Your username is the same as your UWSP email login name. It is is composed of the first letter of the legal first
name followed by up to 4 characters of the last name followed by the last 3 digits of the 8 digit student id number. For
instance, student Werner Heisenberg, whose student id number is 98765432, would have a login name:
wheis432
since the system is not case-sensitive (I believe) he could also use:
WHeis432
for clarity. For typing speed, however, you might as well go all lowercase.
Institution
Enter "uwsp" (don't enter the quotes) in the Institution box.
Your password is set initially to the 8 digits of your ID#. If Mr. Heisenberg's ID# were 12345678
on his PointCard (displayed below the picture) he would enter "12345678" as his password. You can change
your password easily - click on "My Options" in the upper right corner.
The WebAssign system requires a $22.95 fee for each student. You may pay these fee online with
a credit or debit card, or you may purchase an access code at the University Store. You can start using the system right away, even before paying.
You will have until September 15 to pay the fee online.
I believe you will appreciate the student-friendly features that make this system worth the cost:
- You keep the same set of randomized numbers for each submission.
- The questions are tagged to indicate the textbook problem number.
- You can submit questions one at a time, in any order. You get 5 submissions of each question, independent of the others. Like
D2L you can save your answers without submitting them.
- Units are displayed to the right of the answer box, where you would expect them.
- Multipart questions are kept together, unlike D2L where they must be split up into separate questions. In many cases this simplifies
the question because you will not get a fresh set of randomized numbers for each part of the question as you do in D2L.
When entering your homework, keep a few things in mind:
- Always work out the assignment on paper first. However, since you get five submissions it
isn't the end of the world if you accidently submit the homework before you're ready with the answers.
- Work together! The system is designed to encourage you to work with others in the class
when solving homework questions. You can learn a lot from each other and make faster progress if you work together.
- Your numbers are different than anyone else's. This encourages you to work together with
others while at the same time ensuring that you understand the procedure of how to solve the question.
- Enter at least 3 significant digits. The system will mark your answer correct if it is
within 2% of the correct answer. Sometimes that tolerance is adjusted for a particular question, but you are usually warned
if that is the case. Occasionally the system will require the correct number of significant digits in addition to
being within 2% of the correct answer. You will be warned when that is the case.
- Enter your numbers carefully. Do not include any units with your answer, instead, type
them into the units box if so required. Refer to the inside front cover of your book for the correct unit abbreviations.
The system will accept scientific notation using the "e" symbol. For instance, to enter the speed of light 3.00×108
m/s you would write "3.00e8" and to enter Planck's constant 6.626×10-34 J·s you would write "6.626e-34".
DO NOT try any other methods like 1.53x10^6 or 1.53*10^6 or 1.53*e6.
- Time Extension If it is absolutely necessary you may request an extension
for your homework due date, but there is a point penalty for submissions after the due date. Please contact
me if there is an extenuating circumstance and you want a waiver of the point penalty.