WeBWorK is an open source online homework platform for math and other STEM subject areas.

This slideshow contains:

• demonstration of some WeBWorK problem types
• a brief look at problem authoring code
• new features in version 2.16
• survey of self-help tools

The following slides allow you to explore many of the types of question/answer that WeBWorK can handle. It is a long list, but not comprehensive.

Simple example of WeBWorK problem code:

DOCUMENT();
loadMacros("PGstandard.pl", "MathObjects.pl", "PGML.pl",);

Context("Numeric");

$a = random(2,9,1);
$trigFunc = Formula("sin($a x)");
$trigDeriv = $trigFunc->D();

BEGIN_PGML
Find the derivative of the function [`f(x) = [$trigFunc]`].

[_]{$trigDeriv}{20}
END_PGML
ENDDOCUMENT();

DOCUMENT();

...

ENDDOCUMENT();

These parts need to start and end the problem file.

loadMacros(
  "PGstandard.pl",
  "MathObjects.pl",
  "PGML.pl",
);

This loads tools that the problem uses. These three are standard tools, but there are many more for special tasks you may need.

Context("Numeric");

A strength of WeBWorK is the notion of a “context”. Roughly, a context tells WeBWorK how to interpret strings. For example, to interpret (0,1) as an open interval versus a pair of coordinates. A context also tells WeBWorK how to handle the resulting mathematical objects. For example, whether or not to require a fraction answer to be fully reduced.

There are many default contexts you can load, and they can all be tweaked with follow-up commands after loading.

$a = random(2,9,1);
$trigFunc = Formula("sin($a x)");
$trigDeriv = $trigFunc->D();

Typically you set up some variables the problem will use.

BEGIN_PGML
Find the derivative of the function [`f(x) = [$trigFunc]`].

[_]{$trigDeriv}{20}
END_PGML

Define what the end user will see.

While acting as a student, it's now easy to switch over to a different student.

Before starting a timed quiz, students must confirm their intent.

webwork.maa.org/moodle/mod/forum/index.php?id=3

WeBWorK users post questions here and get help from the community members with more experience. In some cases, community members collaborate to solve a problem.

github.com/openwebwork

There are three main repositories: webwork2 for the interface, pg for the problem engine, and webwork-open-problem-library.

The next genreration interface is brewing in the webwork3 repository.

TWP and the MAA put on a virtual workshop: Introduction to WeBWorK to help people learn how to run a WeBWorK course. Has run the past couple of years at JMM and Mathfest.

Trainings from 2015, with recordings: webwork.maa.org/wiki/Problem_Authoring_Videos

Rationarium offers training as a service: www.rationarium.org/services

A WeBWorK instance such as webwork.pcc.edu needs a host web server.

• Having institutional support for a WeBWorK server is ideal.
• For under $10 per month of cloud computing and domain registration costs, plus some knowledge of a Linux operating system, individuals can set up a WeBWorK server that can support a small school.
• Runestone Interactive (www.runestoneinteractive.com/pages/webwork.html) offers hosting for $100 per course. (Alex has a side gig managing this server.)
• Rationarium (www.rationarium.org) offers hosting and additional services.