WebWorK, Math 309 Fall 2014
WebWorK (WW) is a computer generated and graded homework system. It allows
you to open a homework set at a scheduled time, print a hardcopy to
take with you, and submit solutions online later up until the due
deadline. When you submit an answer, WW immediately tells
you whether your answer is correct. If not, you can
resubmit answers to any question as often as you like, without
penalty, up until the deadline for that assignment. This
procedure allows you to try to figure
out what you did wrong and (I hope) to understand the
question better.
Here are some general comments; detailed instructions for using WW are linked at the bottom of this page.
WeBWorK should be a tool to help you practice the more computational material in the course. You can help each other with ideas or hints on the problems. In the end you are supposed to solve the problems yourself and submit your own
work. But ultimately, WW functions on an "honor system." Notice that
- getting an answer from someone else just interferes with an opportunity to learn. There's no time
pressure to find the solution (if you don't put things off to the last minute). When you miss a problem, you can try again later.
- WeBWorK problems usually vary numerically from person to person so that
just "knowing the answer somebody else got" usually won't help.
- some exam questions are closely related to WeBWorK problems, so it's worth the investment to figure them out for yourself in the more relaxed WeBWorK setting
- finally, just getting a few points boost in your
WebWorK score doesn't contribute that much to your overall course grade
anyway.
If there are indications (from the computer system, or
otherwise) that you are not finding and submitting your own WeBWorK solutions, that may constitute an academic
integrity violation.
Here's the pattern for most of our WebWorK assignments:
- Each WW assignment becomes available online at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday.
Example: WW1 will open at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, 8/27 The
first WeBWorK assignment
will be a little shorter than usual since not much material will have been covered and
part of its purpose is to get you comfortable with WebWorK.
- Each WW assignment closes (answers due online!) at 11:59 p.m. the following
Tuesday, and the next WW assignment opens online two minutes later.
Example: answers for WW1 must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, 9/2, Don't
cut the deadline too close; the time shown on your watch is probably
not perfectly in sync with the computer system's clock -- you might find
yourself "shut out" even though your watch reads 11:55 p.m. WW2 will open at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, 9/3. - Each WW question will be
worth 1 point. At
the end of the semester, your WeBWorK
scores will be converted to
%'s, the two lowest discarded, and the average all of the remainder will be
your WebWorK score = WWSCORE and will count for 10% of your grade
in the
course. Your WebWorK scores recorded during the semester can only be viewed from inside
your WebWorK account; a WW total score will be moved into the
Grading Center in Blackboard at the end of the semester.
Once
you're inside a WebWorK
assignment, there's an option to send me messages. If you are
having
difficulty with a particular problem after several attempts, it's best to use this option to
message me rather than regular email-- when the message from
inside WW gets to me, it lets me directly open your personalized WW
problem set.
Contact me right
away if your name does not appear in WebWork when you login to get your
first assignment; I will add you to WebWorK's list as quickly as I can
so you don't lose too much time. Include your name, WU ID number
and email address in your message,
Detailed WeBWorK instructions WebWorK FAQ for StudentsHow to write mathematics using an ordinary keyboardWhen you think you're ready, you can go to the WebWorK page, bookmark it on your computer, and change your password. Then you can get started on the first assignment, WW1,
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