WeBWorK and the 24/7 Classroom April Allen-Materowski Professor Sherman Wong Mathematics Department Baruch College, CUNY

WeBWorK and the 24/7 WeBWorK and the 24/7 ClassroomClassroom

April Allen-MaterowskiApril Allen-MaterowskiProfessor Sherman WongProfessor Sherman WongMathematics DepartmentMathematics DepartmentBaruch College, CUNYBaruch College, CUNY

Allen-Materowski/Wong, Baruch CollegeAllen-Materowski/Wong, Baruch CollegeJune 8, 2010June 8, 2010 WeBWorK and 24/7 ClassroomWeBWorK and 24/7 Classroom

Underlying NeedUnderlying Need

Needed a computerized homework system for Needed a computerized homework system for Precalculus and Applied CalculusPrecalculus and Applied CalculusHomework system needed to be customized in Homework system needed to be customized in order to have not only “standard” problems but order to have not only “standard” problems but also:also: data-driven/graphing calculator problemsdata-driven/graphing calculator problems business applicationsbusiness applications exercises from matricesexercises from matrices

(Baruch College Math Department Uses (Baruch College Math Department Uses MyMathLab in Algebra courses, but problems MyMathLab in Algebra courses, but problems not applicable to our Precalculus/Applied not applicable to our Precalculus/Applied Calculus courses )Calculus courses )


Enter…University of RochesterEnter…University of Rochester

Representatives from the University Rochester Representatives from the University Rochester demonstrated their ONLINE homework system demonstrated their ONLINE homework system “WeBWorK” to Baruch College faculty“WeBWorK” to Baruch College facultyUnhappy with MyMathLab’s problems for these Unhappy with MyMathLab’s problems for these particular courses, Mathematics Department particular courses, Mathematics Department decided to try WeBWorKdecided to try WeBWorKProfessor Sherman Wong coordinated Professor Sherman Wong coordinated implementationimplementationProfessors Sherman Wong and Baryl Shaw Professors Sherman Wong and Baryl Shaw became WeBWorK programmers, developing all became WeBWorK programmers, developing all assignment sets assignment sets


Dates of ImplementationDates of Implementation

Fall 2006Fall 2006: Trial of WeBWorK in MTH 2003 : Trial of WeBWorK in MTH 2003 (Precalculus with Elements of Calculus)(Precalculus with Elements of Calculus)Spring 2007Spring 2007: Voluntary Use in MTH 2003: Voluntary Use in MTH 2003Fall 2007Fall 2007: Full Implementation in MTH : Full Implementation in MTH 20032003Spring 2008Spring 2008:Trial of WeBWorK in MTH :Trial of WeBWorK in MTH 2205 and MTH 2207 (Applied Calculus)2205 and MTH 2207 (Applied Calculus)Fall 2009Fall 2009: Full Implementation in MTH : Full Implementation in MTH 2205 and MTH 22072205 and MTH 2207


What it Can DoWhat it Can Do

UPDATE SINCE JUNE 8 PRESENTATION:UPDATE SINCE JUNE 8 PRESENTATION:

WEBWORK NOW HAS A NATIONAL LIBRARY WEBWORK NOW HAS A NATIONAL LIBRARY OF PROBLEMS, SO YOU CAN PICK OF PROBLEMS, SO YOU CAN PICK COMPUTER-GENERATED PROBLEMS FOR COMPUTER-GENERATED PROBLEMS FOR MOST UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS MOST UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS COURSES, WITHOUT HAVING TO PROGRAM COURSES, WITHOUT HAVING TO PROGRAM YOUR OWN. YOUR OWN.


What it Can DoWhat it Can Do

Generate homework problems which have similar Generate homework problems which have similar properties, but different numbers for each studentproperties, but different numbers for each student


What it Can Do (Cont’d)What it Can Do (Cont’d)

Give student immediate feedback on whether Give student immediate feedback on whether answers are correctanswers are correct



Per ProblemPer Problem Per SetPer Set Per studentPer student

Provide a breakdown of student performance by Provide a breakdown of student performance by the following variables:the following variables:



Provide a summary of scores for all students in Provide a summary of scores for all students in an Excel file at the end of the semesteran Excel file at the end of the semester


How It Works…How It Works…

Before Class:Before Class:Log In to WeBWorK Application:Log In to WeBWorK Application: www.baruch.cuny.edu/webwork2

In WebWork “Instructor Tools”:In WebWork “Instructor Tools”: View assignment sets (See Assignment Set Codes on Syllabus:View assignment sets (See Assignment Set Codes on Syllabus:

http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/math/pdf/2003.pdf))


How It Works…How It Works…Before Class (Cont’d):Before Class (Cont’d):

Set Due Set Due DatesDates

Choose Choose ProblemsProblems

Assign to All Assign to All StudentsStudents


How It Works (Cont’d)…How It Works (Cont’d)…Before Class (Cont’d):Before Class (Cont’d):

