tools for presenting and evaluating mathematics online
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Tools for Presenting and Evaluating Mathematics Online. Ajnu Jacob, Travis Miller and Sean Scott of . Overview. Maple T.A. progress report Adaptive Questions Maple worksheets & MapleNet. What is Maple T.A.?. A mathematically intelligent assessment system - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Tools for Presenting and Evaluating Mathematics
OnlineAjnu Jacob, Travis Miller and Sean Scott of
Overview
• Maple T.A. progress report• Adaptive Questions• Maple worksheets & MapleNet
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What is Maple T.A.?• A mathematically intelligent assessment
system• Supports multiple question types• Algorithmic templates for questions• Grade management
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Algorithmic variables• Variables can be assigned random values
– set a range such as x from [-1,1] in 0.01 increments– select an object from a (weighted) list– create a matrix with a certain rank– a set of plots
• Impose conditions– x > y or (x+y) > 0– rank ≠ 0
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Question Database• Managed (mostly) by MFCF• Several master repositories in different
disciplines• Several thousand questions and growing
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Question Database• Every question is tagged with its location
in the database• Question attributes can be assigned, e.g.
difficulty, course, keywords, etc.
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Assignments• Several types available• Allows question “pools”• Controlled access with proctoring• Includes a “proctored” browser option
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Usage• Assignments Finished :
2010 95,9062011 174,0472012 198,224
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Math Readiness Test• 1500 students using the system in a 6
hour period• Repeated the next night in Engineering• Didn’t even break a sweat.
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Availability• Paid for by Mathematics, Engineering &
Science faculties. Free for all courses in those faculties
• Other faculties pay a per-student charge• Course setup, training documentation and
“getting started” support provided by MFCF
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Adaptive Questions
Features• Deepens student comprehension
• Guidance for those who give incorrect response to a question.
• Walk the student through the problem one step at a time.
• Increases understanding of concepts.• Let the student try a simpler version of the
question before retrying the original problem.
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Features• Instructors can control the behavior of the
question• Number of attempts at each stage.• Credit the student gets for incomplete answers and
penalty for repeated attempts.• If the correct answer should appear after the
problem has been attempted max times.• When to move on to the next question in the
assignment.
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Implementation• Drill down (easy to hard)• Drill up (hard to easy)• Multiple attempts
• Additional hints• Decreasing grades
• Partial grading
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Self Evaluation
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Self Evaluation
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Self Evaluation
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Self Evaluation
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Self Evaluation
Self Evaluation
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Self Evaluation
Maple Worksheets &MapleNet
Key Features1) Users Do Not Need to Understand Maple• Work shifted from users onto developers.• Easy to use.• Easy to redistribute.
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Key Features2) User Input with Automatic Calculations
Video:Partial Differentials and Tangents Part 1
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Key Features3) 3D Plots, and Animations
Video:• Partial Differentials and Tangents Part 2• Parameterization• Hooke’s Spring Law
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Key Features4) Interactive Practice with Randomization
Video: System of Equations
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Key Features5) MapleNet Online Viewing
Video: Quadric Surfaces
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Recap Advantages• Interactive and Fun• Users do not need to understand, own, or
install Maple• One worksheet = hundreds of examples• Dynamic solution feedback• Possible replacement for textbooks?
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Recap Advantages• MapleNet online viewing and integration
with D2L.• Server does the work, not the client.• Easy to modify and redistribute.
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Statistics• Average about one week to create a
worksheet. (12-16 worksheets per co-op per term)
• One day to create a video version.• Currently have 15+ worksheets online.
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Possible Uses• Calculus• Algebra• Statistics• Physics
• Economics• Chemistry• Biology
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Questions?
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