs.

Have students complete challenge lab 3 times. No substitute for practice and builds proficiency. Challenge labs should not be skipped.

Challenge lab can be used as a quiz. Unlike the skills lab if a hint is used no points are given.
Use challenge labs to have fun in classroom.
- Divide students in teams to see who can have the highest score in the shortest amount of time
- Compete against the instructor. Have students try to complete a challenge lab faster than the instructor.
- Recognize students with best improvement of time (and completed 100%) from first attempt to last attempt.
Students should complete challenge lab at least once before moving on to the applied labs.