A Free Online Mathematics A Free Online Mathematics Assessment and Course Assessment and Course

Management SystemManagement System

2009 AMATYC Conference

David Lippman Melonie RasmussenDavid Lippman Melonie RasmussenLead Developer Muse & #1 Fan Lead Developer Muse & #1 Fan

Pierce CollegePierce CollegeLakewood, WashingtonLakewood, Washington

IMathAS

What is IMathAS / WAMAP?What is IMathAS / WAMAP?

IMathAS: Internet Math Assessment SystemIMathAS: Internet Math Assessment System Web-based math assessment engineWeb-based math assessment engine Learning management systemLearning management system Algorithmically generated questionsAlgorithmically generated questions Computer grading of numerical and math expression Computer grading of numerical and math expression

questionsquestions Accurate math and graph displayAccurate math and graph display Open-source softwareOpen-source software

WAMAP: Washington Math Assessment & PlacementWAMAP: Washington Math Assessment & Placement Thousands of existing questions from arithmetic through Thousands of existing questions from arithmetic through

calculuscalculus 20+ pre-built courses20+ pre-built courses Free IMathAS web hosting for Washington schoolsFree IMathAS web hosting for Washington schools

A Brief HistoryA Brief History

Started exploring placement alternativesStarted exploring placement alternatives Got frustrated with publisher systemsGot frustrated with publisher systems Built something for myself, invited some others Built something for myself, invited some others

to start playing with itto start playing with it Got some state-level support to make a hosted Got some state-level support to make a hosted

site available for freesite available for free Got some grant money for some content Got some grant money for some content

development and system support timedevelopment and system support time An online community of users developedAn online community of users developed WAMAP.org serves 3500+ students/ quarterWAMAP.org serves 3500+ students/ quarter

A Brief HistoryA Brief History

$30,000 from Washington State eLearning $30,000 from Washington State eLearning Council for content developmentCouncil for content development

$80,000 from the Transition Math Project $80,000 from the Transition Math Project (Gates foundation funded) for content (Gates foundation funded) for content development and user training and development and user training and supportsupport

Mostly a labor of loveMostly a labor of love

BenefitsBenefits

Immediate feedbackImmediate feedback Unlimited practiceUnlimited practice Automated gradingAutomated grading Encourage collaboration without cheatingEncourage collaboration without cheating Facilitate communicationFacilitate communication Online grade trackingOnline grade tracking

Instructor PerceptionInstructor PerceptionSurvey ResultsSurvey Results

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Student Practice

Confidence

Retention

Understanding

Grades

ImprovedSimilarDeclined

A Student SurveyA Student Survey(fully online class using WAMAP)(fully online class using WAMAP)

How’s it Different?How’s it Different? The AdvantagesThe Advantages

Truly free – no cost for students with used books Truly free – no cost for students with used books Not tied to a publisher – questions are categorized by Not tied to a publisher – questions are categorized by

topic, not book sectiontopic, not book section Community created contentCommunity created content Community supportCommunity support Flexibility of a learning management systemFlexibility of a learning management system

The DisadvantagesThe Disadvantages We leave the teaching to humans - No tutorials, We leave the teaching to humans - No tutorials,

videos, etc.videos, etc. Pre-built courses are not yet developed for all textsPre-built courses are not yet developed for all texts

How It Can Be UsedHow It Can Be Used

Drill and practiceDrill and practice HomeworkHomework Take-home, in-class tests/quizzesTake-home, in-class tests/quizzes Extended projects, group assignmentsExtended projects, group assignments Active Learning activitiesActive Learning activities Encourage communicationEncourage communication Track student progressTrack student progress Share info with studentsShare info with students Fully online coursesFully online courses Diagnostics / Mass assessmentDiagnostics / Mass assessment

Want to try it out?Want to try it out? Log in to Log in to www.wamap.orgwww.wamap.org To try it out as a student, log on with:To try it out as a student, log on with:

Username & Password: demoUsername & Password: demo To get an tester instructor account, click the To get an tester instructor account, click the

Classroom tab, click on the “New Instructor Classroom tab, click on the “New Instructor Account Request” and send in your info. Account Request” and send in your info. Your account will be set up in a few days or Your account will be set up in a few days or less.less.

Read the Getting Started guide to get familiar Read the Getting Started guide to get familiar with the system, or watch some videos in the with the system, or watch some videos in the training course.training course.

Want to use it (long term)?Want to use it (long term)?

We don’t currently have capacity to host We don’t currently have capacity to host everyone at wamap.org (at least not yet). everyone at wamap.org (at least not yet). Sorry.Sorry.

Visit Visit www.imathas.comwww.imathas.com to learn how to to learn how to download the software. It requires a web download the software. It requires a web host with PHP and MySQL.host with PHP and MySQL.

For a single school, it can run fine on a For a single school, it can run fine on a cheap $5/month hosting plan.cheap $5/month hosting plan.