Note that SOME of the tutorials have mathematical questions (looking for simple ratios or numeric answers.)  If these stump you, don't worry - do your best.  Remember that in our class, there will never be mathematical questions on the exams, and the math concepts within the tutorial are meant to help.  Don't skip the numerical steps, but don't be afraid if you answer them incorrectly.  Your answers to individual questions in the lessons DO NOT count towards your grade - you can miss them without penalty.

Be sure to complete all of the lessons as you move through the tutorial, as 50% of your score will depend upon whether you complete everything.  At the conclusion of each tutorial will be a brief set of review questions.  These do count.  Your overall score for a tutorial will be based 50% on your FIRST answers to the final review questions, and 50% on completing everything. 

You do NOT have to complete the entire tutorial in one sitting - you can stop and resume it later if you prefer - but you MUST quit and save your work if you do not want to start over.

Step 4: Progressing through the tutorials, & Saving your work to Continue Later

As you move through a tutorial, you will see the navigation menu in the lower corner. Look for a little letter "S" at lower right on the the page. (On some computer screens the S is far to the right and you have to scroll down to the right and down to see it.)  

4a) Click the "S" button to Save.  You can also use the "S" button to stop the tutorial temporarily, and resume it later.



:4b)  You'll see your progress as a percentage in the assignment window:

If you aren't done, you can re-launch the tutorial anytime to finish (before the due date, of course.)  Remember that you need to do all parts of the tutorial activities to get 50% credit (including using the slider bars and answering intermediate questions.)  Then, be sure to complete the summary exercises and questions at the end of the tutorial.  Your first answer to those questions will be used to determine the remaining 50% credit.

Save your work after you have finished the exercises, using the "S" button in the lower right corner.  You are ready to submit your work for a grade!

Step 5: Completing a Tutorial and Submitting it for Credit, or Stopping to Continue Later

After clicking on the "SAVE" button, the tutorial will stop and you will be back in the original screen with the "Launch Tutorial" window.

YOU MUST CLICK THIS Submit BUTTON to get credit for your work.  This will place the result in the online mastering astronomy gradebook. If you don't submit your work here, you will not receive credit for your work.

Step 5 (Optional) Submit Feedback to Me, & Ask Questions!

There is a also a submit item button on the right hand frame. It allows you to provide feedback on the assignment, or report a problem. Click on it if you wish to complete a brief survey about your experiences with the activity.  When you do this, I'll automatically get an email message informing me of your question, and I can reply to help you out.  (Note that this will be sent outside of Blackboard.)

Step 6: Check your results are recorded.

Click on the My scores link in the far navigation bar to see your scores. 

Please note: You will not see your score in the gradebook at Mastering Astronomy until AFTER the assignment deadline has passed.  You can see your percentage completion score anytime by clicking on the assignment itself.  But if you complete the tutorial before the due-date, you won't see a grade yet.

Further Advice

If you have followed the directions carefully above, already tried enter your score a few times, to no avail, please send an email to both the instructor and mastering astronomy support.

If you want to PRACTICE a tutorial first, before trying it for a grade, click on the "tutorial" link in the Study Area at the lower left of the navigation bar.  You can try the same tutorials (and terminology quiz questions) without penalty first, and then redo the tutorial for credit by following the process above (using the assignment list.)
 

Default Userid for Our Course

If you ever have problems accessing the tutorials from your account, you can use the default userid and password I have set up for our course.  Pleasenote that you CANNOT get credit for work done under this ID, and the name, password, and associated email IDs must not be changed.

Fall 2008 Astro 20 Online Class

userid: chabotstudent

password: fall2008

Fall 2008 Astro 20 Oncampus Class

userid: chabotastro20

password: astro20student

 

 

Mastering Astronomy Site Requirements (as of Autumn 2008)

Mastering Astronomy Help Information