Battle on the Internet:
Should We Continue?
M. Thoennessen, D.A. Kashy,
G. Albertelli, W. Bauer, E. Kashy
Supported by :
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Michigan State University
National Superconducting
Cyclotron Laboratory
National Science Foundation
Why….
Why do we teach classes?
So that students to learn about a subject
How do we know that the students learn?
Test the students
Why do we give homework?
To help them learn
Why do give credit for solving homework?
????
Partial Credit
So why…
Concession to the students…
Gives additional motivation to learn
Security in case they perform bad on the exam
However, as soon as homework is counted…
…some students cheat by copying exams
Computer-Assisted Personalized Approach
Individualized homework, quizzes and exams
Automatic grading and record keeping
Online statistical analysis and feedback
Communications with students on their performance
Avoid Cheating: Randomization
Some Students’ Response: A challenge
Overall student acceptance very good
Helps students who are willing to learn
Unfortunately there are students who want
to “beat” the system
Make cheating more difficult than actually
learning the material
Student Cry for Help:
From: astudent@aol.com
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 00:58:12 EDT
To: nedavis@nextdjm.nscl.msu.edu
Subject; Capa help
X-Mailer: AOL 3.0 for Mac sub 84
hey, I was checking out some capa web page and I ran across your name. I go
to MSU also. I heard there was some sort of web page that gave the step by
step way to figure out all the problems on different capa assignments. Have
you heard of anything like this or any other way of getting a hold of old
capas and the work for them. If you could just email me back that would be
great. I’m in physics 232.
Thanks
Indeed:
Jack Daniels:
Do you mind if I set up a web page to
exchange capa answers? I hope not,
because I feel that capa is often quite a …..
This should give others an opportunity to
do well on the last few sets. If you'd like to
support me, please announce the web page
in class:….
Student Use of Technology
CAPA FOR FREE
Sponsored by:
Jack L. Daniels
http:www.angelfire.com/pa/capa2
This week it’s on the house! Next week I
need some help. If you have answers that
are not posted then send them to …
jdaniels@goplay.com
Posting Equations
number seven (1 replies)
1) posted by jwp1976 on Apr 28, 2002 08:12 PM
here is the equation
Ct = (S/V)/I
solve for S, everything else is given in the
problem
this solved it!
2) posted by spada on Apr 28, 2002 10:05 PM
wow, sadly enough, that works!!!!
Instructor Response: More Randomization
More randomization:
R1
R2
R3
R2
R1
R3
R2R3
Solution: R1 + R +R
2
3
R1R3
Solution: R2 + R +R
1
3
Is it worth it: Impact of Websites
Course related help site, monitored by
instructor or teaching assistants
Commercial websites
“Anonymous” e-mail questionnaire
about use of commercial site
Analyze correlation between course
performance and web-site use.
Influence of Websites
3rd Party
Monitored
(posting)
Monitored
(looking)
Homework
0.041
0.118
-0.109
Quizzes
-0.302
0.098
0.069
Midterm
Exams
-0.352
0.166
0.160
Final
Exam
-0.348
0.147
0.129
Instructor Response:
Even More Randomization
… the next step ?
Why stop at posting the equation?
Solve the individual problems for the students
Commercial/charge them...
CAPA.solutions.com
Sure Enough… Excel spreadsheets!
Prob # Measurement
1 Side
Current
B
2 Length
F(1)
F(2)
B
4d
i
B(loop)
B(wire)
Total
5L
W
d
I(2)
Force
I(1)
Quanitity
Conversions
Units
3.43
0.0343 T
Note:
1.2
1.39942E-05 -1.39942E-05
1.41
0.0141
Note:
1.18708E-07
N
5.93538E-08
-5.93538E-08
16.34
0.01634 T
Note:
20
0.02
1.53811E-06
4.89596E-07
1.04852E-06
24
0.24 A
Note:
16.7
0.167
11.5
0.115
11.3
0.00000408
1.4607334
My box was like this - +
+ +
Try one of these
This was done for top right x componen
Wire Clockwise, Current Right
I2 Down, I1 CCW
More Individualized Graphics
Version I

P
N
O
Version II

N
P
O
Goals
Have large databases of problems
“Cheating got more expensive”
Make cheating more difficult than
actually learning the material
We want to protect the students from
cheating themselves. ...or their parents.
New World for the Instructors
“This presentation contains strong
language.
Some of the material is
suitable only for mature audiences.”
Further Information
More Information:
http://capa.msu.edu
New, more integrated system:
http://lon-capa.org