http://www.chabotcollege.edu/faculty/shildreth/astronomy/masteringastro.html

Chabot College Astronomy

A Short Guide to our Mastering Astronomy Online Website &

FAQ page!

Scott Hildreth

Our online and on-campus classes will take advantage of some fantastic online tutorials produced to supplement the Cosmic Perspective textbook.  I've incorporated the tutorials for more than 10 years now, and students in previous classes have shared that they felt the tutorials were some of the most useful tools in their successful mastery of our course material. 

FAQ:

If your question isn't answered, please email me! (shildreth@chabotcollege.edu)

 

Using the Mastering Astronomy site will require:

- A one-time use access PIN code, included with the textbook or available separately online ($42.90) at http://www.masteringastronomy.com.

- A personal userid and password, created at the Mastering Astronomy site the first time you login.

- A computer and web browser suitably configured to run Flash, not block pop-up's from the site, support cookies and java, and support 1024x768 resolution.  Specific technical requirements and links to required browser plug-in's are provided at MasteringAstronomy's support site.

If at any time you have problems logging into Mastering Astronomy, or you need help with an access code that doesn't seem to work, you can contact their technical support department directly.  See more information below for help.  Email me or copy me on any email you send so that I can stay aware of your situation.  Remember that you can always use our default student logins to the system to view and try the tutorials (not for credit, but at least to see them).

Step 1: Your first time logging into Mastering Astronomy

Register at Mastering Astronomy using the access PIN code provided with your text. If you don't have one, or bought a used text with an invalid code you can buy it on-line for $40.20 when you click on the link above. 

Or, if you wish, you can purchase a e-book along with MasteringAstro, which can be done for $78.50 by accessing Mastering Astronomy as shown below. You'll only need the PIN code once. (We are using the 6th edition of "The Essential Cosmic Perspective", and even if you buy a used book of a different edition, you'll still want to click on this book.)  You'll be able to create your own userid and password; I recommend using the same as your BLACKBOARD account, or your own personal email.

Specific instructions for each class are provided here as hyperlinks:

- On-campus Monday/Wednesday 10:30 AM Astronomy 20, Spring 2012, CRN 30535  Mastering Astronomy Course ID: CHABOTASTRO20MONWEDSPRING2012
Click here for instructions on how to login to Mastering Astronomy for Astro 20
 

- On-campus Tuesday/Thursday 1:30 PM Astronomy 10, Spring 2012, CRN 30534 Mastering Astronomy Course ID: CHABOTASTRO10TUETHUSPRING2012
Click here for instructions on how to login to Mastering Astronomy for Astro 20 On-campus
 

When you select your course, and enter your appropriate Course ID, you'll be asked to enter a student ID number as well.  Please enter your Chabot W number when prompted.
 

Step 2. Accessing the tutorials and extra credit assignments

Once you have registered and join the class using the correct class ID, you will see several tabs at the left side of the page.  At the top is the assignment list tab; this is where for credit assignments, including tutorials are located.
 

 
  • Tutorials that are in assignments list are graded. While you may start and stop the tutorials at any time, and resume them later, once they are submitted, the grade is automatically recorded.  And only your initial answers to the final review questions for the tutorial are recorded. 
     
  • An identical version of the Flash-based tutorials in MasteringAstronomy are also kept in the self-study area. You may work tutorials here as many times as you like, and this work is not graded.
     
  • Therefore, students who want to maximize their grade should practice the tutorials in the self-study area before doing them "for real" in the assignments.

2a.  Click on the Assignment in the assignment list and see what is listed there.  For example, you might see the following (from tutorial assignment #1)

 

2b. When you are ready to begin the Tutorial in the Assignment list, click on the underlined blue hyperlink. You will next see two frames, a left frame with an image and a right frame with instructions on the available options.  Among those instructions are "Launch Tutorial", "Submit", and "Submit Part".  Note that only the "Launch Tutorial" button will be active (blue) the first time you see this screen.

mastering astronomy assignment screen

 

 

2c. Click on the LAUNCH TUTORIAL button to begin the tutorial.  Be sure your screen resolution is set to 1024x768 so that you can see the controls in the lower right hand corner of the tutorial screen.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Working on a tutorial & Getting a Grade

As  you work through the various parts of the tutorial, you'll be able to skip around or review topics in any order.  The tutorials have a navigation menu at the top:

tutorial_summary_menu


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.)  

Submitting a tutorial - locate the S button in the lower right corner of the screen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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:Mastering Astronomy summary exercise score


 

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.

submit_tutorial


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.

 

 

Mastering Astronomy submit item feedback

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.)

 

 

 

 

 

Mastering Astronomy check scores

 

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 Mastering Astronomy Userids for Your 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.  Please note that you CANNOT get credit for work done under this ID, and the name, password, and associated email IDs must not be changed.

