Dear Instructor,

With 2010 now officially upon us, we've launched a select number of new tools that will not only help your students learn, but also provide you with more powerful functionality to improve your experience with WebAssign.

Improved Performance and Reliability

On any given day more than 150,000 students are making over 4 million clicks as they complete their online homework in WebAssign. And with new tools at their disposal, such as tutorials and eBooks, students are spending more time in the application than ever before. With that kind of usage, system reliability is a crucial aspect to your success with WebAssign.

Throughout fall 2009, we have tripled our number of servers to reliably support hundreds of thousands of users. We have built in extra capacity to manage the application effectively through heavy traffic hours, and we have re-engineered the application to improve efficiencies to provide a positive user experience. Still need support? We've increased our customer care team, as well as our support hours, to ensure we're available when you need us most.

Conditionally Release Assignments Based on Student Benchmarks

By popular user request, we've made it possible for instructors to require students achieve specific benchmarks on assignments before accessing subsequent ones. With our new Conditional Release of Assignment beta functionality, you can require students score a specific percentage before they can move on, giving you more control over scheduling and greatly simplifying online courses, independent study plans, or remedial coursework. Since this is a beta release, we're interested in hearing any suggestions or feedback you may have for this new feature.

New Math Tools Simplify Answer Entry

Our popular mathPad tool lets students enter equations and mathematical notation using a simple menu-driven palette. Now, calcPad extends that functionality up the curriculum, giving students a simplified way to enter derivatives, integrals, and more advanced math. And, with the new NumberLine tool, students can easily plot points and graph integrals or inequalities on an interactive number line. These new tools provide students with a modern and intuitive way to enter their answers for immediate assessment.

See calcPad and NumberLine in action today.

MarvinSketch Automatically Assesses Student-Drawn Chemical Structures

In summer 2009, WebAssign debuted chemPad, a new tool that allows students to enter chemical formulas and equations in a much more natural way, with over 150 lines of answer-specific feedback. Now, we've thoroughly integrated the popular MarvinSketch tool, from ChemAxon. With MarvinSketch, students can draw and submit chemical structures, including Lewis Structures and more advanced organic structures, for immediate assessment.

See MarvinSketch in action today.

Deliver Secure Testing with WebAssign LockDown Browser

Looking for an easier and more secure way to manage online testing? WebAssign has partnered with Respondus to debut WebAssign LockDown Browser, a free download that gives you the added security you need to confidently administer high-stakes assignments online. With WebAssign LockDown Browser installed, your students cannot send instant messages or email, search the internet, print, copy text, or use other applications on their computer until they submit the assignment for grading.

Upload Your Own Resources to Share with Your Students

WebAssign now makes it possible for you to upload your own resources and post them to students within the Resources module on their home page. Simply click on the Resources tab within any ClassView and click the Add button to browse and import files from your hard drive.

We hope you find this spring's new features useful as you begin the new term. And, as always, if you have any ideas or suggestions to enhance the WebAssign experience for you or your students, let us know!

The WebAssign Team