Introduction
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Moodle is one of the most popular learning management systems for online courses. It has 37 million users in 3.7 million courses (Mora, Merida & Eixarch, 2011, p. 752). Moodle has features such as lessons, forums, wiki's, assignments and quizzes which provide a wealth of learning resources for students.
Quizzes and self-assessments enhance students' learning because they can receive immediate feedback on their progress (Rodrigeuz, Fuertes, Piera, Garcia, & Solsona, 2012, p. 412). However, it is difficult to type or represent complex mathematical or scientific formulas, equations or expressions in Moodle (Mora et al., 2011, p. 752). Without the ability to represent their scientific or mathematical responses electronically, students cannot utilize the self-assessment functions of Moodle and other learning management systems.
This means the following:
1. The course instructor cannot administer math quizzes and tests electronically. All quizzes and tests have to be completed on paper with an exam invigilator. This require more time and space.
2. When students have to communicate their mathematical or scientific knowledge electronically (ex. in a forum post), they would have to use ASCII expression (ex. writing 2^3 to represent 2 to the power of 3).
3. Many grade 11, 12, and university level math and science courses require the use of a graphing calculator. These calculators often cost more than $100, which can be difficult to afford for some students. Students' learning will be greatly enhanced if they can access an electronic graphing calculator directly on their learning management system (ex. Moodle). This provides consistency and costs less to students.
Moodle is one of the most popular learning management systems for online courses. It has 37 million users in 3.7 million courses (Mora, Merida & Eixarch, 2011, p. 752). Moodle has features such as lessons, forums, wiki's, assignments and quizzes which provide a wealth of learning resources for students.
Quizzes and self-assessments enhance students' learning because they can receive immediate feedback on their progress (Rodrigeuz, Fuertes, Piera, Garcia, & Solsona, 2012, p. 412). However, it is difficult to type or represent complex mathematical or scientific formulas, equations or expressions in Moodle (Mora et al., 2011, p. 752). Without the ability to represent their scientific or mathematical responses electronically, students cannot utilize the self-assessment functions of Moodle and other learning management systems.
This means the following:
1. The course instructor cannot administer math quizzes and tests electronically. All quizzes and tests have to be completed on paper with an exam invigilator. This require more time and space.
2. When students have to communicate their mathematical or scientific knowledge electronically (ex. in a forum post), they would have to use ASCII expression (ex. writing 2^3 to represent 2 to the power of 3).
3. Many grade 11, 12, and university level math and science courses require the use of a graphing calculator. These calculators often cost more than $100, which can be difficult to afford for some students. Students' learning will be greatly enhanced if they can access an electronic graphing calculator directly on their learning management system (ex. Moodle). This provides consistency and costs less to students.
WIRIS - a possible solution?
The company Maths for More created a powerful software called WIRIS for different learning managements systems (especially Moodle). It has the following features:
1. WIRIS editor: a visual editor that inserts mathematical formulas into web pages. This can be run on different browsers and can also be embedded in learning management systems such as Moodle or Blackboard as a plug in.
2. WIRIS Quizzes: WIRIS allow instructors to create quizzes by randomly selecting questions from a question bank, and also has the capacity to represent graphs in 2D and 3D. In Moodle, these quizzes are marked automatically and students can receive immediate feedback.
3. WIRIS cas - an graphing calculator that can be used both online through an HTML page, or offline when it is in desktop version.
The company Maths for More created a powerful software called WIRIS for different learning managements systems (especially Moodle). It has the following features:
1. WIRIS editor: a visual editor that inserts mathematical formulas into web pages. This can be run on different browsers and can also be embedded in learning management systems such as Moodle or Blackboard as a plug in.
2. WIRIS Quizzes: WIRIS allow instructors to create quizzes by randomly selecting questions from a question bank, and also has the capacity to represent graphs in 2D and 3D. In Moodle, these quizzes are marked automatically and students can receive immediate feedback.
3. WIRIS cas - an graphing calculator that can be used both online through an HTML page, or offline when it is in desktop version.
ANALYST REPORT
As an EVA, I will examine WIRIS by using the six dimensions of the Cube, and provide recommendations at the end of the analysis.
As an EVA, I will examine WIRIS by using the six dimensions of the Cube, and provide recommendations at the end of the analysis.