User:Anneke Bart/sandbox3-Authorpage

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Authors (draft of a new page)

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. Most of the templates mentioned above will include the MathObject Macros (recognizable by the line "MathObjects.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 This article includes a PG language overview, some comments about editing problems and ensuring server access.
  • PGML (Template 4) shows the standard outline of a problem, which includes a tagging and description section, an initialization section, a problem set-up section, a text section, and optional answer and solution sections.
  • 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.
  • Davide Cervone's presentation to PREP, June 11, 2013 use guest login to view

Reference documents and manuals

  • 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.
  • File:WeBWorK Problem Authoring Tutorial.pdf aimed at people who already know TeX, but need to learn about Perl, PG, and MathObjects.
  • The Good Questions project at Cornell University [1]
  • 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
  • Notes on training authors, and suggestions for further documentation-- Sam Hathaway