1xx Online Homework

Introduction

You will use the MasteringPhysics online homework system and Learning Catalytics in-class quiz system for the introductory physics courses. These need to be connected to the course Canvas page for you to get credit, so follow the instructions below carefully to minimize problems. The procedure to connect to MyLab and Mastering is different depending on which class you are enrolled in. So, choose the correct section below.

Connecting to MyLab and Mastering

For connecting to MyLab and Mastering for PHYS 123 in Winter 2026, see the Canvas page. The instructions below apply for all the other intro physics courses (114, 115, 116, 121, 122, and 142).

Sign into your Canvas course and follow the instructions in this document on connecting to MyLab and Mastering.

Note that when you enrolled in your Physics course, you were automatically placed in the opt-in state to purchase the eTextbook, “MyLab and Mastering,” and “Learning Catalytics” through Day One Access program. In step 2 of the instructions above, you can see how long you have to opt-out, but if you opt-out, you will need to purchase “MyLab and Mastering,” and “Learning Catalytics” later at a higher retail price. You will need to pay for the Day One Access program before the payment deadline to keep participating in the program

The balance due for your Day One Access materials will appear on your Accounts page in MyUW, underneath your tuition balance. To pay for your materials, click the “make payment” button underneath the balance, and you will be re-directed to your shopping cart on ubookstore.com. You must enter your name and UWNetID so that the correct student account can be credited. You will receive an order confirmation after submitting payment – please keep this confirmation for your records. Your balance due in MyUW will be updated within 24-48 hours.

University Book Store will send information on the Day One Access program, including the payment deadline, to your UW email address.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PAYMENT: The balance for your Day One Access materials is NOT part of tuition, and must be paid separately. It is not covered automatically by financial aid, scholarships, or most other funding (exception: funding that is billed through University Book Store by your program, and which specifically covers the cost of course materials). If you have not paid by the posted deadline, you will lose access to the Pearson materials.

Additionally, you must pay for the Pearson materials each quarter to ensure that you do not lose access at any point. Payment for these materials is per-quarter, and does not carry over to future courses in the series.

Day One Access FAQ

Is the cost of Day One Access materials included in my tuition?
No. It is a balance that must be paid separately.

Will my Day One Access materials automatically be covered by financial aid, like tuition is?
No. If you have financial aid or scholarship funding, you are responsible for logging into MyUW to pay for your materials. The only exception is any student who has funding that is billed through University Book Store, and which covers course materials (VA, DVR, student athletics, etc).

How do I pay for my materials?
Log in to MyUW, go to your Accounts page, and look for the Day One Access Fees header. Any balance due will appear here. Click on ‘make payment’, and follow the prompts to submit your payment to the book store.

My course is part of a series and I paid for the materials last quarter. Do I need to pay again this quarter?
Yes. Payments and access are on a per-quarter basis and do not carry over to the following quarter. You will need to pay for your materials each quarter that you are taking a course in the series.

I just paid for my materials. Why does MyUW still show that I have a balance due?
University Book Store processes your payment, and this information is reported back to UW, who updates your balance. Updates to balances typically happen within 24-48 hours of payment.

What happens if I don’t pay for my materials?
You will lose access to your materials if no payment is received. When you have lost access, you will see a paywall in Canvas when you try to access your materials, and you can pay at that point to regain access. Note that it can take several days for access to be revoked once the deadline passes.

I completely forgot about the payment deadline. Can you make an exception?
Unfortunately not. Because of the work that goes into processing payments, we are unable to make exceptions for individual students.

I get a ‘launch unsuccessful’ message when I try to access my eBook. How do I fix this?
This is often a browser issue. Please see this VitalSource help article for more information: https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/360052630174-VitalSource-LTI-Tool-Cookie-Issues

I paid for my eBook, but I’m having trouble accessing it through VitalSource.
Try accessing your eBook in Canvas, via the Day One Access Materials page. This serves to update your license, and you can resume access directly via VitalSource, if that’s your preference. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, you may need to contact VitalSource’s support team directly.

Can I opt out if I don’t need/want the materials offered through the program?
Yes. In Canvas, click on Courses, then Day One Access Materials, and click on the button that says Want to Opt Out?. You will receive an email confirming your decision to opt out.

Questions? Visit https://ubookstore.com/pages/day-one-access-faq for more information about the program, or contact University Book Store via email at dayoneaccess@ubookstore.com. 

Troubleshooting access to MyLab and Mastering

Make sure your computer meets the system requirements: http://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com/system-requirements/

The Pearson technical support site is located here.   
If they do not get their issue resolved quickly, have them email Pearson reps at uwphysicsstudent1@gmail.com

Connecting to Learning Catalytics

  1. First ensure you have connected to My Lab and Mastering following the instructions in the section titled "Connecting to MyLab and Mastering" above.
  2. Follow steps in the section titled "Connecting to MyLab and Mastering" above to open up a MyLab and Mastering website.
  3. Click on the link in the top right-hand corner that says "Learning Catalytics". Follow the setup instructions.

After the above procedure, you should be able to go directly to www.learningcatalytics.com during class and click on the active session.

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