webwork - Academic Technology Expo

WeBWork:
An online homework
system
Krishnan Shankar
Professor of Mathematics,
University of Oklahoma
OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014
Agenda
•  What is WeBWork? A brief introduction.
•  Some data on WeBWork usage in US universities.
•  Demo: creating a course, HW set and assigning it to
students in real time.
•  WeBWork at OU.
•  Questions & Comments.
•  Closing thoughts.
OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014
What is Webwork?
•  An online, browser based, homework system for the
computational side of mathematics, statistics and
physics courses.
•  Created in 1996 with NSF funding by Michael Gage
and Arnold Pizer, two mathematicians at the
University of Rochester.
•  Freely available from webwork.maa.org as an open
source application.
•  Currently being used by several hundred institutions in
the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014
Screenshot 1
OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014
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OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014
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OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014
Screenshot 4
OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014
Why Webwork?
•  Students in mathematics (and computationally
oriented) courses require two skills:
•  The ability to analyze and logically think through a
problem and
•  The ability to carry out a computation to obtain a precise
answer.
•  Regular homework that is turned in as well as office
hours and tutoring help with the former.
•  Typically one does not have resources to really drill the
students with the latter.
OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014
Why Webwork?
So what is needed is:
•  a tool that tests the computational ability of students;
•  takes the burden of grading computationally intensive
problems off the teacher;
•  discourages cheating/copying of answers;
•  provides feedback and encourages students to try
again.
OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014
Why Webwork?
•  WeBWork provides a second homework system for the
teacher.
•  WeBWork is very flexible.
•  Security: WeBWork creates a different HW set for each
individual student based on a problem seed type.
•  Feedback: WeBWork offers instant feedback, including
syntax errors.
OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014
Webwork usage
•  “WeBWork effectiveness in Rutgers Calculus” by Chuck
Weibel and Lew Hirsch (2002).
•  “Online Assessments and Interactive Classroom Sessions”, by
Helena Dedic, Steven Rosenfield, Ivan Ivanov (2007).
•  Some conclusions:
•  WeBWork is more effective when combined with
traditional homework.
•  Sections using WeBWork performed better than sections
without for the same course.
OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014
Webwork demo
http://www.webwork.math.ou.edu/webwork2
OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014
Webwork @ OU
•  Obtained a grant from the OU IT committee to purchase a
server to host and run WeBWork in 2011.
•  After a year of installation, testing and preparation, the first
WeBWork courses were launched Fall 2012.
•  Steady growth in number of instructors and students in the
mathematics department using WeBWork since then.
•  System is managed by Dr. Alex Grigo (faculty) and Course
Administration is done by Dr. Krishnan Shankar (faculty).
Server maintenance is overseen by Spencer Hanes
(sysadmin).
OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014
Closing thoughts
•  Depending on interest one can expand usage to physics
and engineering.
•  Some Calculus textbook publishers are offering their
homework content in WeBWork and this may help
streamline the teaching of such courses.
•  Students don’t always love WeBWork but most are
ultimately grateful for the practice provided by the
extra homework sets.
OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014
THANK YOU!!!
OU Academic Tech Expo 2014
01/10/2014