Final Grades
I will be working on grades this afternoon and tomorrow. All final grades should be submitted to Registration and Records by tomorrow evening.
How WebAssign is currently handling grades
At present the exam is NOT included in overall grade calculation in WebAssign, even if you've already taken the final exam. By this weekend, all those who have taken the final exam will be able to see within WebAssign an accurate reflection of your final average in the class. Except in very unusual cases, this will tell you what your final grade for the course will be.
However, for those who are delaying the exam until Monday of next week, the grade displayed by WebAssign over the weekend will be lacking an exam grade. So pay no attention to it until you've completed the exam next week.
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Test #3 Results
Test #3 is over and done, which means that we're now in the home stretch that leads to the final exam (which opens on Monday, Dec. 4). Altogether, 58 students took Test #3. The average score was 72.4 and the median score was 75. This data is comparable to scores on Test #3 from previous semesters.
The final exam is generally somewhat less rushed than the 3 tests have been. (The final exam is about 60% longer than the tests in terms of number of questions, but it's about 70% longer in terms of time allowed.) Do try to finish up Part 6 in time to leave plenty of time to review for the exam. And keep in mind that Part 6 will be pretty heavily represented on the final exam since it's not been covered previously on any test.
Remember also that you work on the homework must be completed by the time the final exam opens. All homework extensions will be shut down around Dec. 4. So don't count of being able to request additional homework extensions during the exam period.
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
The final exam is generally somewhat less rushed than the 3 tests have been. (The final exam is about 60% longer than the tests in terms of number of questions, but it's about 70% longer in terms of time allowed.) Do try to finish up Part 6 in time to leave plenty of time to review for the exam. And keep in mind that Part 6 will be pretty heavily represented on the final exam since it's not been covered previously on any test.
Remember also that you work on the homework must be completed by the time the final exam opens. All homework extensions will be shut down around Dec. 4. So don't count of being able to request additional homework extensions during the exam period.
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Part 3 Practice and Test
The window for Test #3 (on Part 5 of the course) is November 15-21. So the opening day for the test is Wednesday, November 15. And the test must be completed before Thanksgiving break begins on November 22. Test #3 is usually the most challenging test of the semester, and it draws heavily on the content of Part 4 of the class.
A set of practice problems is already available within WebAssign. Here is the description of that WebAssignment that is found within WebAssign ...
These are practice problems, not a sample test. Your time on this is not restricted, and the problem set is 2.5 times as long as the real test. These problems have already appeared as homework questions, but in this assignment the numerical values will likely be different. This assignment is optional and does not count in your grade.
A set of practice problems is already available within WebAssign. Here is the description of that WebAssignment that is found within WebAssign ...
These are practice problems, not a sample test. Your time on this is not restricted, and the problem set is 2.5 times as long as the real test. These problems have already appeared as homework questions, but in this assignment the numerical values will likely be different. This assignment is optional and does not count in your grade.
Monday, November 13, 2017
Academic Progress Reports
Today (November 2) I have submitted Academic Progress Reports for everyone in the class. You will be receiving this report from NCSU Registration and Records. This report shows your status in the class at this point in time. This really isn't telling you anything you can't see for yourself within WebAssign. The purpose is simply to make sure that everyone is aware of your present status in the class.Thursday, November 2, 2017
Results for Test #2
As of the end of the test window for Test #2, 58 students have completed the test. The average score is 87 and the median score is 92. These results are little better than usual for Test #2, so some congratulations are in order for the class as a whole.
Remember that Test #3 covers only Part 5 (the probability portion) of the class. So Test #3 will be here before you know it. The window for Test #3 is November 15-21. This is the most challenging portion of the course, and it draws heavily on the combinatoric techniques learned in Part 5. So this is the time to bear down and give the class your best effort!
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Optional Homework Challenge Question
There was an optional challenge question which had a due date of October 16. Since this was not really a homework assignment, the score on that question is not automatically factored into the WebAssign grade computation. In order to make your point total on the challenge question count as "extra credit" in your homework average, what I've done is to add the points from the challenge question onto your score way back on August 25 for the "Contractual Agreement" homework assignment that appeared way back then. That assignment originally had a possible score of 9 points. So if you completed any part of the challenge question this month, you'll now see that the points you earned have been credited to that ancient homework assignment that was due back in August. For example there were a few students in the class who earned all 23 possible points on the challenge question. So in those few cases 23 points will have been added to the original score on the Contractual Agreement. That accomplishes the promise that points earned on the challenge question will in effect constitute extra credit homework points.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Test #2 extended to Oct. 23, closed on Oct. 20
I have received notice from the DE Testing Centers that all testing centers will be closed on Friday, October 20. For that reason I am extending Test #2 through Monday, October 23. But do remember that you can't use the Testing Center on Friday, October 20. So the options for taking the test are Monday-Thursday, October 16-19, or Monday, October 23. Students who are authorized to take the test with a remote proctor will need to complete the test by 11 PM on Monday, Oct. 23. As usual the test will be timed by WebAssign.
Feel free to drop me a note if you have any questions about the timing of the test.
Feel free to drop me a note if you have any questions about the timing of the test.
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Test #2: October 16 - 20
The test window for Test #2 will be open during the week October 16 - 20. Students generally find Test #2 a bit tougher than Test #1, so the grades tend to drop a bit. This test covers Parts 3 and 4 of the course. So there will be some questions about the simplex method for solving linear programming problems, and there will be questions about the combinatorics techniques encountered in Part 4. Keep in mind that all the topics of Part 4 will be heavily used in Part 5 (which makes up the entirety of Test #3). So mastering Part 4 pays off three times: on Test #2, on Test #3, and again on the final exam.
Monday, October 9, 2017
Thoughts on Part 4
Part 4, however, starts us all over again. Nothing in Part 4 has any relationship at all with Parts 1, 2, or 3. However, Part 4 is absolutely essential for Part 5. Part 6 will come along at the end of the semester and tie together Part 5 and Part 1, so the first half of the course and the last half will reconnect toward the end of the semester.
If you have struggled at all in Parts 1,2, or 3, then Part 4 offers a fresh start.
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Grades Shown by WebAssign
Now that the first test has been completed, your current average displayed by WebAssign averages your test grade and your homework average for homework that has come due so far. For the moment, those two numbers (test grade and homework average) are given equal weight. At the end of the semester the formula for your final grade will be the found found on the Grades page.
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Final Report on Test #1
Most semesters Test #1 has the highest grades. Typically the scores on Test #2 will drop a few points, and the scores on Test #3 will drop several more points. Then usually the final exam scores come back up a good bit. All this varies, and this pattern certainly is not the case for all students in the class. One thing everyone should keep in mind is that each test grade provides only 13% of your overall final grade. So whether you're happy or unhappy with your first test grade, there's a long way to go in the semester and plenty of opportunity to go up or down. So the moral of the story is this ...
- If you like your test grade, keep up the good work. Don't rest on your laurels. There's still a long way to go.
- If you don't like your test grade, you have plenty of time to get on track and improve your performance. Do an honest analysis of why things didn't go better on the test, and try to figure out what you need to do to give yourself a better chance of success.
Friday, September 15, 2017
Students in MA 114 should use the Centennial Campus testing center
The testing center on Centennial Campus has always provided the best environment for taking WebAssign tests. The test proctors there are more familiar with WebAssign, the environment is more robust, and the wait time is less impacted by crowded conditions. On top of that, the guidelines for this semester specify that MA 114 students should take their tests at the Centennial Campus location. So it now appears that the Centennial location is not only the best choice but also the required choice.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Sample Test
I’ve prepared a sample test for Test #1.You will find it among your current WebAssignments. You are not required to do anything with the sample test, and if you do try out the sample test your score on the test is not used in calculating your grade in the class. So looking at the sample test is purely optional.
The password for the sample test is “sampletest”. WebAssign allows you 75 minutes for taking the sample test, just as with the real test that is coming up soon. When you take your real test at the DE Proctoring Center, the password will be unknown to you but will be entered by the proctor who works at the center. (And if you are authorized to take the test at a remote location, your approved proctor will enter the password on your computer.)
The purpose of the sample test is to allow you to experience the environment of the real test which is coming up. Most of the questions on both the sample test and the real test are recycled homework questions. The fact that a question appears on the sample test means nothing. (The question is no more or less likely to appear on the real test than any other homework question.) With the sample test, all students get the same sample test (except for randomized numbers in the questions). With the real test, each student gets a unique version of the test. This means that if you were to see another student’s version of the real test, it would provide no more information about your own test than this sample test does. On the sample test, everybody’s questions appear in the same order (so that you can easily compare with classmates if you want to talk about the sample test). On the real test, the choice of questions is randomized for each student, the numbers within the questions are randomized, and the order of the questions is randomized. So there is no correlation whatsoever between your test and anyone else’s.
As indicated above, the main purpose of the sample test is to give you experience working in a timed environment with a 3-submission limit. Other than that, there’s not much difference in doing the sample test and reviewing your homework. Your real test will likely have a few questions (2 to 4) that are not recycled homework questions, but they will be similar enough in terms of what they require that you may not even notice which questions they are.
