There are three basic functions the system can perform, all under the control of the teacher:

• The Look Lights (blue) capture the attention of a student. This feature can be used to indicate the teacher′s satisfaction or concern with the student′s behavior.
  
• The Stop Light (green, yellow, and red) gives the student feedback as to whether his or her performance is on–task, becoming distracted, or off-task.
  
• The Bonus Lights (green) are a means to praise or reward the student′s academic productivity.
  

Tacit Tutor System Operation:

The blue Look Lights (eyes of the "smiley face") operate independently of all other system functions; the teacher can turn them on independently of the Stop Light or Bonus Lights. Activation is momentary; the "smiley face" eyes on the Student Unit only light up while the button on the Control Console is being pressed. A blue LED on the Control Console follows this action.

The teacher must activate the Stop Light before the Bonus Lights will function. There are 4 buttons used to control operation of the Stop Light; station off, green, yellow, and red. If the Stop Light is off, the Bonus Light feature is also off.

The Bonus Light column can be activated only when the Stop Light is on. If the Stop Light is green, the Bonus Light increments upward at the rate of 1 per minute or 1 every 3 minutes. This rate is selected by the teacher and indicated by yellow LEDs. It can be changed by the teacher at any time. If the Stop Light is yellow, the movement of the Bonus Lights halts. If the Stop Light is red, the Bonus Light decrements at the selected rate of 1 per minute or 1 every 3 minutes. If the teacher changes the Stop Light color, the movement of the Bonus Lights will automatically change to match the Stop Light setting.

If the Bonus Light is activated when the green Stop Light is on, it will begin at the bottom of the column and advance toward the top. It stops when it reaches the top after 10 or 30 minutes, depending on which time base rate has been selected by the teacher. If the Bonus Light is retarding (red Stop Light), it will stop when it gets back down to the bottom.

At any time during the operation of the Bonus Light, the teacher can increment/decrement the bonus points by momentarily pressing the +/– button. A green LED on the Control Console follows this action. If the Stop Light is green and the Bonus Light is active, each time the +/– button is pressed the Bonus Light will increase by one step. If the Stop Light is red, each press of the button will decrement the Bonus Light by one step. If the Stop Light is yellow, pressing the button will not change the Bonus Light.

The Bonus Light can be activated or de–activated at any time during operation of the Stop Light. When first activated, the Bonus Light comes on at the minimum value (bottom). If it is ever de–activated (turned off), whatever value of Bonus that was being displayed is lost. The Bonus Light then comes on at the bottom when it is re–activated.