Difference between revisions of "New Authors landing page"

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== Learning how to Author WeBWorK problems ==
  
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* See '''[[Problem Authoring Background Information]]''' and '''[[:Category:Sample Problems|sample problems]]''' If you're just starting out.
  
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* See '''[[SubjectAreaTemplates|subject area templates]]''' if you're looking for complete examples from very basic to advanced.
 
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* See '''[[:Category:Problem_Techniques|index of problem techniques]]''' section if you need help with one particular construct.
  
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* See ''' [[SampleProblem4 |PGML]]''' (Template 4) to learn techniques which simplify formatting the appearance of the questions.
 
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* See '''[[:Category:MathObjects|MathObjects]]''' for more information on authoring problems using MathObjects.
  
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* See '''[[ PGLabs]]''' to try out code fragments on line -- including code fragments containing MathObjects. This is a quick way to learn the fine points of the MathObject syntax.
  
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* [https://testcourses.webwork.maa.org/webwork2/PREP13_Problem_Authoring/instructor/sets/Workshop2_AM/ Davide Cervone's presentation to PREP, June 11, 2013]
  
   
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== Basic info and Sample Problems ==
  
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==Templates==
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Most people write problems starting from templates. Problems from the OPL can be modified to suit individual needs, or existing problem templates can be used to create new problems.
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* '''[[Problem Techniques]]''' This page lists templates for WeBWorK problems in alphabetical order. This collection of templates can also be accessed through the associated category page: [[:Category:Problem Techniques]]
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* '''[[:Category:Subject Area Templates|Subject Area Templates]]''' Some may find it useful to use this page where templates are ordered by subject area.
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* '''[[:Category:Sample_Problems|Sample_Problems]]''' A third page with a collection of templates is this page of sample problems.
   
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* [[Problem Authoring Background Information]] (Big picture overview)
  
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==Basic Information==
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* '''[[:File:WeBWorK_Problem_Authoring_Tutorial.pdf|Problem Authoring Tutorial]]''' aimed at people who already know TeX, but need to learn about Perl, PG, and MathObjects.
  
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WeBWorK problems should be written with the use of MathObjects, PG and PGML. MathObjects package things like numbers, vectors, matrices, etc., into a convenient form that controls formatting and includes an answer checker. PG provides many macros that generate random numbers, graphics, compute statistical distributions, etc. PGML gives authors finer control over a problem's display, and helps organize code in a way that is easy to maintain. Many older problems were written without PGML, and some were written without MathObjects, but that practice is now strongly discouraged except in very specific circumstances.
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* [[:Category:Sample Problems|Index of Sample Problems]]
  
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** [[SampleProblem1|Template 1]] (the basic structure of a WeBWorK PG problem file)
  
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** [[old-style example template|SampleProblem1a]] (old-style, non-MathObjects example)
  
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** [[SampleProblem2|Template 2]] (formulas, multiple choice, and string entry problems)
  
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** [[SampleProblem3|Template 3]] (dynamically generated graphs)
  
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** '''NEW''' --[[SampleProblem4|Template 4]] (illustrates PGML markup)
  
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* More Advanced Sample Problems
  
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** ....
  
   
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== Reference Documents ==
  
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Most of the templates mentioned above use MathObjects and many use PGML macros (look for "MathObjects.pl" and "PGML.pl" in the LoadMacros section of the code). For those who would like to read up on the basics of coding problems the following pages are recommended:
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* '''[[Problem Authoring Background Information]]''' -- includes a PG language overview, some comments about editing problems and ensuring server access.
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* '''[[:Category:MathObjects|MathObjects]]''' -- information on authoring problems using MathObjects.
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* '''[[:Category:PGML|PGML]]''' -- information on authoring problem using the PGML markup language.
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* '''[[PGLabs|PG-Labs]]''' -- try out code fragments on line including code fragments containing MathObjects and PGML. This is a quick way to learn the fine points of the MathObject and PGML syntax.
   
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* '''[[:Category:Problem Techniques|Index of Problem Techniques]]''' ** very useful code fragments
  
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==Tutorials==
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* '''[[SubjectAreaTemplates | Subject Area Templates]]''' ** complete examples for questions on various math subjects
  
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* '''[http://webwork.maa.org/pod/pg_TRUNK/ POD]''' -- POD = "plain old documentation" -- original documentation embedded in the code files -- this is the place to find the most complete and most technical description of macro behaviors.
  
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* '''[[PGLabs]]''', On-line labs for rendering of PG code. These labs allow you to interactively experiment with PG syntax online.
  
