Full Mathematical Power In Calculated Questions Through Spreadsheets

Bollaert, Hiram (2013) Full Mathematical Power In Calculated Questions Through Spreadsheets. In: 2nd Moodle Research Conference (MRC2013), 4th and 5th October, 2013, Sousse, Tunisia.

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Abstract

Moodle understands about 42 mathematical functions ranging from “+” to “tanh” and at one point we managed to get a 1171 characters long formula with nine variables working. Iimagine building your questions in a spreadsheet which has a much richer variety of functions available. With that power, vast and rich question banks could be built quickly. This paper describes the construction of a spreadsheet to generate Calculated questions, using all mathematical functions, and the impact this power tool had on the organization of a course. It catered for large groups by enabling the creation of lots of quizzes to snack from, unlimited rehearsing and immediate feedback of students, allowing lecturers to tutor on demand and students to peer teach. The tool was developed and piloted on a course, “Introduction to Statistics”, that was redesigned in order to engage students, improve success rates and minimize redundant lectures. Lectures were reassigned as workshops in which students were challenged with quizzes to activate their learning. Students were invited to collaborate and peer teach. The tool empowered the lecturers to quickly design large question banks. Students approved the self-paced workshops. Confronted with tons of questions in various quizzes students became involved and began to question each other and the lecturers for a way to solve the presented problems.

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