AIM WeBWorK workshop (August 2007)

Topic outline

• General
  

  General

  Welcome to the AIM WeBWorK workshop course.

  This is a record of the work done at the AIM WeBWorK conference held on August 6-10, 2007. The work done here is currently being integrated into the standard WeBWorK documentation and code.

  We have constructed WeBWorK courses for AIM workshop participants. At AIM we used the URL http://aimwebwork-int.openwebwork.org/webwork2. The courses have now been moved to a more permanent location at http://hosted2.webwork.rochester.edu/webwork2.

  Your course name begins with your last name and ends with _course (e.g gage_course). You should log in to your WeBWorK course and change your password. Guests are allowed in these courses so that you can share your work with others in the workshop.

  If you would like to practice the managing of a WeBWorK course you can read through this tutorial (PDF). The tutorial is also linked to from the home page of your course.

  If there are any problems or questions email Mike Gage, gage at math.rochester.edu.

  • News forum
• Topic 1
  

  Topic 1

  Some tools. Wikis, forums, databases -- these are all provided by the Moodle course management system. Anyone who is knowledgeable about these tools and has tips for us on how to use them effectively should feel free to speak up. We need all the help we can get! :-)

  • You have a blog -- for your own public journal entries. :-) Click on your name in the upper right corner to access it.
  • HowTo's Wiki
  • General AIM WeBWorK workshop forum
  • PG macro database URL
  • POD documentation URL
  • Introduction to AIM WeBWorK workshop -- slides File
  • Source code for PG files and WeBWorK2 URL
• Topic 2
  

  Topic 2

  Schedule, tasks, and theme

  • Schedules Wiki
  • Groups Wiki
  • Post AIM working groups Wiki
• Topic 3
  

  Topic 3

  MathObjects: One of the principal tasks is to document how to use these to rewrite webwork homework questions in simpler formats

  • MathObjects-Docs Wiki
  • MathObjects-Examples and Discussion Forum
  • UsingParser.txt Page
  • ParserAnswerCheckers.txt Page
  • Slides for Davide Cervone's MathObject Talk URL
  • MathObjects Index Wiki
• Topic 4
  

  Topic 4

  Training new PG authors: During this workshop we want to create an easy path for instructors to learn how to author WeBWorK questions. This should include tutorials, model problems, macro documentation, how-to tips, etc.

  • PG author training manual Wiki
  • training authors -Discussion and links Forum
  • extensively documented example problem Page
• Topic 5
  

  Topic 5

  Applet objects: Creating and documenting macros and writing tutorials for authoring math questions that involve applets in some way (java, javaScript or Flash applets)

  • Applets(Docs) Wiki
  • Applets-Examples and Discussion Forum
• Topic 6
  

  Topic 6

  Calculus questions, single variable calculus and vector/multivariable calculus -- in particular writing "good question" types of calculus problems which go beyond simple calculations. (Expeditious ways to code calculation questions also welome. :-) )

  • CalculusProblems (Docs) Wiki
  • Calculus Problems-Examples and Discussion Forum
  • The Good Questions project at Cornell University URL
• Topic 7
  

  Topic 7

  Linear Algebra questions: Documentation and tutorials on macros which simplfy the creation of questions for linear algebra.

  • Linear Algebra-Examples and Discussion Forum
  • Linear Algebra Improvements List Wiki
• Topic 8
  

  Topic 8

  Simplifying language syntax: How to bring the older language constructs into sync with MathObjects and so that they interact well with MathObjects. This will include improvements in how Graph objects are constructed and inserted, modifications to SelectList objects which generate matching questions, true false questions and listings of short answer questions.

  • Language syntax (Docs) Wiki
  • Language syntax(Examples and discussion) Forum
• Topic 9
  

  Topic 9

  Language documentation:

  1. POD documentation in the code,
  2. Examples of best practices in coding problems,
  3. Fast lookup for macros.

  • Language documentation (discussion and examples) Forum
  • Langauge documentation Wiki
• Topic 10
  

  Topic 10

  Pre-calculus questions: These pose special challenges because one is often interested in the form of the formula as well as its behavior as a function. This requires different types of macros.

  • Pre-calculus(Docs) Wiki
  • Pre-calculus(Discussion and examples) Forum
• Topic 11
  

  Topic 11

  Progressive or sequential problem types: Problems in which later questions are revealed or are changed depending on answers to earlier questions. The object currently called "MultiPart" is one possible solution for this frequently asked for feature. Perhaps we can think of a better name?

  • Sequential problems -- docs Forum
  • Sequential problems -Docs Wiki
• Topic 12
  

  Topic 12

  Simplifying input: Creating front ends that allow simplified entry of common question types.

  • SimplifyingInput Wiki
  • Simplifying Input (Examples and discussion) Forum
  • segmentedEditor Page
  • segmentedEditor2 Page
  • bottomOfEditProblemForm Page
  • bottomOfEditProblemForm2 Page
  • segmentedEditor3 Page
  • segmentedEditor4 Page
• Topic 13
  

  Topic 13

  What should/can be done to curate the various collections of WeBWorK questions. How should we make appropriate problems readily available to instructors?

  • Problem library --discussion Forum
  • Problem Library Docs Wiki
• Topic 14
  

  Topic 14

  Statistics and Probability questions:
• Topic 15
  

  Topic 15

  Complex variable problems:
• Topic 16
  

  Topic 16

  Differential equation problems:
• Topic 17
  

  Topic 17

  Gateway quizzes:
• Topic 18
  

  Topic 18

  Checking homework for CS courses: (programming fragments)

  • WeBWorK in CS Wiki
• Topic 19
  

  Topic 19

  New question types: Essay questions, pre-flight or warm up questions (short questions asked before a lecture -- answers are polled and guide lecturer - questions get the audience to think about the topic ahead of time.)
• Topic 20
  

  Topic 20

  Assessing the effectiveness of WeBWorK courses (and individual WeBWorK questions)

  • Assessment Section File
• Topic 21
  

  Topic 21

  Administering large sites This is admittedly a bit off the central topic -- but I'd like to encourage those with experience to use this section to post command line scripts that they have found useful.

  • Administering large sites Forum
• Topic 22
  

  Topic 22
• Topic 23
  

  Topic 23
• Topic 24
  

  Topic 24
• Topic 25
  

  Topic 25