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* [https://courses.webwork.maa.org/webwork2/cervone_course/PGML-examples/?login_practice_user=true '''PGML''' ] formatting examples.
  
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* The Good Questions project at Cornell University [http://www.math.cornell.edu/~GoodQuestions/]
  
   
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== Manuals and HOWTOs ==
  
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* '''[[Learning How to Author Problems]]'''
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* '''[[Writing Your Own Homework Problems Using PGML]]'''
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* '''[[:File:WeBWorK_Problem_Authoring_Tutorial.pdf| WeBWorK Problem Authoring Tutorial]]''' aimed at people who already know TeX, but need to learn about Perl, PG, and MathObjects (pdf file).
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* '''[[University of Lethbridge programming examples and libraries]]'''
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* '''[[Problem Authoring Videos]]''', recordings from the PREP 2015 Problem Authoring Workshop.
   
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* '''[[File:WeBWorK_Problem_Authoring_Tutorial.pdf| WeBWorK Problem Authoring Tutorial]]''' aimed at people who already know TeX, but need to learn about Perl, PG, and MathObjects.
  
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== Reference documents and manuals ==
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* '''[[:Category:MathObjects|MathObjects]]''', an object system for manipulating mathematics in WeBWorK questions.
  
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** '''[[PGLabs]]''', On-line labs for rendering of PG code. These labs allow you to interactively experiment with PG syntax online.
 
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**[https://courses.webwork.maa.org/webwork2/cervone_course/PGML-examples/?login_practice_user=true '''PGML''' ]-- Davide Cervone's newest addition to the PG authoring language makes it easier to describe the layout of a question. The new commands and an interactive environment for experimenting with them are available on the [[PGLabs]] page.
  
   
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* '''[https://webwork.maa.org/pod/ POD]''' -- POD (for WeBWorK/PG 2.15) = "plain old documentation" -- original documentation embedded in the code files -- this is the place to find the most complete and most technical description of macro behaviors.
   
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* [[Customize_Course]]
  
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* [[:Category:Applets|'''Applets''']], how to embed Flash and Java applets into WeBWorK questions.
 
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* Specialized HOWTOS
  
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** [[SequentialProblems]] revealing the problem one step at a time
  
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** [[Converting CAPA problems for use with WeBWorK]]
  
 
* '''[[TrainingAuthors |Notes on training authors]]''', and suggestions for further documentation-- Sam Hathaway
  
* '''[[TrainingAuthors |Notes on training authors]]''', and suggestions for further documentation-- Sam Hathaway
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* '''[http://pi.math.cornell.edu/~GoodQuestions/ The Good Questions project at Cornell University]'''
   
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== Background information ==
  
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[[Category:Authors]]
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(older reference material )
  
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* [[Problem Authoring Background Information]]
  
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* [[Basic Perl syntax]] {{--}} PG is based on Perl, so it is important to know some basic Perl syntax.
  
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**[[How BEGIN_TEXT...END_TEXT blocks work]]
  
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* [[Problem Authoring Best Practices]] for problem authoring.
  
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** [[What to do if you find a bug in a problem]]
  
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** [[Tagging Problems]] with metadata for indexing and searching.
  
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[[Category:Top]]
  

Latest revision as of 15:59, 16 June 2021

Templates

Most people write problems starting from templates. Problems from the OPL can be modified to suit individual needs, or existing problem templates can be used to create new problems.

Basic Information

WeBWorK problems should be written with the use of MathObjects, PG and PGML. MathObjects package things like numbers, vectors, matrices, etc., into a convenient form that controls formatting and includes an answer checker. PG provides many macros that generate random numbers, graphics, compute statistical distributions, etc. PGML gives authors finer control over a problem's display, and helps organize code in a way that is easy to maintain. Many older problems were written without PGML, and some were written without MathObjects, but that practice is now strongly discouraged except in very specific circumstances.

Most of the templates mentioned above use MathObjects and many use PGML macros (look for "MathObjects.pl" and "PGML.pl" in the LoadMacros section of the code). For those who would like to read up on the basics of coding problems the following pages are recommended:

  • Problem Authoring Background Information -- includes a PG language overview, some comments about editing problems and ensuring server access.
  • MathObjects -- information on authoring problems using MathObjects.
  • PGML -- information on authoring problem using the PGML markup language.
  • PG-Labs -- try out code fragments on line including code fragments containing MathObjects and PGML. This is a quick way to learn the fine points of the MathObject and PGML syntax.

Tutorials

Reference documents and manuals

  • POD -- POD (for WeBWorK/PG 2.15) = "plain old documentation" -- original documentation embedded in the code files -- this is the place to find the most complete and most technical description of macro behaviors.
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