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WeBWorK workshops planned for Summer 2013

WeBWorK workshops planned for Summer 2013

by John Travis -
Number of replies: 4
In conjunction with the Mathematical Association of America, the WeBWorK leadership team is sponsoring two development workshops this summer dealing with problem authoring and with course creation.

The first is an online-only course "Authoring Effective Homework Problems with WeBWorK" held on Mondays in June and deals with problem authoring starting with the very basics and moving to more advanced techniques.   Information on this workshop is available at http://www.maa.org/prep/2013/homework_ww.html .

The second is the course "Building Model Courses for Online Homework with WeBWorK" which focuses more on how to set up a coherent collection of problems sets for a course.  This workshop involves a couple of online meetings and culminates with a 3.5 day intensive component at the MAA headquarters in DC.  Information on this workshop is available at http://www.maa.org/prep/2013/courses_ww.html .

Registration for any of the MAA PREP workshops is available using the link following the workshop list at http://www.maa.org/prep/2013/ . 

If you have any questions regarding either of these workshops, please feel free to post them here since there may be others with similar questions.

JT
In reply to John Travis

Re: WeBWorK workshops planned for Summer 2013

by Debbie Yuster -
Do you know what the hours of the workshop will be? Is it worth enrolling if I might only be able to attend 3 of the 4 days (depending on the times I might miss the last of the sessions)? Could I stream that session afterwards or does it need to be live?

Thanks,
Debbie
In reply to Debbie Yuster

Re: WeBWorK workshops planned for Summer 2013

by John Travis -
Debbie,

Thanks for the interest.  As of April 12 there are 33 people already registered for the online PREP workshop on problem authoring.  We have extended the capacity but will have to close registration pretty soon.  We are currently at about half capacity for the later model course workshop.

The four main online workshop conferences are scheduled for 10:00-noon and 2:00-4:00 Central Time on each of the specified days.  Each will be archived and a link made available to workshop participants so that they can view or review as needed.  Our rough plans:


Web Conference 1 - June 3

AM -  Introduce the PREP workshop program and discuss what makes an online homework problem good. Orientation to authoring resources, wiki and forums.  Explore existing Models.


PM - Perl 1:  Designing WeBWorK problems - Basic problem coding


Web Conference 2  - June 10

AM -  Perl 2:  Editing existing problems - Discussion on the structure and content of the Open Problem Library, various ways to edit library problems, formatting using Latex/MathJax


PM - Perl 3:  MathObjects


Web Conference 3 - June 17

AM - Perl 4: Problem Techniques - Making problems robust, varied and interesting including varying forms of answer entry and using macros


PM - Perl 5:  Problem Library and Github - Sharing problems back to the OPL, metadata, reports from participant subject area working groups


Web Conference 4 - June 24

AM -  Perl 6:  Applets - Java, Sage, Geogebra, and/or Flash applets within WeBWorK problems, Linking videos and other content


PM - Perl 7:  Advanced Techniques - Special consideration for gateway or exam problems, creating good answer checkers, multi-part problems


Hope this info is helpful.

JT
In reply to John Travis

Re: WeBWorK workshops planned for Summer 2013

by John Travis -
Update for PREP workshops:

The Online Problem Authoring Workshop's original enrollment cap was reached last week.  However, the organizers have decided to increase the number of participants.  As of today there are 36 participants with only 6 more slots left.  So if you know of someone who is interested in this opportunity then encourage them to sign up asap.

The Model Course workshop is about half full as of today with enrollment open until mid-June.  The cap on this course is not flexible since hotel rooms have already been reserved near the MAA headquarters.  If you or someone you know is interested, then be certain to sign up sooner to insure a spot.

JT
In reply to John Travis

Re: WeBWorK workshops planned for Summer 2013

by John Travis -
Ok, the Problem Authoring PREP Workshop is fully booked.  The MAA might keep a waiting list just in case there are cancellations but this already includes four people.

Also, the Model Courses PREP Workshop is filling up and is right now at about 2/3 capacity.  If you are considering this one, please don't wait too long.