2.6 STACK

System for Teaching and Assessment using a Computer algebra Kernel has been developed by Christopher Sangwin (ex. Birmingham University now Loughborough University) and integrated as a Moodle question type by Tim Hunt at the OU. It uses the features of the Maxima computer algebra system to support the setting of questions with a mathematical basis and the analysis of responses that are provided in the form of numbers and functions.

A large set of example STACK questions are available on the main STACK site at http://stack.bham.ac.uk [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .

2.91 An example of a STACK question

When writing mathematics in a STACK question please note the following:

  1. Do not include unicode characters for Greek characters or symbols but instead use the TeX form e.g. \lambda. See Supported TeX commands under MathML in the OLS-Guide.
  2. Do not use ... around TeX in STACK questions. Instead use
    • ... for inline maths
    • ... for display maths
    • @...@ to display the values of STACK variables. It is not necessary to wrap \(\) or \[\] around it. @...@ displays as inline maths.

    Following this convention enables us to share STACK questions with non-OU sites.

  3. Do not use en-dash to emphasise the minus sign. The maths renderer will convert your keyboard minus into the more prominent minus sign (U+2212) for display.
  4. Do not put CASText into the Options fields (which hold the standard feedback for correct, partially correct, incorrect). These fields are currently configured to hold text only.

To learn more please use the standard STACK documentation which can be found here http://stack.bham.ac.uk.

STACK uses a specially configured Maxima environment and the STACK documentation details how to configure your desktop version of Maxima to work in this environment. You will need a copy of the configuration file maxima.mac.

2.5.2 Pattern match with JME