The purpose of the sample test is to allow you to experience the environment of the real test which is coming up. Most of the questions on both the sample test and the real test are recycled homework questions. The fact that a question appears on the sample test means nothing. (The question is no more or less likely to appear on the real test than any other homework question.) With the sample test, all students get the same sample test (except for randomized numbers in the questions). With the real test, each student gets a unique version of the test. This means that if you were to see another student’s version of the real test, it would provide no more information about your own test than this sample test does. On the sample test, everybody’s questions appear in the same order (so that you can easily compare with classmates if you want to talk about the sample test). On the real test, the choice of questions is randomized for each student, the numbers within the questions are randomized, and the order of the questions is randomized. So there is no correlation whatsoever between your test and anyone else’s.
As indicated above, the main purpose of the sample test is to give you experience working in a timed environment with a 3-submission limit. Other than that, there’s not much difference in doing the sample test and reviewing your homework. Your real test will likely have a few questions (2 to 4) that are not recycled homework questions, but they will be similar enough in terms of what they require that you may not even notice which questions they are.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Window for Test #1 is September 8-14
The first test will be available for you to take throughout the period September 8-14. To review all the info on testing see the Test Info page at the class website. This is a very good time to reread that page entirely.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. But you don't need to tell me when you plan to take the test. (I don't need to know that.) Just make sure that you complete the test by the end of the test window.
The most common mistake make by students related to scheduling the tests is to show up too late to be able to make use of the full time that the test allows. This happens because of related problems like getting tied up in traffic or finding a line waiting at the testing center so that you can't get started immediately. My best advice is this ...
The most common mistake make by students related to scheduling the tests is to show up too late to be able to make use of the full time that the test allows. This happens because of related problems like getting tied up in traffic or finding a line waiting at the testing center so that you can't get started immediately. My best advice is this ...
- Don't wait until the last day.
- If you do happen to get tied up for some reason and find that you're not going to have the full 80 minutes to take the test before you get kicked out of the testing center, then DON'T START THE TEST! Instead, come back on another day and get there early enough to get the full time allowed.
Be aware that once you login to the test there's no backing out. (For example, after logging in you can't decide that you'd rather come back and take the test on another day. You get one chance. That's all.)
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Checking your grades via WebAssign
Friday, August 25, 2017
WebAssign down for 3 hours last evening (Aug. 23)
Many of you have had previous experience with WebAssign and have come to regard it as a quite reliable tool. The present issues are related to the acquisition of WebAssign by Cengage, and the technical issues of integrating WebAssign into the overall Cengage framework. Please do let Jenn or me know of an future weirdness you encounter with WebAssign. Or if you need a short extension because of last night's outage, drop me a note.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Automatic extensions on homework
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Another issue with WebAssign ...
I have another report from Jenn that indicates a potential issue with WebAssign. Our apologies for these issues. The primary cause is that Cengage bought WebAssign last year, and migrating WebAssign into Cengage is causing some headaches. The good news is that you can continue to use WebAssign for free until this issue is straightened out ...
Friday, August 18, 2017
*****
Unfortunately another potential WebAssign issue has surfaced that I need to let you know about. Here is what happens:
1) The student logs in to WebAssign and is told that they can continue to use the system for free for x more days OR they can pay now.
2) The student clicks to pay now.
3) The system tells them that it cannot "process the request" and to "try again later."
I've already reported this issue to WebAssign support so they are aware of the issue. In response they've added extra days to the free use period so that students will not get locked out because of this. Students can just continue to bypass the payment screen when they log in and use WebAssign for free until this is resolved.
What to do if you get reports of this from your students:
1) Tell them that this is a known issue and that the free use period has been extended by a few days already. They can continue to use WebAssign for free until the issue is resolved.
2) Tell them to create a support case with WebAssign using the "Create a Support Case" link on the following page:
Best wishes,
Jenn
Message from Jenn
I've been made aware of a potential issue that students might run into when logging in. Most students are NOT having this issue, but for the few that are it is very frustrating.
1) The student goes to http://webassign.ncsu.edu and types in their credentials. The credentials are bad in some way (typo, wrong password, etc.).
2) They click log in.
3) What SHOULD happen is that the same NCSU portal page reloads and tells them that what they have entered is incorrect and to try again. What IS happening is that they are being redirected to a generic Cengage.com login page, which (as you might guess) is very confusing.
If you have students that are reporting this sort of issue please tell them that it happened because they typed in the wrong unity id and/or password. They should manually return to http://webassign.ncsu.edu before attempting to log in with the proper credentials. If they continue to have difficulties they should contact the WebAssign student support desk:
The WebAssign team is currently working on fixing this now that they know it is an issue.
Thursday, August 17, 2017