Click on Assignment set link and click on “download a hard copy of Click on Assignment set link and click on “download a hard copy of this assignment”, to create and print a “pdf” of assignment to use in this assignment”, to create and print a “pdf” of assignment to use in class, BE SURE TO CLICK “CORRECT ANSWERS” BOX (if you class, BE SURE TO CLICK “CORRECT ANSWERS” BOX (if you have a tablet pc, save pdf on flash drive)have a tablet pc, save pdf on flash drive)


How It Works (Cont’d)…How It Works (Cont’d)…

During Class:During Class:

Click on Click on Homework SetHomework Set

Log in to Log in to WeBWorKWeBWorK


How It Works (Cont’d)…How It Works (Cont’d)…During Class (Cont’d):During Class (Cont’d):

Click on a ProblemClick on a Problem Work through pre-selected problems as examples in lesson or…Work through pre-selected problems as examples in lesson or… Answer students’ questions on class meeting AFTER the original Answer students’ questions on class meeting AFTER the original

lesson, once students have worked on problems at homelesson, once students have worked on problems at home

Can project problems on board and write solutions underneath (or have Can project problems on board and write solutions underneath (or have students come up and write solutions)students come up and write solutions)


How It Works (Cont’d)…How It Works (Cont’d)…During Class (Cont’d):During Class (Cont’d):

If have a tablet PC, can paste pictures of problems from pdf file directly into If have a tablet PC, can paste pictures of problems from pdf file directly into class notes document, and write solutions underneathclass notes document, and write solutions underneath



After Class:After Class:Monitor your email for students’ questions. If Monitor your email for students’ questions. If you want to avoid receiving MANY emails, you you want to avoid receiving MANY emails, you can: can: Ask students to work through entire Ask students to work through entire

assignment FIRST, and then send ONE email assignment FIRST, and then send ONE email to you, listing all questions (this makes it to you, listing all questions (this makes it easier to login and “Act as” the student and easier to login and “Act as” the student and look at all problems at once, rather than look at all problems at once, rather than answering emails one question at a time)answering emails one question at a time)

Tell students particular times during week you Tell students particular times during week you are available to answer questionsare available to answer questions



After Class (Cont’d):After Class (Cont’d):If student has emailed you a question:If student has emailed you a question: Can either click on link provided automatically in email Can either click on link provided automatically in email

and then follow prompts, or…and then follow prompts, or… Log in to WeBWorK ApplicationLog in to WeBWorK Application

Go to “Instructor Tools”, “Classlist Editor”Go to “Instructor Tools”, “Classlist Editor”Click on User’s link in order to “Act As” that studentClick on User’s link in order to “Act As” that student

Look at homework assignment in question, including Look at homework assignment in question, including student’s past answers and the correct answer (you student’s past answers and the correct answer (you might need to work through their problem)might need to work through their problem)

Reply to student with explanations/hintsReply to student with explanations/hintsIf there are problems you need to email all/select If there are problems you need to email all/select students about, there is an email toolstudents about, there is an email tool


How It Works (Cont’d)…How It Works (Cont’d)…End of Semester:End of Semester:

Go to Instructor ToolsGo to Instructor ToolsGo to Scoring ToolsGo to Scoring ToolsHighlight assignments you want to score, using Control Highlight assignments you want to score, using Control Key to skip unassigned setsKey to skip unassigned setsClick on “Score Selected Sets”Click on “Score Selected Sets”Click on link with Excel .csv file that WeBWorK createdClick on link with Excel .csv file that WeBWorK created


How It Works (Cont’d)…How It Works (Cont’d)…End of Semester:End of Semester:

Open in Excel, edit as needed to get overall percentage Open in Excel, edit as needed to get overall percentage or copy and paste into your grade spreadsheetor copy and paste into your grade spreadsheet


Nice Aspects of WeBWorKNice Aspects of WeBWorKTHERE’S A NATIONAL LIBRARY OF PROBLEMS FROM WHICH THERE’S A NATIONAL LIBRARY OF PROBLEMS FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE, and you can customize problems however you needTO CHOOSE, and you can customize problems however you needEach student’s problem set is similar in type of problem, but has Each student’s problem set is similar in type of problem, but has different numbers, so no sharing of answersdifferent numbers, so no sharing of answersCan create problems with graphs, or that require graphing Can create problems with graphs, or that require graphing calculators to be solvedcalculators to be solvedWeBWorK problems can be used as class examples, rather than WeBWorK problems can be used as class examples, rather than writing all different examples. This way, students are more writing all different examples. This way, students are more prepared to start their homework right away. They do more prepared to start their homework right away. They do more homework as a result.homework as a result.Can project the problems directly onto the board and write solutions Can project the problems directly onto the board and write solutions on board (and students also come up and write solutions). Can also on board (and students also come up and write solutions). Can also use a tablet pc and paste the problems in as pdfs and then write use a tablet pc and paste the problems in as pdfs and then write solutions into the class notes file. solutions into the class notes file.


