ERIC Number: EJ1235361
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1449-5554
EISSN: N/A
Creating Mathematics Formative Assessments Using LaTeX, PDF Forms and Computer Algebra
Herbert, Katherine; Demskoi, Dmitry; Cullis, Kerrie
Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, v35 n5 p153-167 2019
Formative assessment benefits both students and teaching academics. In particular, formative assessment in mathematics subjects enables both students and teaching academics to assess individual performance and understanding through students' responses. Over the last decade, educational technologies and learning management systems (LMSs) are used to support formative assessment design. In mathematics, this is problematic because of the inflexibility of LMS and educational technology tools. Automating formative assessment generation and marking to support mathematics learning is made possible by utilising specific software and technologies in new ways. This paper proposes a new method of creating mathematics formative assessments using LaTeX and PDF forms in conjunction with a computer algebra system (e.g., Maple), independent of an LMS. This method is implemented in undergraduate mathematics subjects servicing non-mathematics--focused higher education courses. The method generates individualised assessments that are automatically marked. Results show that the method provides the teaching academic with a more efficient way of designing formative mathematics assessments without compromising the effectiveness of the assessment task. This study contributes to the growing research on mathematics in higher education. The implication is an increased understanding of how existing technology, implemented in new ways, can potentially benefit both mathematics students and teaching academics.
Descriptors: Mathematics Instruction, Formative Evaluation, Evaluation Methods, Educational Technology, Technology Uses in Education, Computer Assisted Testing, Test Construction, Algebra, College Mathematics, Undergraduate Study, Statistics
Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education. Ascilite Secretariat, P.O. Box 44, Figtree, NSW, Australia. Tel: +61-8-9367-1133; e-mail: info@ascilite.org.au; Web site: https://ajet.org.au/index.php/AJET
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A