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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