Discipline Specific Tools
Eric BoydEric BoydSenior Editor, Physics and ChemistrySenior Editor, Physics and Chemistry
Overview
??????Pad –what are these Pads?Pad –what are these Pads?
mathmathPad Pad
calccalcPadPad
chemchemPadPad
marvinmarvinSketchSketch
???Pad
A WebAssign Pad is an enhanced answer entry tool.
Allows student to: Enter symbolic answers in WebAssign as they would write them by hand
• without calculator notation• little to no special formatting• formulas look like they are right out of a textbook
???Pad
Math Physics Calculus
Pads
LaTeX
mathPad
Designed with the math student in mind.
Inline answer submission.
Most common buttons always visible.
Quick access to tool specific help topics.
mathPad
Same grading mechanisms that you trust.
mathPad
Available this July across the WebAssign System in over 27 titles.
calcPad
Designed with the calculus student in mind.
Calculus specific buttons
Easy to manipulate complex functions
calcPad
Now with Mathematica as the grading mechanism.
calcPad
Available this July in over 17 calculus and pre-calculus titles.
mathPad and calcPad Summary
Why are we excited? These are our tools. It vastly improves on what we had. They are easy to use. Virtually no learning curve. Expands on what we can automatically grade.
All leads to a better learning experience when the system is transparent to the student.
chemPad
Chemistry – entirely different set of rules from other pads
Requirements:
Have answers input with chemical accuracy. Have answers input pedagogically correct.
Grading math compared to grading an entire object-oriented language.
chemPad
The Past
One part of one question had 8 answer boxes Extremely frustrating to students Inherently gives students hints Not formatted chemically correct Superscripts were marked up using inappropriate symbols – confusing to students
chemPad
Features: Chemically correct display Chemically correct formattingInstantaneous preview of response in chemical format Format with keyboard alone Very fast to type an answer
chemPad
The Future:Designed with the chemistry student in mind.
The ability to grade an entire reaction in one single answer box.
chemPad
All chemPad enabled questions come equipped with Enhanced Conditional Feedback.
chemPad
chemPad
All chemPad enabled questions come equipped with enhanced grading mechanisms.
chemPad
Enhanced Grading and Feedback:
Basic Chemical Formulas Ions\Complex Ions Reactions Equilibrium Expressions Rate Laws Solvates Voltaic Cells Ranking Questions Nuclear Reactions Electron Configuration
Total of 145 different feedback statements.
chemPad
Why are we excited?
Conditional feedback Enhanced grading Ease of use This is what students have been asking for
chemPad
Available this Fall in over 10 of the market leading chemistry titles.
marvinSketch
Integrating a well trusted industry standard.
Lewis structures Organic structures Reactions Mechanisms
Allow Students to Draw:
marvinSketch
Lewis Structures
marvinSketchOrganic structures in action
marvinSketch
Unparalleled Grading
Appropriate grading of all chemically equivalent structures.
marvinSketch
Available this Fall in limited release.
The End
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