Comparison of Maple TA and WebAssign
Comparison of Maple TA and Enhanced WebAssign
WebWorks is not included because I don't know enough about it to give a fair comparison.
| Maple TA | Enhanced WeBAssign | |
| Cost | Unlimited department license approx. $4,000 per year paid by IT from student tech fees. OSU IT provides the server(s) and maintains them. | Contained in book pricing. One semester is free with a new text additional semesters are $10 each if purchased at that time. Separate price is $25 per semester. |
| Source of Questions | Questions currently used were written in house and model exercises from Stewart's Calculus, Concepts and Contexts, and Traditional 5ed. Some questions are dowloadable from Maplesoft. | Questions are modeled on Stewart's Calculus 6e. Other questions exist in the system. WebAssign developers provide the questions. |
| Types of Questions | Questions range from routine to demanding. Almost all are randomized. Many have intermediate step answers to provide partial credit. Some problems apply sophisticated grading and require specially formatted answers so that features of processes of solution are evaluated. Some problems walk students through small arguments and expose them to terminology and notation in an active fashion. | Most problems are routine. Some answer templates reveal things about solutions such as the maximum number of possible solutions. Some questions are not randomized. Graphics are minimal. For some sections the problems provide minimal evaluation and feedback. Others are only useful if the instructor actually collects and grades the work manually. |
| Grading methods | There are a variety of settings for evaluating numerical solutions, algebraic expressions, short answers, etc. Complex expressions can be graded by Maple routines. | Similar. |
| Notational Issues | There is some tension created because there are really two systems. One does not require multiplication to be entered explicitly and has some restrictions on functions. The symbol palette uses the -1 notation for inverse function, e.g., sin-1(x), while other places arcsin(x) is required. The palette entry system (symbol mode) has been problematical at times. In the current exercises | Multiplication does not need to be entered explicitly. Very limited experience with WebAssign so much is unknown. In some questions a palette for entry is given. exp(x) is used for ex |
| Adding questions | There is a GUI for authoring simpler questions. There is a special script language which is part markup language which allows access to greater flexibility than the GUI. Maple routines can be used in various places to produce graphics, displayed symbols, computed values, etc. Maple can also be used to grade answers. There is documentation for authoring but for complex questions it is inadequate. I evolved my own approaches. | Questions are authored using html. There are some built-in functions for randomization. More complex authoring requires the use of PERL and more complex grading uses Maple. Instructions for authoring were vague, but I was able to create one Maple graded question. |
| Assignment Control | Most features apply to the entire assignment, e.g., number of allowed submissions. | Has capabilities similar to Maple TA for the whole assignment but individual questions can have varying allowed attempts, etc. |
| Access | Any web browser that supports java and javascript seems to work. Currently students self register (2.51). In Maple TA LDAP is eneabled so students will login using their O-Key username and password. Details remain to be worked out for classes. This is working for the Calculus Readiness Exam. | Access is through web browser with requirements similar to Maple TA. Students must purchase a code for each semester. The details with the bookstore remain to be worked out. |
| Special Features | None. | Some videos show example solving step by step with voice-over. Numbering system correspond to Stewart's Calculus so that the book provides a reference. |
| Support | IT has become more responsive. BJ Hoffman, Jack Gordon and Jay Johnson are our contacts. Maplesoft Technical Support provides answers to questions and sometimes actual fixes. Response time is variable. | Unknown |
| Creative Control | Currently we author or own questions but it appears that Maplesoft is making an effort to offer additional questions. Within the limitations of the product the questions can be designed as we wish, but someone actually has to do the work. There is no tie to a publisher. We can continue to use Maple TA without (IT) paying for maintenance but we lose access to fixes, support and new versions. | While adding questions seems to be possible the practicality is uncertain. WebAssign is separate from CENGAGE, but changing books/publishers may make using WebAssign difficult. Unless the new book is actively supported we would have access to only a public subset of the questions. |
| Calculus Readiness Exam | IT pays a $3 fee per student for use of the exams. This is expensive but the exams are based on those created under the auspices of the MAA so there is some statistical evidence for validity of the results. | CENGAGE has offered to work with us on creating an exam, but much is unknown. |
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Printing assignments
In Maple TA this is an option. If it is off, this presents an impediment to students printing a test, e.g., the Calculus Readiness Exam. In WebAssign I did not find it as an option. When using the student view I had access to the print menu in Firefox.
Dale