Last revised 2/9/11
The
Department of Mathematics employs several different software packages in its
instruction that do not interface directly with the College’s one-click logon system
(SLAS password). These notes are a guide to the various systems. If something
is missing or unclear, please alert a department member with suggestions for
improvement.
Online homework systems used in
CSI math courses: MyMathLab,
WebAssign, WeBWorK
All
three internet-based systems provide individualized homework problems, give
students immediate feedback allowing them to correct mistakes, and provide
instructors with real-time statistics about student progress as well as a grade
spreadsheet that can be downloaded.
Instructors can encourage students to work together on homework because
the individualized problems discourage simply copying answers. Instructors typically make the online
homework part of the total grade.
Instructors can also use these systems to communicate with students.
Courses using online homework:
·
MyMathLab: MTH 020,
030.
·
WebAssign: MTH 101,
121, 123, 130, 221.
·
WeBWorK: MTH 230,
231, 232, 233, 311, 330, 334, 338.
MyMathLab and WebAssign
are professional websites run by the publishers, and both have an ebook version of the textbook that students can
access. The two systems provide varying
levels of help for certain problems, such as hints, relevant snippets from the textbook, and sometimes video explanations. Instructors can allow students to receive
extensions on the homework for a preset penalty. WeBWorK does not
have any of these features. All three
systems offer students detailed solutions to the homework problems
after the due date.
MyMathLab:
Cost: In bookstore: $153 for new Textbook (softcover)
and access code package: or Access code alone for $87 ;
or Purchase access code on-line with a credit card for $78.
Access: Students can buy a CD
wrapped with the textbook at the bookstore, or as a separate purchase online at www.coursecompass.com. Students need
their individual access code plus the “CourseID” for their section, which is provided by their
instructor. Each developmental mathematics section has a specific CourseID.
Registration: www.coursecompass.com Students must click
on “Register: Students.” Instructors must click on “Register: Educators,”
and create a personalized login name and password.
Setup: Instructors must obtain and give to students a “CourseID” for each section, which is generated by the
Coordinator of Remedial Mathematics.
Note:
WebAssign:
Cost: Students
can purchase a CD with the textbook at the bookstore, or can purchase an ebook with WebAssign for about a
third of the cost online at webassign.com.
Students need their individual access code plus the “class key” for
their section.
Registration:
http://www.webassign.net/login.html (institution = csi.cuny)
Setup:
Instructors must obtain a “class key” for each section from the
publisher to give to students.
Note:
Students need to buy access to WebAssign once
for MTH 121-221 or for MTH 123-130. We
have made a special arrangement with Cengage for a
free transfer for students taking MTH 123-221.
WeBWorK:
Cost: Free.
Registration: http://www.math.csi.cuny.edu/webwork2
(select section). The default student
username and password for Jane Smith whose student ID ends in 1234 is jsmith1234. The password should be changed at the first
login. http:/www.math.csi.cuny.edu/Courses/WebWork_Instructions
Setup:
Instructors must ask Lewis Carbonaro to import their rosters into WeBWorK.
MTH 229 teaches how to solve
Calculus problems using the MATLAB software. The course has 10 online projects.
The MATLAB software is provided in the college’s computer labs, but otherwise
is a commercial product. It need not be purchased to do the class, but is not
provided by the college for home use. (There is also a student version of Matlab that
students may purchase if they wish to work from home (www.mathworks.com). The University has software
licensing arrangements for Mathematica and Maple.)
The
online component requires one to logon to a departmental website.
Cost: Free
Registration:
Students are given a login and password at the beginning of the term.
Instructors must contact Lewis Carbonaro for their login information.
There is
no registration, students simply login at http://www.math.csi.cuny.edu
Note:
The projects may
be downloaded as a pdf from
http://www.lulu.com/CSImath.