Getting Started with OWL

Purchasing your Textbook and OWL Access Screencast

This recording walks you through the required materials for CHE 120/121 and how you can obtain them. If you'd rather read about your options instead of watching the video, all the information is also presented on this page.

NKU Gen Chem OWL and Textbook Options 2010 from KAW NKU Chem on Vimeo.

Required Materials

"Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity", Kotz, Treichel, & Townsend 7th Edition
(ISBN 978-0-495-38703-9 or 978-0-495-39029-9)

Access to OWL (Online Web Learning)

Purchasing your Textbook and OWL Access Together Online

There are many different options to choose from when you purchase (or rent) your textbook online. First, you can purchase a print version (which is like a normal book) or access to an ebook version (which you are able to read on your computer screen/web browser during a time period, normally 24 months) of your textbook. You can also rent a copy of the textbook for up to 260 days (2 consecutive terms), after which time you can send the text back in a prepaid package or purchase it outright. Please choose from the following options (all include access to OWL for 24 months):

1. I want access to the ebook version: Go to http://bit.ly/NKUGC1 and purchase the default option for CHE 120/121 - General Chemistry
2. I want to buy a print version: Go to http://bit.ly/NKUGC1 and purchase the CHE 120/121 - General Chemistry - Alternative Bundle Option
3. I want to rent a print version: Go to http://bit.ly/NKUGC2 and select the appropriate "Rent It" option in the dropdown on the right hand side of the screen

Purchasing your Textbook and OWL Access at the Bookstore

There are two different options that you can purchase at the NKU bookstore and off-campus bookstore:

1. Bundle containing a print version of the textbook and access to OWL for 24 months
2. Access to the ebook version of the textbook and OWL for 24 months

Purchasing OWL Access Only Online

If you have already obtained a copy of the textbook elsewhere and only need OWL access, you can purchase either a 6 month or 24 month access code (with or without ebook access) online here: http://bit.ly/NKUGC3 (be sure to select the corect textbook!)

Clickers

Your lecture instructor may require you to purchase a clicker to respond to in-class questions during lecture. NKU uses the ResponseCard RF system in their lecture rooms, so if you've already purchased a clicker for another NKU class, you're good to go. You can purchase clickers at the bookstore or online. If you go the online route, be very careful, as there are many different types of clickers and only the ResponseCard RF works with our system. There are pictures of the clicker found towards the end of the screencast posted above.

Using OWL

Once you've purchased your textbook and OWL access, you can watch the screencast below or read the instruction sheet linked below to get started. Please note that the video was recorded before the recent OWL interface update. While the majority of OWL looks the same as the video, you have a new "course home page" that has a calendar, upcoming assignment due dates and announcements. The ebook is also mentioned a couple of times as a "required" item, but (as said above) the ebook is optional if you choose to purchase a hardcopy of the text. Sorry for any confusion.

NKU OWL Site

How to use OWL Instruction Sheet (.pdf)

Intro to OWL - NKU Gen Chem from KAW NKU Chem on Vimeo.