Using WebAssign

 

What is WebAssign?

WebAssign is web-based homework system that allows you to access your homework assignment, submit answers, and get feedback from any computer with a connection to the internet and a Web browser.  You can access WebAssign from the URL for the log in page, http://webassign.net/student.html . 

 

Logging in 

Username => Your UCF PID, the username you use to log into Polaris to register for classes (a capital letter followed by seven digits).  If you don’t know your PID, get online and go to http://connect.ucf.edu.  Click on the link that says “Click here to get your PID and NID” and follow the directions.

Institution => (lower case) ucf

Password => Your UCF PID number (same as the username)*

            Then click Submit

* If this password does not work, read through and follow the direction carefully.  If you still can’t log in, contact your instructor.

 

This will bring up your assignments' page. 

·        The first thing you should do is change your password by clicking on the weblink
Change Password and follow the directions on screen.  Make sure to choose a password that you will remember and that only you will know.

·        Next, register your WebAssign access code by clicking on the here link under announcements and then entering your access code in the box that comes up with the registration page.  You must enter your access code by the end of the third week of classes, September 7th 2002.  You can purchase a WebAssign access code at the campus bookstore for $8.50 from the cashiers nearest to the textbook section.  It comes on a scratch-off card.  If you have any trouble, contact Chris Lee in the textbook department of the campus bookstore.  You can also purchase a WebAssign Access code from the WebAssign homepage at http://webassign.net and clicking on the order now link on the top right hand corner of the webpage.  You will need a credit card to complete the online transaction.

·        Now you are ready to start your first assignment

 

The first assignment is typically Intro to WebAssign for Physics Students.

·        Clicking on Guide will bring up an online manual to using WebAssign

·        Read the Guide before starting the Intro assignment

·        Complete the assignment by selecting the correct response or filling in the correct answer.

·        When you have finished entering your responses, click on Submit and WebAssign will immediately grade your assignment.  It will then tell you which problems you got right and which you got wrong.  You can rework the problems and then resubmit to improve your score.  The number of submissions is set by your instructor.

 

·        TIPS ON USING WEBASSIGN

Before you start working with WebAssign, please note the following tips:

 

·        Most standard Web connections should work with WebAssign. We recommend that you use Netscape version 4.5 or later with a 28.8 Kbps modem or better. AOL 4.0 does not work with WebAssign, but AOL 5.0 does.

 

·        Bookmark only http://webassign.net/student.html. If you skip the log-in page, WebAssign will not know who is taking the assignment!

 

·        Turn on or enable "cookies." WebAssign must check who you are every time you make a request; it does this by passing a cookie to your computer.

 

·        Before starting WebAssign, quit any browsers and open a new copy. If you simply close the browser window or open a new window, login information contained in the cookie may not be yours. Likewise, to prevent losing credit for the work you have done, close the browser when you are finished.

 

·        When working on an assignment, use the navigational buttons provided by WebAssign. Pressing the browser's Back button or Reload button can cause you to submit an incomplete assignment inadvertently.

 

·        Make sure that your browser has both JavaScript and Java enabled. Some versions of Internet Explorer do not work with the Java applets; for this reason, please use version 4 or later. Not all questions use Java applets, but if you get a question with an applet, make sure you wait until the applet is fully loaded before clicking Start Animation.

 

·        Unless otherwise specified, WebAssign is looking for an answer with 3 significant figures within 1% of the correct answer.

 

·        The best way to use WebAssign is to first look up the assignment and print it out.  Log out and work the problems out on paper.  Then come back to WebAssign and enter your answers.  Keep your written problems solutions in case of difficulties with the system.

 

·        Sometimes you may feel that WebAssign is not accepting the correct answer.  Our experience has been that at least 95% of the time, there is an error in the student solution or the student has not used the correct +/- sign.  If this happens to you, check through your solution (including round off errors) and go back through the wording of the problem.  If you still feel that WebAssign is not accepting a correct response, contact your instructor and supply them with details on exactly what you did and what you entered.