A Free Online Mathematics Assessment and Course Management System 2009 AMATYC Conference David Lippman Melonie Rasmussen Lead Developer Muse & #1 Fan Pierce College Lakewood, Washington IMathAS

What is IMathAS / WAMAP? IMathAS: Internet Math Assessment System Web-based math assessment engine Web-based math assessment engine Learning management system Learning management system Algorithmically generated questions Algorithmically generated questions Computer grading of numerical and math expression questions Computer grading of numerical and math expression questions Accurate math and graph display Accurate math and graph display Open-source software Open-source software WAMAP: Washington Math Assessment & Placement Thousands of existing questions from arithmetic through calculus Thousands of existing questions from arithmetic through calculus 20+ pre-built courses 20+ pre-built courses Free IMathAS web hosting for Washington schools Free IMathAS web hosting for Washington schools

A Brief History Started exploring placement alternatives Started exploring placement alternatives Got frustrated with publisher systems Got frustrated with publisher systems Built something for myself, invited some others to start playing with it Built something for myself, invited some others to start playing with it Got some state-level support to make a hosted site available for free Got some state-level support to make a hosted site available for free Got some grant money for some content development and system support time Got some grant money for some content development and system support time An online community of users developed An online community of users developed WAMAP.org serves students/ quarter WAMAP.org serves students/ quarter

A Brief History $30,000 from Washington State eLearning Council for content development $30,000 from Washington State eLearning Council for content development $80,000 from the Transition Math Project (Gates foundation funded) for content development and user training and support $80,000 from the Transition Math Project (Gates foundation funded) for content development and user training and support Mostly a labor of love Mostly a labor of love

Benefits Immediate feedback Immediate feedback Unlimited practice Unlimited practice Automated grading Automated grading Encourage collaboration without cheating Encourage collaboration without cheating Facilitate communication Facilitate communication Online grade tracking Online grade tracking

Instructor Perception Survey Results

A Student Survey (fully online class using WAMAP)

How’s it Different? The Advantages The Advantages Truly free – no cost for students with used books Truly free – no cost for students with used books Not tied to a publisher – questions are categorized by topic, not book section Not tied to a publisher – questions are categorized by topic, not book section Community created content Community created content Community support Community support Flexibility of a learning management system Flexibility of a learning management system The Disadvantages The Disadvantages We leave the teaching to humans - No tutorials, videos, etc. We leave the teaching to humans - No tutorials, videos, etc. Pre-built courses are not yet developed for all texts Pre-built courses are not yet developed for all texts

How It Can Be Used Drill and practice Drill and practice Homework Homework Take-home, in-class tests/quizzes Take-home, in-class tests/quizzes Extended projects, group assignments Extended projects, group assignments Active Learning activities Active Learning activities Encourage communication Encourage communication Track student progress Track student progress Share info with students Share info with students Fully online courses Fully online courses Diagnostics / Mass assessment Diagnostics / Mass assessment

Want to try it out? Log in to Log in to To try it out as a student, log on with: To try it out as a student, log on with: Username & Password: demo Username & Password: demo To get an tester instructor account, click the Classroom tab, click on the “New Instructor Account Request” and send in your info. Your account will be set up in a few days or less. To get an tester instructor account, click the Classroom tab, click on the “New Instructor Account Request” and send in your info. Your account will be set up in a few days or less. Read the Getting Started guide to get familiar with the system, or watch some videos in the training course. Read the Getting Started guide to get familiar with the system, or watch some videos in the training course.

Want to use it (long term)? We don’t currently have capacity to host everyone at wamap.org (at least not yet). Sorry. We don’t currently have capacity to host everyone at wamap.org (at least not yet). Sorry. Visit to learn how to download the software. It requires a web host with PHP and MySQL. Visit to learn how to download the software. It requires a web host with PHP and MySQL. For a single school, it can run fine on a cheap $5/month hosting plan. For a single school, it can run fine on a cheap $5/month hosting plan.