Beginning a Netmath Course?
This page has resources for students about to start a Netmath course. We have introductions and tutorials for students at various levels, as well as the first few lessons from each program.
The first things new students should look at are the sections on ordering the software and courseware used for their class.
The prerequisites section describe the information you should know before beginning one of our couses.
If you're completely new to one of our courses and have never used Mathematica before, start in the Video Tutorial section.
If Mathematica is working for you, but you haven't used it much before then start in the Feel of Mathematica section.
Students who are familiar with Mathematica (or have just gone through the tutorials) but have never taken a Netmath course before should go to the pre-assignment section.
Obtain Mathematica 6 (support is also provided for version 5). Once you have registered and been assigned a UIUC NetID you will be able to purchase Mathematica licenses at the student rate through the Cites Webstore. Students purchasing a Mathematica license through the UIUC will need to have their UIUC email activated.
Additional, recommended software is detailed on our software/text page. This software will allow students to chat in real time with their mentors.
Students will need to obtain a copy of our courseware,
the electronic textbooks used for NetMath classes. Information about purchasing the courseware may be found on the software/text page.
These pages are available to help students make sure that they're ready for
their NetMath course.
Video tutorials are available to help students learn to run Mathematica and the Courseware. Right now, all of the video are in Quicktime format.
Introduction: if you're new to the Netmath program, then you should watch this video. It explains the basics you'll need to complete your homework.
The How to Log into Classcomm video explains how to Classcomm, the program we use to give and receive assignments.
If you're totally lost, this third video will help. Completing a Lesson walks you through a complete lesson from one of our courses. Though this video is long, it will be very helpful.
If you haven't used Mathematica much, you should read these notebooks. They will show you some code to help with your courses.
Feel of Mathematica Lessons:
Version 6.0
- How To Use - This explains how to use a lesson. If you're totally new, this is a good place to start.
- Numbers - How to give Mathematica input and how to run calculations.
- Algebra - How to use Mathematica to help with algebra.
- Plot Functions - How to define and plot a function.
- Troubleshooting - How to locate problems in code.
- Quick Tips - Some tips and tricks you might find helpful.
- Learning Tips - Some advice on how to make the most of your NetMath course.
Version 5.x
If you have never taken one of our courses before, your first assignment will be to read the Netmath student guide and to complete the pre-assignment.
The pre-assignment is a way of making sure that you have Mathematica running and are able to use it with the courseware. If you have gotten through the other materials on this page, it will be a breeze, and you will be more than ready to dive into our lessons.
Mathematica 6.0
The preassignment for Mathematica 6.0 may be found here.
Mathematica 5.x
The preassignment for Mathematica 5 may be found here.
Contact A Mentor
The NetMath program has a number of student mentors who are able to answer questions not covered by the resources on this page. There are a number of ways you can get in touch with a mentor.
First, if you are enrolled in a class, you have been assigned a mentor. Send your mentor a weekly e-mail so they can keep track of your progress. If you e-mail your mentor, you should expect to receive a response within a day.
We also have an instant mentor service. During most business hours, there is a mentor on duty. First, you can get in touch with this mentor via e-mail. The on-duty mentor can be reached at mentor@cm.math.uiuc.edu.
If you prefer to chat in real time, we use IRC to help students. IRC chat Instructions are on our Software/Text page. Another program on that page is 'VNC'. If you have computer issues, this program will let you show the mentor your computer screen so they can help resolve your problem.
You can also call our on-duty mentors at (217) 244-5446.
Complete your Assignments
The NetMath courses are self-paced. However, you should be able to average an assignment a week. If you are, for any reason, unable to complete or submit homework assignments, contact your mentor as soon as possible.
Send your mentor an e-mail every week, even if you haven't made much progress. This e-mail is very important so your mentor knows that you on still on track to complete the course.
Quizzes
Most of our courses have online quizzes that reinforce the material covered by the homeworks. These quizzes are run through an online program called Mallard. Most lessons have an associated quiz. The quiz will cover the concepts from the literacy sheets. We recommend that you take it soon after completing your homework.
The courses with quizzes are:
Exams
Most NetMath classes have two tests and a final exam. Before you take an exam, complete the literacy sheets and quizzes for the lessons covered by the exam.
These will help you be sure that you understand the concepts that will be on the test, and understanding them is essential if you want to do well on the exam. If you have any questions, contact your mentor, or visit the online chat.
