Scaffold

Simple Scaffolded, MultiPart Problems Worked Sequentially

This is the PG code to create a scaffolded problem with multiple parts that are displayed sequentially. This way uses a recent macro, scaffold.pl that creates a neat student interface - similar to that of CompoundProblem5 but with a much cleaner style for authors. The interface has tabs containing sections of the problem that can open and close.

Problem Techniques Index

PG problem file	Explanation
DOCUMENT(); loadMacros( "PGstandard.pl", "PGML.pl", "MathObjects.pl", "parserMultiAnswer.pl", "scaffold.pl", "PGcourse.pl", ); TEXT(beginproblem()); $showPartialCorrectAnswers = 1;	Initialization: We need make no changes to the initialization section of the file besides including scaffold.pl. In this example we include parserMultiAnswer.pl so that we can use that.
Context("Numeric"); Context()->variables->are(x => 'Real'); $a = Compute(random(2,9,1)); $c = Compute(random(1,9,1)); $b = Compute(random(2,6,1)); if ($a*$c > 0) {$b += floor(sqrt(4*$a*$c))} $quadratic = Formula("$a x^2 + $b x + $c"); $x1 = (-$b + sqrt($b**2-4*$a*$c))/(2*$a); $x2 = (-$b - sqrt($b**2-4*$a*$c))/(2*$a); ########################################### # The scaffold Scaffold::Begin();	Setup: In the problem set-up section of the file we define some variables that we will use in the problem, as usual. In addition, we begin the scaffold by Scaffold::Begin(). Giving arguments to this changes when sections will open, and when they will be able to be opened. Options are listed below: Scaffold::Begin( can_open => "when_previous_correct", #first_incorrect, #correct_or_first_incorrect, #incorrect, always, or #never is_open => "first_incorrect" #when_previous_correct, #correct_or_first_incorrect, #incorrect, always, or #never instructor_can_open => "when_previous_correct", #first_incorrect, #correct_or_first_incorrect, #incorrect, #always, or #never );
Section::Begin("Part 1: Identify the coefficients"); BEGIN_PGML Consider the quadratic equation given by [`[$quadratic] = 0`]. In this exercise, we will consider three different ways to solve this expression. First, identify the coefficients for the quadratic using the standard form [`ax^2 + bx + c = 0`]: [`a`] = [____]{$a}, [`b`] = [____]{$b}, [`c`] = [____]{$c} END_PGML BEGIN_PGML_SOLUTION Take the coefficient of [`x^2`] for the value of [`a`], the coefficient of [`x`] for [`b`], and the constant for [`c`]. In this case, they are [`a = [$a]`], [`b = [$b]`], and [`c = [$c]`]. END_PGML_SOLUTION Section::End(); ########################################### Section::Begin("Part 2: Solve using the quadratic formula"); $multians1 = MultiAnswer($x1,$x2)->with( singleResult => 0, allowBlankAnswers => 1, checker => sub { my ($correct,$student,$self) = @_; my ($s1, $s2) = @{$student}; my ($c1, $c2) = @{$correct}; return (1,1) if ($c1 == $s1 and $c2 == $s2) or ($c1 == $s2 and $c2 == $s1); return (1,0) if $c1 == $s1 or $c2 == $s1; return (0,1) if $c1 == $s2 or $c2 == $s2; return (0,0); } ); BEGIN_PGML Using the quadratic formula, solve [`[$quadratic] = 0`] >> [`x`] = [______]{$multians1} or [`x`] = [______]{$multians1} << END_PGML BEGIN_PGML_SOLUTION Recall that the quadratic equation is [``x = {-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac} \over 2a}``]. You already identified [`a = [$a]`], [`b = [$b]`], and [`c = [$c]`], so the results are: [``x = {-[$b] + \sqrt{[$b]^2 - 4[$a][$c]} \over 2[$a]} = [$x1]``] or [``x = {-[$b] - \sqrt{[$b]^2 - 4[$a][$c]} \over 2[$a]} = [$x2]``]. END_PGML_SOLUTION Section::End();	Main Text: The text section of the problem is now broken into the parts that we want the student to work sequentially. Begin sections with Section::Begin("NAME OF SECTION");. This also takes the same arguments as Scaffold::Begin(), but only applies to the section. Similarly, we end the section with Section::End(). Note that MultiAnswer is used in this question to demonstrate that we can use it, unlike in some previous iterations of compound problems.
Scaffold::End(); ENDDOCUMENT();	Answers and Solutions: We've included the answers and solutions in each section, so they don't appear here. However, once all of the sections are complete, we close the scaffold with Scaffold::End().

As noted above, there are a number of other configurations for when sections open and are available to open in the problem. Some are listed here:

• Scaffold::Begin(
        can_open => "when_previous_correct",
        is_open  => "first_incorrect"
      );

  - The defaults: only the active sectoin is open, but students can open previous secitons if they want.

• Scaffold::Begin(
        can_open => "when_previous_correct",
        is_open  => "correct_or_first_incorrect"
      );

  - Sections stay open as the student works through the problem.

• Scaffold::Begin(
        can_open => "first_incorrect",
        is_open  => "first_incorrect"
      );

  : Students work through the problem seeing only one section at a time, and can't go back to previous secitons.

• Scaffold::Begin(
        can_open => "always",
        is_open  => "first_incorrect"
      );

  - Students can view and work on any section, but only the first incorrect one is shown initially.

• Scaffold::Begin(
        can_open => "always",
        is_open  => "incorrect"
      );

  - Students see all the parts initially, but the sections close as the student gets them correct.

• Scaffold::Begin(
        can_open => "incorrect",
        is_open  => "incorrect"
      );

  - Students see all the parts initially, but the sections close as the student gets them correct, and can't be reopened.

(These are all taken directly from the documentation in the macro file.)

Problem Techniques Index

• PG macro: