configuring vles for mathematics

Configuring VLEs for Mathematics

Matti Pauna & Olga Caprotti

University of Helsinki

Work co-funded by the EU project JEM-Joining Educational Mathematics ECP-2005-EDU-038208

Math in virtual learning environments

!! Mathematical subject areas, e.g. physics, chemistry, and CS require correct displaying and interaction with mathematical content in learning platforms

!! e.g. for a meaningful discussion in science courses learners need to be able to write math in a convenient way

!! e.g. for a richer learning experience:

!! calculate with formulas,

!! allow answering to questions by formulas,

!! displaying graphs,

!! do animations

Mathematics on the web

Support for mathematics has been disregarded by developers of web technologies:

!! e.g. MathML, for displaying formulas in web pages, is still not supported natively by all the browsers.

!! Content management systems, and Web2.0 tools (facebook, wikis, blogs) fail to include ways for rendering formulas.

Special plugins and viewers are often required. Expert

configuration and installation of fonts is also needed.

WARNING: science on the web is largely inaccessible.

With no convenient tools for editing mathematics, writing and reading a mathematical discussion becomes cumbersome

Online mathematics discussions

VLEs and Mathematics

!! Most VLEs provide some functionalities to incorporate mathematical content and learning activities

!! Blackboard provides so called “Calculated Numeric Response” question type

!! Some VLEs are specially designed for mathematics

!! MapleTA and STACK are automated assessment systems designed specifically for training in mathematics

Example: Interactive math questions in

MapleTA

Read and Write Mathematics

in Moodle

Moodle and mathematics

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Mathematics http://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?id=752

Writing mathematics in Moodle

Moodle provides input filters to edit and render content in different formats, for mathematics:

1.! LaTeX notation: $$ \sqrt{x^2+x+1} - \sqrt{x^2-x-1} $$

2.! Algebra input filter, ad-hoc: @@ sqrt(x^2+x+1) - sqrt(x^2-x-1) @@

3.! WIRIS input filter, which provides a 2D JAVA editor with palettes of usual symbols. The source is MathML!

4.! ASCIIMathML, ad-hoc, renders as MathML:

`d/dxf(x)=lim_(h->0)(f(x+h)-f(x))/h`

Filter configuration

Usual way

JEM partner: DragMath

http://docs.moodle.org/en/DragMath_equation_editor

JEM partner: WIRIS input filter and editor

Collection of palettes

Palette

http://www.wiris.com

As of May 20, math plugins test package

See also http://korpelainen.net/mediawiki

TinyMCE with mathplugins

Issue: rendering Math

!! JSMath is cross-browser, uses fonts

!! LaTeX rendering via

images, does not scale well but works across devices

!! ASCIImathML is based on MathML, accessible,

require clients tweaking

The mathplugin detects MathML support and serves either MathML or an image as a fallback

Math-enabled discussions

Do mathematics

in Moodle

Tools and activities dealing with mathematics

Math experiential learning

!! Dynamic Geometry graphs:

!! GeoGebra filter

!! Cabri filter

!! Computer algebra system:

!! WIRIS CAS

!! JAVA or Flash applets

WIRIS Calculator

Math quizzes in Moodle

!! Multiple-choice

More interesting!

generate questions from templates by instantiating parameters

Calculated and algebra question types

!! Calculated question type allows to define randomized variables to be used in questions. The correct (numerical) solution depends on these values.

!! Algebra question type allows also formulas as answers. The correctness can be evaluated point-wise or with a call to the open-source SAGE symbolic manipulation package

STACK questions in Moodle

!! STACK questions can also be integrated into Moodle via the Opaque protocol

!! STACK provides rich capabilities for mathematics assessment: !! Maxima algorithms

!! partial evaluation and grading

!! different methods for evaluating the correctness of user’s answer

See Chris Sangwin’s tutorial

STACK question in Moodle

It is an open answer

Other mathematical content

!! Multimedia content is very valuable for explaining a concept or an application,

e.g.

!! movies

!! screencasts

!! videolectures

!! Quick solution with today’s technology

Conclusions

!! Limited off-the-shelf support for mathematics in browsers and web applications

!! More and more solutions to ease inclusion of

mathematics in learning platforms

!! Web standards like MathML contribute to best practice