Configuring VLEs for Mathematics
Matti Pauna & Olga Caprotti
University of Helsinki
Work co-funded by the EU project
JEM-Joining Educational Mathematics ECP-2005-EDU-038208

Math in virtual learning environments
!! Mathematical subject areas, e.g. physics, chemistry, and CS
require correct displaying and interaction with
mathematical content in learning platforms
!! e.g. for a meaningful discussion in science courses learners
need to be able to write math in a convenient way
!! e.g. for a richer learning experience:
!! calculate with formulas,
!! allow answering to questions by formulas,
!! displaying graphs,
!! do animations

Mathematics on the web
Support for mathematics has been disregarded by
developers of web technologies:
!! e.g. MathML, for displaying formulas in web pages, is still not
supported natively by all the browsers.
!! Content management systems, and Web2.0 tools (facebook,
wikis, blogs) fail to include ways for rendering formulas.
Special plugins and viewers are often required. Expert
configuration and installation of fonts is also needed.
WARNING: science on the web is largely inaccessible.

Online mathematics discussions
With no convenient tools
for editing mathematics,
writing and reading a
mathematical discussion
becomes cumbersome

VLEs and Mathematics
!! Most VLEs provide some functionalities to incorporate
mathematical content and learning activities
!! Blackboard provides so called “Calculated Numeric Response”
question type
!! Some VLEs are specially designed for mathematics
!! MapleTA and STACK are automated assessment systems
designed specifically for training in mathematics

Example: Interactive math questions in
MapleTA

Read and Write Mathematics
in Moodle

Moodle and mathematics
http://docs.moodle.org/en/Mathematics
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?id=752

Writing mathematics in Moodle
Moodle provides input filters to edit and render content in
different formats, for mathematics:
1.! LaTeX notation: $$ sqrt{x^2+x+1} - sqrt{x^2-x-1} $$
2.! Algebra input filter, ad-hoc: @@ sqrt(x^2+x+1) - sqrt(x^2-x-1)
@@
3.! WIRIS input filter, which provides a 2D JAVA editor with
palettes of usual symbols. The source is MathML!
4.! ASCIIMathML, ad-hoc, renders as MathML:
`d/dxf(x)=lim_(h->0)(f(x+h)-f(x))/h`

Filter configuration
Usual way

JEM partner: DragMath
http://docs.moodle.org/en/DragMath_equation_editor

JEM partner: WIRIS input filter and editor
Collection of palettes
Palette
http://www.wiris.com

As of May 20, math plugins test package

TinyMCE with mathplugins
See also http://korpelainen.net/mediawiki

Issue: rendering Math
!! JSMath is cross-browser,
uses fonts
!! LaTeX rendering via
images, does not scale
well but works across
devices
!! ASCIImathML is based
on MathML, accessible,
require clients tweaking
The mathplugin detects MathML support and serves either MathML or an
image as a fallback

Math-enabled discussions

Do mathematics
in Moodle
Tools and activities dealing with mathematics

Math experiential learning
!! Dynamic Geometry graphs:
!! GeoGebra filter
!! Cabri filter
!! Computer algebra system:
!! WIRIS CAS
!! JAVA or Flash applets

WIRIS Calculator

Math quizzes in Moodle
!! Multiple-choice
More interesting!
generate questions from templates by instantiating parameters

Calculated and algebra question types
!! Calculated question type allows to define randomized
variables to be used in questions. The correct (numerical)
solution depends on these values.
!! Algebra question type allows also formulas as answers.
The correctness can be evaluated point-wise or with a
call to the open-source SAGE symbolic manipulation
package

STACK questions in Moodle
See Chris Sangwin’s tutorial
!! STACK questions can also be integrated into Moodle via
the Opaque protocol
!! STACK provides rich capabilities for mathematics
assessment:
!! Maxima algorithms
!! partial evaluation and grading
!! different methods for evaluating the correctness of user’s
answer

STACK question in Moodle
It is an open answer

Other mathematical content
!! Multimedia content is very
valuable for explaining a
concept or an application,
e.g.
!! movies
!! screencasts
!! videolectures
!! Quick solution with today’s
technology

Conclusions
!! Limited off-the-shelf support for mathematics in browsers
and web applications
!! More and more solutions to ease inclusion of
mathematics in learning platforms
!! Web standards like MathML contribute to best practice