Simple answer: No, you do not need the “online access” for my course. This online access is for Mastering Chemistry, which is an online HW system. We will be using a different online HW system – which is Sapling Learning.
I mentioned this in the first blog post, but you can buy access to Sapling Learning from the bookstore. However, there will be a big markup (it’s about $50) in the cost compared to buying the Sapling Learning access online (about $30) after setting up your link using the online HW link from the main page on our Carmen page. If you must buy your books from the bookstore perhaps because of a scholarship you are on, then you can at least use your scholarship funds to buy this access at the bookstore.
The topic of online access and the textbook keeps coming up, so I’m sure it’s confusing a lot of you! When you go to the bookstore website, they will list all sorts of books are “required” for all of your courses. Now, as you go throughout your time, you will learn some of these items include bundles which might include extraneous and sometimes useless add-ons. These add-ons are often not truly required, though they sometimes get included when they help drive the total cost down compared to all the items purchased separately. You will also learn in your time here that you do not always have to buy “required” books in the first place! You can always share books with your roommates, you can find textbooks at the library (18th ave library for our course), or you can simply just not read anything at all for the class (you know, for your other classes).
There is an online book available through openstax (they make all kinds of high school and introductory college books). Here is the link to their chemistry text: https://openstax.org/details/chemistry. It’s not the exact same text but it is a free alternative if you want to try it out and/or supplement your readings.
OK, let’s summarize from that first blog post the things you MUST have:
- Everyone needs a lab manual and a copyset lab notebook – no shortcuts around this! The manual must be bought at campus bookstores. The bookstore’s copyset notebook is only about $2-3 more than a similar notebook on Amazon, so you can buy it anywhere but it’s not a bad deal at our bookstores
- You must buy Sapling Learning access though you get two weeks of free access before you are required to pay. It’s $30 if you buy online and about $50 if you buy access at the bookstore. Note: the textbook bundled online access is not access for Sapling Learning
- Calculator: Only TI-30Xa and TI-30XIIs are allowed on exams in all general chemistry courses at Ohio State! See: https://undergrad-ed.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/calculators/