We have chosen to use Mastering Chemistry to help students, well,
master chemistry. We hope you find it a useful tool to ensure you
are meeting the course outcomes, and to improve your grade too!
A portion of your overall grade will be the use of an online homework program called Mastering Chemistry.
It is important that you do not enroll in Dr. Baxley’s Mastering Chemistry online course unless you are also a
registered student in his Cuesta College course.
To register, you need a valid email address and an access code from one of the following sources:
1. The FREE access code that comes with the purchase of a new text from the Cuesta bookstore OR
2. An access code you purchase, these are $33 at our bookstore, or $56 online at www.masteringchemistry.com
3. The access code that comes with the purchase of the full e-book, $98 at www.masteringchemistry.com
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YOU MUST PLAN TO HAVE ACCESS BY THE END of the 1
WEEK OF CLASS
STEP A: Registration
1. Access www.masteringchemistry.com from your web browser and click New Students under Register
(bookmark the register/log in webpage for easy access in the future).
2. Click Yes, I have an access code (if you have a code) OR select No, I need to purchase access online
now (this will cost you an extra $25 compared to the Cuesta Bookstore price) and follow the on-screen instructions.
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3. Scroll and select your text for this course: Tro, Chemistry: A Molecular Approach, 2 edition.
4. After accepting the License Agreement and Privacy Policy and creating a Login Name and Password, type in
your Access Code in the provided fields (enter only one word per box).
5. Enter your First Name, Last Name, and a valid Email Address. Use the name that is in MyCuesta.
6. Select your Country and enter the Postal Code for Cuesta College (93401).
7. Choose and answer a Security Question in the event that you forget your login information.
8. After selecting Next to submit your registration for processing, you will receive a Confirmation and Summary
page with your registration information (this same information will also be emailed to you).
STEP B: Enrolling in Your Course
Once registered (Step A), you now enroll in our specific Mastering Chemistry course to do your homework.
8. Click Log In Now if you are continuing from the Confirmation and Summary page (or simply access the
register/log in webpage from the bookmark you created in Step A).
9. Use the Course ID for our Chem 201A section: DRBAXLEYSP2012
10. You may be asked to enter a grade code at the prompt. The code will be used for posting grades on a public
webpage. The code should be unique, having 4-5 unique numbers or letters, and it should not include parts of
your name or other identifying information. If you have entered a code for an MC class in the past, this code
will carry over.
11. Click Save to view your Mastering Chemistry course home page.
To Access MasteringChemistry Again Later
Go to www.masteringchemistry.com, enter your Login Name and Password, and click Log In.
After you have joined a course: You can open any assignments from the Assignments Due Soon area or from
the Assignments page.
NEED HELP?
Come see me
Access Customer Support at http://www.masteringchemistry.com/support, where you will find:
• System Requirements
• Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
• Additional contact information for Customer Support, including Live Chat
See next page
What is Mastering Chemistry good for?
Mastering Chemistry is an excellent tool for students who wish to get instant feedback on if they are solving problems
correctly, and for getting help if you aren’t. Some problems come with hints or tips if you get stuck. You get multiple attempts
to get the correct answer. There are tutorials for specific problem types if you get stuck.
I suggest that you approach Mastering Chemistry as a slick way to make sure that your chemistry knowledge and problem
solving skills are top-shelf. If you’re already fantastic at chemistry, it will be a breeze. If you’re struggling, doing your
homework with this system will make it obvious that you need to get extra help. Mastering Chemistry presents a challenge:
keep working until you solve the puzzle!
In Fall 2011, a survey of 59 students revealed that Mastering Chemistry had THE MOST IMPACT on understanding the
course material, higher than my lectures (but just barely!). Suggested problems, worksheets and then labs were the next
highest rated. Cramster was the least highly rated.
Questions:
Once I open an assignment, do I have to complete all of the questions at one time?
No, you can open and close an assignment as often as you like, until the due date. Then there is a penalty for submitting late.
Make sure to click the
button after each answer, so that you get credit for each answer as you work.
When should I click on the
option below an answer box?
When you need one! There is no penalty for using a hint. .
What if I have not completed an assignment but I am up against the due date?
You are encouraged to click on the Grading Policy near the top of the assignment to review important information such as the
“Late submissions” policy. You do receive partial credit for questions worked on past the due date, but the penalty increases
every hour, so eventually you will receive little credit for substantially late work.
You can also use an NQA coupon to extend deadlines for MC homework. You can email me or ask me in person, and I can
extend the deadline by 48 hours. This would reverse any deductions for late work you’ve already submitted.
Can I access MC assignments after the due dates? The old assignments seem to disappear after a while.
You can always rework questions for practice by accessing assignments after their due date. After logging into MC, click on
the “Assignments” tab and you will see all of the assignments for this particular course.
Where can I find a good, basic introduction to the program or what if I have additional questions?
The single best introduction to how the program works is to complete the Mastering Chemistry Fundamentals questions
assigned in the first assignment. They are for practice, which means that you will not be penalized for any incorrect answers.
Also available to you is an extensive Help section, which opens as a separate browser window and is accessed from any page
by clicking on the Help link in the upper right corner of the screen.
What if I forget my grade code?
After logging in to MC, look at the upper right corner of the first screen and click on your name. This will open your MC
account info, including your grade code.
How long is my MC account active?
Your account is active for 2 years from when you first register.
You can also come and ask me for help. Post on the discussion board, email, or stop by my office.