Nice Aspects of WeBWorK (Cont’d)Nice Aspects of WeBWorK (Cont’d)

Facilitates the 24/7 ClassroomFacilitates the 24/7 Classroom It’s available online, so always accessible-It’s available online, so always accessible-

Students call up problems on their Students call up problems on their Iphones/blackberries anywhere, even in classIphones/blackberries anywhere, even in class

Students/faculty can print out as pdfs on Students/faculty can print out as pdfs on paper to work on train, etc.paper to work on train, etc.

Students regularly email faculty with specific Students regularly email faculty with specific questions, demonstrating that they are questions, demonstrating that they are workingworking

Students use solutions that are written up and Students use solutions that are written up and posted on Blackboard to help them solve their posted on Blackboard to help them solve their own (slightly different) problemsown (slightly different) problems


““Tricky” Aspects of WeBWorKTricky” Aspects of WeBWorKSometimes an error in the code, causes the problem Sometimes an error in the code, causes the problem to not “behave” correctly, giving students erroneous to not “behave” correctly, giving students erroneous feedback that answer is incorrect. feedback that answer is incorrect. Faculty need to contact administrator, who needs to Faculty need to contact administrator, who needs to

look at the codelook at the codeStudents will do problem correctly, but Students will do problem correctly, but INCORRECTLY ENTER the answer. They will INCORRECTLY ENTER the answer. They will either email instructor or bring it up in classeither email instructor or bring it up in class Faculty will have to look at the individual’s problem Faculty will have to look at the individual’s problem

and answers that were entered, to reconcileand answers that were entered, to reconcileIf either of the two things mentioned above happen If either of the two things mentioned above happen frequently, students might do problems incorrectly, frequently, students might do problems incorrectly, and incorrectly assume that it’s “WeBWorK’s Fault”and incorrectly assume that it’s “WeBWorK’s Fault”


““Tricky” Aspects of WeBWorK Tricky” Aspects of WeBWorK (Cont’d)(Cont’d)

Sometimes customized changes to Sometimes customized changes to assignments are not saved if they are assignments are not saved if they are done before assignment is assigned to done before assignment is assigned to studentsstudentsAnswers difficult to read (exponents are Answers difficult to read (exponents are represented by **, etc)represented by **, etc)

Administrating and Administrating and Supporting AspectSupporting Aspect

Professor Sherman WongProfessor Sherman Wong


I. AdvantagesI. Advantages

A.A. Flexibility to style problems to one's Flexibility to style problems to one's needsneeds

B.B. Ability to go beyond Pre-Calculus and Ability to go beyond Pre-Calculus and CalculusCalculus

C.C. Use of Open-Source ProgramsUse of Open-Source Programs


II. DisadvantagesII. Disadvantages

A.A. Operating system is UNIX-based or Operating system is UNIX-based or LINUX-based, not Windows-basedLINUX-based, not Windows-based

B.B. Server is onsite, while commercial Server is onsite, while commercial programs that are similar are hosted by programs that are similar are hosted by vendorvendor

C.C. Technical support is through a forumTechnical support is through a forum


III. Instructor TrainingIII. Instructor Training

A.A. Setting up workshops for new faculty and Setting up workshops for new faculty and posting documents on Blackboardposting documents on Blackboard

B.B. Availability of Camtasia videos for Availability of Camtasia videos for instructorsinstructors

C.C. Questions directed to the WeBWorK Questions directed to the WeBWorK administratoradministrator


IV. Problem CreationIV. Problem Creation

A.A. pg language, perl language, LaTeX pg language, perl language, LaTeX language (new enhancements to pg language (new enhancements to pg language)language)

B.B. Main obstacle -- solution generatorMain obstacle -- solution generator


V. What To Do to ImplementV. What To Do to Implement

Contact the following people:Contact the following people: Professor Michael Gage -- Professor Michael Gage --

[email protected] [email protected] Professor Arnold Pizer – Professor Arnold Pizer –

[email protected]@math.rochester.edu

Work with your IT person, to ensure you Work with your IT person, to ensure you have a server that will support the program have a server that will support the program on your school’s systemon your school’s system


VI. Contact InformationVI. Contact Information

April Allen-MaterowskiApril Allen-Materowski [email protected]

Professor Sherman WongProfessor Sherman Wong [email protected]

Mathematics DepartmentMathematics DepartmentBox B6-230Box B6-230One Bernard Baruch WayOne Bernard Baruch WayNew York, NY 10010New York, NY 10010

www.baruch.cuny.edu/mathwww.baruch.cuny.edu/math

Documents

WeBWorK and the 24/7 Classroom April Allen-Materowski Professor Sherman Wong Mathematics Department Baruch College, CUNY