Circuit Tutor

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Registration Problems

  1. I already registered for Circuit Tutor in a previous semester (e.g., I am re-taking the course that uses it, or taking a second course that uses it). How do I register to get credit this semester?

  2. You must use a different e-mail address to register, or else a different alias for the same address. If you continue using your old account, your instructor will not see your progress and you will not get any credit for your work. It is essential to re-register using the new code your instructor sent you this semester. Do not try to use the same form of your e-mail address to register a second time.

  3. I just changed class sections this semester. What should I do?

  4. You must obtain a NEW registration code for your NEW section. If you use a code issued in your old section, your new instructor will never see any of your work and you will not get credit for it. The work from an old section cannot be transferred to a new section.

  5. My registration code isn’t working, it won’t let me register.

  6. You have probably already registered (your code will only work ONCE). Just log in using the e-mail and password you originally used to register. There is a password recovery feature if you need it. (If your code was posted in a list by your instructor, there is a remote chance that someone else used it to register. It is much more likely however that you already registered yourself.)
    Also, make sure you are using a Circuit Tutor code, not anything else. Your Circuit Tutor code was not purchased and did not come from a publisher or with your textbook. It came in an e-mail from your instructor that said “Circuit Tutor.” It will look something like this: STTN5M-TE8R-XXZZ. Be sure to cut and paste it without removing the hyphens.

  7. I lost my registration code, can you tell me what it is?

  8. No. Only your instructor has this information, you need to contact them.

Problems Logging In

  1. I am unable to log in to Circuit Tutor because none of my e-mail addresses is recognized, what should I do?

  2. Please try all possible e-mail addresses that you might have used to register for Circuit Tutor (including aliases for those accounts). If that doesn’t work, you may have misspelled your address when registering. Send your class section (instructor) and user registration code to skromme@asu.edu and we will assist.

Problems Downloading and Installing the Software

  1. After downloading Circuit Tutor, the file “disappeared” and/or I got a notice that the program had been blocked, what should I do? Or, I am told that I may not have permission to access the file.

  2. The program was blocked or deleted by your anti-virus software or possibly a firewall. You will need to disable that software while installing Circuit Tutor, or else inform it that our application is safe. Circuit Tutor does not contain any virus and will not harm your computer. If you can’t figure out how to solve this problem, consult the technical support or user documentation for your anti-virus software (you will likely encounter similar problems installing other software packages in the future, and will need to know how to control this software). There may be YouTube videos showing how to use your software (though we do not vouch for them). If you ask for our assistance, you MUST include a screen shot of the error message you are receiving, or we will not be able to help you. (Press Shift-Print Screen and then press CTRL-V to paste that screen shot into your e-mail message.)

  3. I was told that Circuit Tutor is an unsafe download or a threat to my computer, what should I do?

  4. Circuit Tutor will not harm your computer. Respond by telling your browser or anti-virus software that it is in fact safe.

  5. I am not able to download Circuit Tutor on my Mac Book (or other Macintosh computer), what should I do?

  6. Circuit Tutor is not Mac-compatible (except for the Web-based exercises). You can use it on any campus Windows PC at a campus computing site, library, or other location. Or, ASU students can use Citrix to run Circuit Tutor. Alternatively, you can use any Windows emulation program. See the button labeled “Important Information for Mac/Linux Users” on the Home page for important detailed information. Please note that a lot of technical software is not Mac-compatible, so you may want to consider that factor in deciding what type of computer to purchase for engineering studies.

    If you are not at ASU, ask your instructor if Circuit Tutor is available on Citrix for your class. Citrix is a virtualized Windows environment which can be used to run Circuit Tutor on operating systems other than Windows. More detailed instructions for the ASU system are available on circuittutor.com under “Important Information for Mac/Unix Users” or directly with this link. These instructions will likely differ somewhat at other institutions if it is available there.

    Note that the web portion of Circuit Tutor can be completed on a Mac (or any computer with an Internet browser), but the downloadable portion (which contains most of the exercises) cannot.

  7. I cannot get Circuit Tutor to work on my tablet device.

  8. The downloadable portion of Circuit Tutor generally requires a Windows PC, not a tablet. The web portion (only) may work to some extent on a tablet, but is not guaranteed.

Error Reporting and Progress Tracking

  1. I noticed a bug or error when using Circuit Tutor, how do I report it?

  2. Please take one or more screen shots illustrating the problem (required), and e-mail them to skromme@asu.edu, along with a description of what you were doing when you encountered the problem. Fatal crashes are automatically reported to us, but additional screen shots still help. Please use the PRT-SCN button or the Snipping Tool on your computer rather than a camera phone. If you think it marked a correct answer incorrect or vice versa, please include screen shots of the system rejecting (or accepting) an answer incorrectly, as well as the solution you see after giving up or getting the final solution. Move dialog boxes as necessary to show the whole screen.

  3. I am worried that I will not get credit for my work, because I never told Circuit Tutor my name when registering to use it.

  4. Don’t worry, be happy! Your instructor knows which name corresponds to which registration code and account. Just like the thousand or more students who used this program before, you will get credit! We don’t ask for your name to ensure privacy and security.

  5. Will I be able to see my Circuit Tutor grades on Canvas (or other learning management system)? Or, why can’t I see my grades there?

  6. Generally your progress in Circuit Tutor will not show up in Canvas (or other LMS), unless your instructor manually posts them there (ask THEM if they are doing so). There will usually be a delay of a week or more in posting these grades. However, you can monitor your progress at any time on the home screen on the web site. If it shows you have completed an exercise, you WILL get credit for it, don’t worry! Please do not email us about your grades not showing up in those systems.

  7. Do I have to submit anything on Canvas (or other web site) when I finish an exercise in Circuit Tutor?

  8. No. Circuit Tutor has no direct connection to Canvas and your grades will NOT show up there automatically. Our server records your progress automatically, you don’t need to submit anything other than doing what the program asks you to do. Your instructor can see your progress, and they may transfer your grades to Canvas (but only after a week or two). As long as the exercises show as complete in Circuit Tutor, you WILL get credit for them. There is no need to e-mail anyone about this issue.