OWL – On-line Web- Based Learning

For Chemistry Homework

For first time users: Have your OWL access card available (this came in the package with the textbook).

Open Internet Explore and type in http://owl.thomsonlearning.com. Hit enter.
Under OWL resources find instructor/student login and click on the word General.
Scroll down the page until you find your textbook, Chemistry the Molecular Science. Single click the title.
Once the page loads click on the letter R at the top of the page. Find Raritan Valley Community College and click once.
Select “Student Registration” by clicking the RED arrow.
Select your course and section by clicking the RED arrow.
Fill out the bottom of the page (student number is your G-number).

NOTE: Your access code is found at the bottom of the OWL flyer. Enter the code exactly as it is found including the dashes.
A screen will come up asking you to select your course. Click the course name.
To access homework, click on Current Assign on the left hand menu bar. Remember only current homework will be found here, past assigned problems will be under the past due assigned section.

Login:

Type http://owl.thomsonlearning.com into the address bar.
Under Instructor/student login click General.
Select your textbook.
Find Raritan Valley Community College by clicking on the letter R. Click the name.
Click the RED arrow under User Login Page.
Enter your login name and password.
For current homework, click on Current Assign on the left hand menu bar.

Navigating Owl and Inputting Data

NOTE: It is helpful to complete the sections that are introductions to OWL

Navigating OWL
Chemical Formulas in OWL
Scientific Notation
Table in OWL

Navigating OWL:

DO NOT USE YOUR INTERNET BROWSERS NAVIGATION BUTTONS, only use the buttons in OWL- otherwise this will perform an illegal action and require you to refresh your page. NOTE this is very bad if you are attempting a problem because refreshing the window will give you a new problem.
OWL uses pop-up windows for tables and other information. Your browser must allow pop-up windows. If you have a pop-up blocker, you must disable it in order to use the programs tools.
When a problem is completed, a green check mark is placed next to the question if it is correct. However when you answer a problem wrong, either click on the Redo Question or Redo Unit. If neither of these options is available, click on Unit Menu and re-click on the desired question.
OWL will check your system to make sure both shockwave and flash modes are available and if not provide a page for installations. This is an important step and can be found on pages 5 and 7 of START OWL HERE. Both of these software packages are needed for some assignments.
Remember if you have any questions, you can email your professor simply by clicking SEND MESSAGE on the left hand menu bar.

Chemical Formulas in OWL:

Chemical formulas in OWL use “ ^ ” and “ _ ” to designate superscripts or subscripts in a chemical formula

For Example: H₂O

To input this formula into OWL you would type H, underscore 2 underscore O

H_2_O

Acetate Ion: CH₃COO^-

To input into OWL, you would type CH underscore 3-underscore COO carrot - carrot

CH_3_COO^-^

Scientific Notation: To insert answers that have scientific notation use the letter “e” to symbolize raised to the power of …

For example 5.45 x 10^-5 would be inputted as 5.45e-5

Tables in OWL: Tables of various constants are found in OWL. It is very important to use these values and ONLY THESE VALUES in your calculations. The answers to these problems use the values from these tables only. Therefore values from other tables might give a slightly different answer and will be marked wrong.

Letter Answers: To insert letter answers such as a, b, and c make sure the letter is capitalized. Some answers require multiple answers. For example if the correct answer is both a and b type AB. DO NOT PUT COMMAS OR DASHES IN THE ANSWER. This will mark the question wrong.

OWL Troubleshooting

When I click on a table nothing happens? Make sure your browser can handle pop up windows. Changing the settings of the browser can do this.

When I put quantum numbers in, and it says which orbital is being filled, I keep on getting it wrong. Why? When inputting which orbital is being filled, remember to include the energy level. For example when you move across the period from Al to Cl, you are filling the 3p orbital. If you just type the p orbital, the answer is going to be wrong. Make sure you include the 3 in the answer.

OWL does not accept the answer I know is correct. What do I do? You should go back over the inputted entry and check the superscripts, subscripts and significant figures. Also make sure the spelling and use of abbreviations are correct. If you are still not sure of why the entry is wrong you should email your instructor.

Due to formatting I keep on getting the problems wrong. Why? The software used in OWL is case sensitive. If you are typing in an element’s symbol the answer must be exactly as you see it on the periodic table. In other words the first letter has to be upper case, the second letter lower case. For example cobalt is Co; if you type CO the answer is going to be wrong. If you are using a constant in an expression, like K, and requires an uppercase letter, you must input it as an uppercase letter. Also remember spelling counts, if you misspell a word the answer will be marked wrong.

When I do a problem that involves a calculation, I input an answer that is close to the correct answer, but I get it wrong. Why? When you do calculations you must always make sure you are using the proper number of significant figures. Not using enough significant figures through a calculation will cause your answer to vary from that of the computer. Also make sure you use the tables that are provided through OWL, for constants, not other sources. This will also change you answer slightly.

last update 05.23.07

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