Problets - How can faculty/students use them?

• For Practice in Class - Students may use the problets to practice solving problems on a specific topic. They may do so in class, or after class.

  Advantages:

  • Since the problets generate problems dynamically, students will never see the same problem twice. Therefore, they can use the problets to practice problem-solving for as long as they like.
  • Since the problets generate detailed feedback for each problem, students can improve their understanding of the topic, and in some cases, even learn new material by diligently reading the feedback for each problem.
  • Using the problets for practice promotes active learning. Problets may be used for this purpose in traditional courses as well as distance learning courses.

• For Testing in a Course - Faculty may use the problets to test students in class on selected topics in their courses. The problets tally the student scores and present them at the end of the session. Faculty may use the scores for course credit.

  Advantages:

  • The problets generate the test problems. This saves the faculty the time and labor of setting the tests. However, faculty can input the templates of the test questions (in pseudo-BNF notation) to have better control over the content of the tests.
  • Since the problets generate problems dynamically, every student will get a different set of problems. This prevents cheating during the tests.
  • Since the problets are capable of generating an endless number of problems, students will not run out of problems to solve during the tests, should this option be necessary.
  • The problets will automatically grade the student's answers. This saves the faculty the time and labor of grading the tests.
  • The problets present the student's scores immediately after the test. So, the scoring is instantaneous.

• For Assignments in a Course - Faculty may use the problets for after-class assignments on selected topics. The problets tally the student scores and present them at the end of the session. Faculty may use the scores for course credit.

  Advantages:

  • The problets generate the assignment problems. This saves the faculty the time and labor of setting up the assignments. However, faculty can input the templates of the assignment questions (in pseudo-BNF notation) to have better control over the content of the assignments.
  • Since the problets generate problems dynamically, every student will get a different set of problems. This prevents plagiarism on assignments.
  • Since the problets are capable of generating an endless number of problems, students will not run out of problems to solve on their assignments.
  • The problets will automatically grade the student's answers. This saves the faculty the time and labor of grading the assignments.
  • The problets present the student's scores immediately after the assignment. So, the scoring is instantaneous.