Two new features have been added to the Formula Builder (FB)
question type specifically to the solution area.
- Keyed Input
- Tolerance.
The question type may now be applied a few different ways.
The original design asks the learner to work on their ability to show work and allows the latitude to create electrical component relationships that follow the laws of electrical theory.
*Side note — This also allows one of the best measures of the learner’s effort.
The new design allows the instructor to prescribe the question type more as a calculation question.
Original design features.
The first is to capture a person’s work. Among many things that can be said about the value of showing work, by having the student do so, whether they get the question right or wrong, the instructor may easily determine the level of explanation needed: Is it an explanation that starts closer to the beginning of the concept or one that is just a mere moment away from success? An instructor may also see that the student is displaying higher level problem solving abilities by combining various learned techniques, into paths to success.
The second feature is to help a student practice creating and displaying relationships between electrical theory components. In removing the need of the calculator and focusing the user on creating formulas, the relationships between components whether in series, parallel, combination; DC or AC, can be practiced. This is to help student gain knowledge related to directly proportional and indirectly proportional electrical component relationships. Ultimately beneficial in facilitating the vocabulary requisite for later having intelligent conversations about the fun stuff…generators, motors, transformers, communication systems, transducers and all the many types of equipment and instruments they will learn about and terminate.
See the video below (2:22) for the original method of Formula Builder use. (Loading time depends on local bandwidth). Please note the interaction and how to access the input box.
An optional way the question type may be used is similar in format to the numerical input style of questions. Those questions require the student to complete their work on paper, type the values correctly into a calculator and key the input into a box. Back in April, those question types had a + or – 2.5% tolerance applied to them. In the same way, the solutions for the formula builder may be inputted with a keyboard and also include a + or – 2.5% tolerance from the day of implementation (September 9th, 2016).
If choosing to allow students to use the FB in this way:
The variable values must be entered in base units. The FB question type may resolve the value into an engineering unit, but the value the submitter entered needs to be entered in the base unit. For example: If the calculation ultimately ends up with a value of 13.24 milliamps, the submitter must type .01324 and select enter.
The appropriate electrical unit (Volts – V, Current – A, etc.) must still be placed for each solution.
The use of the question type and it’s application is up to the administrators and instructors to decide what the expectations are for the students.
Watch the video below (:55) to see this method of Formula Builder use. (Loading time depends on local bandwidth) Look closely for how to access the input box, the need for placing the unit, the use of tolerance, and the value inputted in base units.
***Note About Tolerance***
As before, when tolerance was added on this day, an answer submitted prior may be marked incorrect, where if the same value was submitted after the tolerance was added, may be marked correct. In this situation please remember an instructor may go in and override a score for a question if it is deemed appropriate.
Final Notes:
- All curriculum tests require the student to show their work. The original intent of this question offers the ability for the user to practice this tested ability.
- A report is in the works that will allow a quicker view of each students response to each question.
- The videos above do prove that one method is faster than another, though there is no time shown for using the calculator or doing the work on paper. They also clearly show the difference in philosophies of the two methods of use.
- If for some reason you should not see the question type; as always, clear your cache or update Flash — Here is a Blog Post that includes a link to do that. It can happen where a user’s own browser cache will resist the urge to see the item fresh and thus renders it blank. We do not expect anyone who has seen the flash item before will have any issues, but throw the concept out there as a precaution.