CAA for adult numeracy and algorithms

Martyn Thomas (Maths) &and Jan Hanson (Computing)

Brunel University

Sigma project

•To develop questions on proportionality within adult settings e.g. employability aptitude tests, money, pay, tax, reading charts and graphs.•Mostly straightforward numerical input questions with randoms and full feedback•Very boring(!) but there is a huge need, especially for maths phobic students in departments such as biosciences, various social sciences etc. where our Careers staff have reported problems.

Reading a cumulative table

Randoms in numbers in table and in statement wordings here

From an actual aptitude test but original was wrong – that author never played tennis!

Games/Sets/Matches are partially randomised consistent with the rules of tennis – quite complicated to code in fact!

Surface effects - towns, - given names (ethnic balance)- gender (balanced M/F)- game/sets/match randomised

Accessibility font sizes & colours under user’s control

Feedback has dire warnings about borrowing on credit cards!

Reading a table and synthesising information

Lots of randoms here including stated grade and dynamic diagrams via SVG

And now for something more interesting (Brunel-

funded matching projects)!

1) Developing the maths e.g. database

• Removing applet call so it will work on mobile devices (phones and tablets)• Extending the content• Devising a protocol for question

inclusion/modification.• Migrating to Local Server.• Bug testing and reporting• To be launched on an unsuspecting World

soon

maths e.g. is available for students at:http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk:8081/mathseg/and the teacher interface:http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk:8081/mathsegteacher/allows you to create your own tests (for free!)

2) Testing Algorithms• Level 2 maths and computing students (also engineers and MSc level)•Asymptotic order & operations count•Basic, clustering, fitness, heuristic, packing, searching, sorting, TSP algorithms• Pseudocode• Note: this is not about programming as such –

other questions test different languages (VB and Java – others to come)

Randomly-chosen algorithm

Options to select from

Detailed explanation

More feedback adds counts and operations count for given n or as ORDER asked for here

Communication with marking scheme is difficult for free-form Input, so here students are asked to order some pseudocode (not all of which is needed).

Randomly chosen common algorithm with words that can apply to all Tests students ability to distinguish between various algorithms.

To be launched on an unsuspecting students soon and evaluated … watch this space!