Author a Maple-graded question

A Maple-graded question uses code written in the Maple^TM programming language to grade student responses.

Maple-graded questions are ideal for:

More sophisticated grading routines (including partial grading) through Maple code
Accepting a wider range of mathematical expressions as responses
Questions with more than one answer or an infinite number of answers
Questions requiring a powerful response-equivalence checker

This question type uses the computational power and plotting capabilities of the MapleNet^TM math engine integrated into Möbius to work within algebra, calculus, differential equations, discrete mathematics, numerical computation, and many other areas of mathematics.

You can choose from two Maple-graded question sub-types when authoring a Maple-graded question.

You'll define the sub-type that you're working with by selecting an expression type during question authoring:

The formula sub-type is authored by selecting the formula expression type
The Maple syntax sub-type is authored by selecting the Maple syntax expression type

To author a Maple-graded question

To author a Maple-graded question from the Question Editor:

Enter the question statement in the Question Text pane of the Question Editor.
TIP: Check out Use the Visual Editor for details on how to use this toolbar to the fullest to control the visual appearance of your Maple-graded question text.
Click Möbius component to select the type of student response for this part of the question.
NOTE: A question can have multiple parts, with each question part using a different type of component. Example — A question could contain two components; the first part using a document upload student response, and the second part a multiple choice student response component.
Click Maple-graded from the list of student response components.
Assign a weight to the response. The default weighting is 1.
TIP: The weight of the component can be any integer greater than 0, and is calculated proportionate to the total of all weights across the question. Example — A question with two components could have the first weighted as 2, and the second weighted as 4. This means that the second component will be worth twice as much as the first when calculating the total grade for the question.
Enter the correct answer that you want to be displayed to your students in the Answer field.
TIP: Follow these rules while defining the correct response in the Answer field:
- You must write valid Maple code and use Maple syntax, regardless of the question sub-type.
- The last line of code must evaluate to an expression which will be stored to the variable $ANSWER.
- Complete each line of code in the Answer field with a semicolon (;).
- Add parentheses when appropriate (Example — (x + y) / 2).
- Use the long form name for all package functions (Example — VectorCalculus[ArcLength]).
TIP: If you enter text into the Answer field, it won't be displayed to students with properly formatted symbolic math. You can enter the Maple code printf(MathML[ExportPresentation](a)); in the Answer field, where a is the correct answer in Maple, to present the correct answer in properly formatted symbolic math:
However, if you do this, then $ANSWER can't be used in your grading code. Check out the Example: Formatted correct answer section of the Author a Maple syntax sub-type help topic for an example.
Define the grading code in the Grading Code field.
TIP: Follow these rules while defining the correct response in the Grading Code field:
- Use valid Maple code to evaluate the answer.
- Use $RESPONSE to represent the value of the student’s response in your code.
- Before your code is processed by Maple, $RESPONSE is replaced by the student response.
- Use $ANSWER to represent the correct answer, as you have provided in the Answer field.
- The last line of your grading code must evaluate to a Boolean value (true or false), or a floating-point number between 0.0 and 1.0 for partial grading.
- Complete each line of code with a semicolon (;).
- Use the long form name for all package functions (Example — VectorCalculus[ArcLength]).
Define the question sub-type using the Expression Type drop-down list. The sub-type determines the format that the student can use to enter their response. Choose from:
- Formula — The student can choose between text or symbolic entry but can't use Maple syntax.
- Maple Syntax — The student must use the entry mode that you define (and must use Maple syntax if text entry mode is required).
TIP: Check out Choose a Maple-graded question sub-type for a comparison of the two available Maple-graded question sub-types.
Select the student entry mode from the Text/Symbolic entry drop-down list.
NOTE: If text entry mode is being used, the student will type their response into a text field. If symbolic entry mode is being used, the student will enter their response using the Equation Editor's symbol palettes.
- Did you select Formula as the expression at step 7? Then the Student can choose entry mode is selected by default and can't be changed.
- Did you select Maple Syntax as the expression type at step 7? Then you'll choose if the question requires the student to use Text entry only or Symbolic entry only.
IMPORTANT: Your students won't be able to tell if a question is authored as a Maple-graded Maple syntax question. You'll need to provide explicit instructions in your question statement if Maple syntax is required for their response.
(Optional) Click Maple Repository to upload a Maple library from your personal Maple library archives into your question. The file path to your library will autofill after selecting it from your repository.
NOTE: The Maple repository is used to access your Maple library files (.mla file extension). Maple library files are uploaded to your question using the Class File Manager(check out Class File Manager). The Maple libname variable will automatically be set to access the archive files specified when executing the Maple code associated with the question. When setting up multiple archives inside the same directory, ensure that there are no name conflicts. If you want to share your question, you must also share the Maple files.
(Optional) Enter a plotting code to enable automatic plotting of the student response.
NOTE: When plotting code is defined, the student will be able to click the Plot icon for a preview of their plotted response.
NOTE: Before your code is processed by Maple, $RESPONSE is replaced by the student's response.
TIP: Check out the Example: Plotting code and infinite number of correct responses section of the Author a formula (Maple-graded) sub-type help topic to see how to use plotting code.
(Optional) If the student is using the text entry mode for their response, you can enter custom previewing code to change how the student's response is displayed when they click the Preview icon to preview their response (Example — a custom previewing code could be defined to prevent simplification of the student's response).
NOTE: Before your code is processed by Maple, $RESPONSE is replaced by the student's response.
TIP: Check out the Example: Custom previewing code section in the Author a formula (Maple-graded) sub-type to see how to use this custom previewing code.
Click Insert to add this student response component to the question.
The component is inserted into your question.
Click Preview to trial your new question to ensure that it behaves as expected.
TIP: You first have to click the save iconif you're creating this question from within an Activity Editor. After the question has been saved, you can then click the preview iconto ensure that your new question behaves as expected.
Click Save to save your new question. Your new question is now stored in the Questions pane of the Content Repository.

Grading details for Maple-graded questions

Maple-graded questions automatically accept all equivalent responses as correct answers (unless otherwise defined by your custom grading code).

Both Maple-graded sub-types allow you to use Maple functions and expressions in the grading code (Example — trigonometric functions, log10, ln, abs, sqrt, diff, int, LinearAlgebra[Determinant], etc.).

In addition to the full range of Maple functions, you can use programming constructs to evaluate responses.

You can also author custom Maple-graded question grading code to assign partial grades to student responses:

You can modify your grading code to allow for grading between 0.0 and 1.0 as partial credit
Grading must be done using a floating-point number
Rational numbers aren't accepted