Learning How to Author Problems
Contents
Learning how to Author WeBWorK problems
- See Problem Authoring Background Information and sample problems If you're just starting out.
- See subject area templates if you're looking for complete examples from very basic to advanced.
- See index of problem techniques section if you need help with one particular construct.
- See PGML (Template 4) to learn techniques which simplify formatting the appearance of the questions.
- See MathObjects for more information on authoring problems using MathObjects.
- 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.
- Problem Authoring Tutorial aimed at people who already know TeX, but need to learn about Perl, PG, and MathObjects.
Sample Problems
- Index of Sample Problems
- Template 1 (the basic structure of a WeBWorK PG problem file)
- SampleProblem1a (old-style, non-MathObjects example)
- Template 2 (formulas, multiple choice, and string entry problems)
- Template 3 (dynamically generated graphs)
- NEW --Template 4 (illustrates PGML markup)
Reference Documents
- Index of Problem Techniques ** very useful code fragments for embedding and creating graphics, tables, creating multiple choice and sequential problems, embedding JavaScript, Geogebra and Sage, and many, many other things.
- Subject Area Templates ** complete examples for questions on various math subjects
- 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.
- PGLabs, On-line labs for rendering of PG code. These labs enable you to experiment interactively online with PG syntax.
- PGML formatting examples.
- The Good Questions project at Cornell University
Manuals and HOWTOs
- MathObjects, an object system for manipulating mathematics in WeBWorK questions.
- PGLabs, On-line labs for rendering of PG code. These labs allow you to interactively experiment with PG syntax online.
- 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.
- Customize_Course
- Applets, how to embed Flash and Java applets into WeBWorK questions.
- Specialized HOWTOS
- SequentialProblems revealing the problem one step at a time
- Converting CAPA problems for use with WeBWorK
- Notes on training authors, and suggestions for further documentation-- Sam Hathaway
Background information
(older reference material )
- Problem Authoring Background Information
- Basic Perl syntax — PG is based on Perl, so it is important to know some basic Perl syntax.
- Problem Authoring Best Practices for problem authoring.
- What to do if you find a bug in a problem
- Tagging Problems with metadata for indexing and searching.
