Problets - What they can do

• Problem Generation: The problet generates problems on a specific topic. It is capable of generating an endless supply of problems. It does so by randomly instantiating problem templates encoded into it in pseudo-BNF notation by either the the problet designers or the instructor using the problet.
• Problem Solving: The problet is capable of solving the problems that it generates. The answers to the problems need not be encoded into the problet by the problet designers or the instructor using the problet.
• Providing feedback on User's Answers: The problet provides detailed feedback about the correct answer. This includes explaining the problem code line by line. The problet typically offers three levels of feedback:
  • Demand Feedback - The problet corrects the user's answer and provides feedback about the correct answer when the user demands.
  • Error Flagging - The problet corrects the user's answer as soon as it is entered, but provides feedback about the correct answer when the user demands.
  • Immediate Feedback - The problet both corrects the user's answer and provides feedback about the answer as soon as the user enters an answer. This option is currently being implemented in many of the problets.
• Grading User's Answers: The problet reports whether the user's answer is correct, incorrect or partially correct.
• Maintaining User's Scores: If the user chooses to solve several problems using the tutor, the problet keeps score of the number of problems the user attempted, solved correctly, incorrectly and partially.