Course Setup#

Overview#

  • Email SENS

  • Change Course Info and Email Preferences

  • Upload homework packages

  • Import homework sets

  • Change dates on homework sets

  • Upload classlist

  • Import students

  • Assign students homework

SENS Request#

In order to use webwork in your course, you need to first request that UB SENS create a course for you on their server. Email them at: senshelp@buffalo.edu

Sample Email to SENS

I would like to request 4 WeBWorK courses for the Winter / Spring 2024 sessions:

  • Course 1: 2024-00-MTH-141-Casper

  • Course 1 Title: MTH 141 College Calculus 1

  • Course 2: 2024-01-MTH-120-Casper

  • Course 2 Title: MTH 120 Selected Calculus Topics

Can you add me as the Primary Instructor: Michael Casper

  • UBITName: mjcasper

No UB Learns Integration for these courses.

If you would like my assistance with course set up (adding students and problem sets). Request that they also add me as an instructor in addition to you. You can then delete me as a user at any time.

Course Info#

Once your course is created on the server, change the course info page that displays in the right sidebar of your course.

Edit Course Info View

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Sample course info
<h2>MTH 142 College Calculus 2</h2>

<p>This is WeBWork for the course MTH 142 Spring Semester 2024 at the University at Buffalo.</p>

<p>Your <em>login name</em> is shown at the upper-right of this window.</p>

<p>Click on the name of a problem set (e.g., <em>Learning Outcome I1</em>) to view its problems. Similarly, click on the name of a problem to view your version of it and to be able to have your answers checked
(and <strong>scored</strong> provided the set's due-date is in the future).</p>

<p>
You should work on paper.
</p>

<p>To submit a problem for grading, click on "Submit Answers".</p>

<p>Note that you can use the "Preview My Answers" button to render your typed solution in an easier to read format without actually submitting your answer for grading.</p>

Change Email Preferences#

Another task to do right away is to change the email preferences for your webwork course. By default, webwork gives students the ability to email instructors questions about the homework directly through the website. In my experience, it is better to have students ask questions through different means: zoom meeting, discussion board, or email where they can actually send a picture of their work. Also, slightly increasing the friction needed to ask a question, gives students a little more time to think about what they want to ask.

Because of this, I change the email permission level so that nobody can email the instructor through the webwork platform.

Edit Email Permission View

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Syllabus Digital Accessibility Notice#

If you do decide to use WeBWorK in your course, the following paragraph needs to be included in your syllabus:

Syllabus - WeBWorK

The University at Buffalo is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually  improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards to ensure we provide equal access to all users. If you experience any difficulty in accessing the content or services on WeBWorK, we will provide an alternative means of access to the information and services presented through WeBWorK. To request assistance or provide suggestions about improving the user experience, please contact the Mathematics Department via email  (mjcasper@buffalo.edu) or phone (716-645-8779).

Why use WeBWorK?#

  • Free for UB students.

  • Provides instant feedback to students.

  • Automatically grades homework, so instructors can focus grading resources on other assessments (quizzes and exams).

  • There are custom problems and sets that have been specifically written to follow our calculus courses here at UB.

  • Each set can be customized by the instructor. You can remove problems you don’t want or add ones you do. There is actually an entire library of additional problems that you can use.