Re: [Phys-l] research project--software-based homework systems

[Brian Whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net>]

Am I to understand then Carl, that much as students react adversely
to being treated like sausage skins at the mincer, their coping mechanism
("Hold your nose, Close your eyes, and Do it any way you can!")
experiences a shudder when some semblance of treating them like
the first person in the world  to address a particular problem,
is instituted in its place?

Surely not!

Brian W

trappe@physics.utexas.edu wrote:
> There is nothing more devastating to scholastic dishonesty than having  
> a HW system that forces the students to (at least) learn how to solve  
> the problem rather than to sit in the hall before class functioning as  
> manual xerox machines of each others' work.
>
> When you look at student responses, try finding out how the software  
> controlled HW ruined their paid for access to fraternity files and  
> on-line textbook solutions.
>
> To get a single problem solved for each student in the class will cost  
> "n" times as much as getting the solution with only one set of values.  
>   Students don't like interference in their cheating schemes.  This is  
> serious entertainment money that these HW systems ruin...Karl
>
> Quoting "Price Daniel S." <dprice@jeffco.k12.co.us>:
>
>   
> > opinions of, software-based homework systems such as WebAssign,  
> > Mastering Physics, and ALEKS.
--Daniel Price, graduate student, The University of Nebraska-Lincoln