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Re: [Phys-l] Textbook selection time again ...& HW Services

A few years ago when Mastering Physics first came out I took advantage of a
free trial on WebAssign to compare the two. For half a semester I used
WebAssign and the other half I used Mastering Physics. I may have missed
some features, but at the time on Web Assign it seemed I could only assign
multiple-choice questions with no real feedback. On Mastering Physics (which
I have used ever semester since then) I can assign problems that require
symbolic answers and there is a powerful feedback system that guides
students. I am always fascinated by the fact that Mastering Physics can tell
a student that his/her answer includes an extra factor (say the mass) and on
the very next attempt the student will again submit an answer with the same
extra factor. MP includes qualitative problems which I particularly like and
also has ranking task questions. There is a bit of a learning curve at the
beginning, but good students always tell me they learn a lot from the
homework and even ask for more assignments to prepare for the final. Some
students try to complain that the system marked their answers wrong, but I
have yet to catch MP making a mistake in grading a problem.
I usually end up assigning 10 homework sets (with 10 problems each) during
a semester, and that counts for 10% of the total grade. I am quite satisfied
with the system and I would recommend it to anyone.

Karim Diff

On Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 4:34 PM, Arts, Robert W. <rarts@pc.edu> wrote:

Along the same line....

We've used the HW Service at UT Austin (now Quest) for the last 7 years or
so and are considering moving to either Mastering Physics or WebAssign.
Does anyone have experience using both systems that would like to share a
compare and contrast? I know that I'm leaning more towards WebAssign since
Mastering Physics will not allow students to print an entire assignment at
one time...only problem by problem...which I find inconvenient.

Regards, Robert.

______________________________
Robert W. Arts,Ph.D.
Professor of Education & Physics
Pikeville College
147 Sycamore Street
Pikeville, KY 41501
Office: (606) 218-5476
Email: rarts@pc.edu
URL: http://campus.pc.edu/~rarts <http://campus.pc.edu/%7Erarts>

________________________________

From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu on behalf of Rauber, Joel
Sent: Thu 4/16/2009 4:15 PM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Textbook selection time again ...



We are intending on using the option. However, our information is that $25
only gives one volume (paperback) version of the text. So a typical 2
semester course with print version of the book and webassign will cost
students $100

(though they will have the option of sticking with the e-version, at $50)

It still seems like a pretty good deal, particularly since we think Tipler
is a reasonable book. So we are adopting it. (This time next year I may be
singing a different tune.)

_________________________

Joel Rauber, Ph.D
Professor and Acting Head of Physics
Department of Physics
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD 57007
Joel.Rauber@sdstate.edu
605.688.5428


-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-
bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Folkerts, Timothy J
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 2:40 PM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: [Phys-l] Textbook selection time again ...

Once again, it is time to select textbooks for next year.

Since I teach both algebra-based and calc-based general physics, and
since Serway has a text with both versions, I had been using his text.

However, my textbook rep told me recently about Tipler now having a $25
eBook + WebAssign, plus an option to buy the regular text for $25
(directly from the publisher, not thru the local bookstore). See
http://www.whfreeman.com/tiplerWebAssign/ for details.

That seems an amazing bargain - $50 for the regular text (it looks like
the full-year test - not just one semester) AND online resources.
Presumably the students would need to pay $25 for the second semester
of
Online access, but still that is only $75 for the full year, compared
to
~$200 for a typical book.

So ....
* Do any of you use this option or have opinions about Tipler?
* Any other books that you highly recommend?
* What about requiring something like McDermott's Tutorials?
* Do you find the online texts & homework assignments effective for
student learning?


Tim F
_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l
_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l



_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l