  • Spring 2012 Astro 20 Monday/Wednesday 10:30 AM)

userid: chabotastro0

password: spring2012
 

  • Spring 2012 Astro 10 Tuesday/Thursday 1:30 PM

userid: chabotastro10

password: spring2012
 

 

Mastering Astronomy Site Requirements (as of Spring 2012) - please check their site for updated information!

Operating system and browser

Basic requirements for Mastering

Clicking a browser name below opens a page where you can download that browser.

Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7
Supported browsers:
Firefox 3.5, 3.6
Google Chrome 8.0
Internet Explorer 7.0, 8.0
Safari 4.0

Mac OS 10.4, 10.5, 10.6
Supported browsers:
Firefox 3.5, 3.6
Safari 4.0, 5.0

Ubuntu 8.10
(Although not fully tested, other Linux distributions may also work.)
Supported browsers:
Firefox 3.5

What about Apple iPad? Mobile devices that do not support Flash technology, such as the iPad, are incompatible with Mastering. (More about Flash Player requirement)

System settings and Internet connection

Screen Resolution

Minimum screen resolution: 1024 pixels wide by 768 pixels high
To check and adjust screen resolution:

  • Mac OS users: Go to the Monitors Control Panel.
  • Windows users: Start > Control Panel > Display > Settings > Screen Resolution

To allow pop-up windows in Firefox:

  1. Click Tools > Options > Content.
  2. Check to see whether Block Popup Windows is on.
  3. Click Allowed Sites to the right of Block Popup Windows and type the appropriate URL, as it applies to your site: session.masteringchemistry.com, session.masteringbiology.com, etc.
  4. Click Allow, then Close, then OK.

To allow pop-up windows in Internet Explorer:

  1. Click Tools > Pop-up Blocker.
  2. Click Pop-up Blocker Settings.
  3. Type the appropriate site URL in the Address of Web Site to Allow box, as it applies to your site:
    session.masteringchemistry.com, session.masteringbiology.com, etc.
  4. Click Add.

To allow pop-up windows in other browsers: Check your browser Help.

You may have other pop-up blockers enabled:
For example, pop-up blockers may be active through the Yahoo Toolbar or Google Toolbar. If so, you must either disable these (may not be preferable) or set these to allow pop-ups from your Mastering site (such as session.masteringchemistry.com, session.masteringbiology.com, etc.).

Cookie Filters

If you filter cookies, you must allow session cookies to be set for your Mastering product.
Click here to learn how.

Javascript must be enabled.

Click here for instructions on enabling Javascript for various browsers.

Internet Connection

56kbps modem minimum. Broadband cable, high-speed DSL, or other equivalent is recommended for multimedia content. (Multimedia content may be used in assignments or may be available in a self-study area.)

Players, plugins, and unzipping files

All Mastering products require that you have the Adobe Flash Player. You should download any needed players or plug-ins BEFORE opening any assignments. Otherwise, you could lose valuable time during a timed assignment.

Click a link below to open a page from which you can choose to download or test.

  Adobe Reader Flash Player**

(Test whether installed)		 Java*** PowerPoint Viewer QuickTime Player

(Pro upgrade not required.) 		Shockwave Player

(Test whether installed)
MasteringAstronomy  
Required
      
Required

* Some content requires installation of the Google Earth application. (Pro upgrade not required.)
** Version 10.0.42.34 for Windows and Mac OS. Version 10 for Linux.
*** Java installation includes Java Runtime Environment (JRE), Java plug-in, and Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

Unzipping files

As you work on assignments, you may be asked to open or save a file whose name ends in .zip. Such files need to be extracted or unzipped from their compressed state so you can see them. A zip/unzip utility may be included with your operating system. This utility may be triggered automatically. If not, you may need to identify a program to extract (unzip) the files in the .zip archive, such as an extraction wizard or some freeware. Unzipping files takes just a few seconds. The extracted size will be larger than the original, zipped version.

If you don’t have such a utility or don’t know how to unzip files, search the Internet for unzip files on and identify your browser or operating system.

Mastering Astronomy Help Information

For questions related to registration or log-in, please visit http://247.global.pearsoned.com/ and complete the appropriate online form.

Pearson technical support is available Monday-Friday, 9am to 6pm, Eastern Time (US and Canada) by calling 800-677-6337.

For all other questions regarding MasteringAstronomy,  please check www.masteringhelp.com,  which contains announcements and frequently asked questions that may solve your problem right away. If this site doesn't solve your problem, please contact us via the Customer Service form linked from www.masteringhelp.com and from the MasteringAstronomy home page.  

MasteringAstronomy technical support is also available Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm Eastern Time (US and Canada) by calling 888-547-4415. (We prefer contacting us via the quick form at http://www.masteringhelp.com/ma/ma_index.html--it is usually faster and more reliable.)

 

 

 

Last updated 1/12 - sh

Adapted from Eric W. Harpell, Las Positas College

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