Word problem tutor
JackMostow opened this issue · comments
@ealanhill (and @judithodili and @eyarzebinski) -
@ealanhill please see the design specs at 2018-07-18 Word Problem Types and Instruction
The previous discussion of word problems (#344) got way too long, so I'm starting this new one, but please see these two posts:
Some other posts to #344 provide context you might find useful,
The main problem is to implement the activity (animation graph and Java component) to input word problems from a data source for the kid to practice. Generating the data source is mostly a separate problem, but they overlap when it comes to specifying the data source's item format flexibly enough to express the range of word problems needed, including sequences of things to say, and what if anything RoboFinger should point at during each one.
Please post some completion dates for a first prototype so we can track it.
Please post any questions here so I see them. Thanks! - Jack
@ealanhill - Request from @eyarzebinski: I know I just posted this task, but if at all possible, please send your estimated completion timetable in time for @eyarzebinski to update the Gantt chart before our weekly strategy meeting at noon EST tomorrow (Thursday 9/13/2018).
One topic for the meeting is how to generate the word problems, so omit that task or just take a guess -- use lower and upper bounds if you prefer.
Thanks! - Jack
@JackMostow I'm very confused here. What exactly are you asking me to accomplish? Your requirements are hard to follow and there's too much going on with the referenced discussion for me to get a clear idea of what it is the tutor is supposed to do.
Can you please describe it to me from a user perspective?
@ealanhill and @kevindeland - Sorry about that! It's a lot to take in. See if this helps:
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Skip to the Problem Templates table and just look at each column's example sequence, which describes a user experience in terms of who (student or tutor) says or does what at each step.
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Then look at General layout: addition and subtraction at the start of the file to see the graphical layout and elements involved in the example sequence. The difficulty level determines whether RoboTutor displays concrete quantities, numerals with arithmetic operators, or both.
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Then fill in some of the graphical details from the documents cited at #344 (comment).
Let's use our meeting to walk through the design and clarify it. Please bring questions you have so far.
@huiluo9527 will generate problems in English (for me to narrate) and Swahili (for Leonora to narrate).
@judithodili - Please see response at #381.
@judithodili - I toyed with the idea of a "low-hanging fruit" version of the word problem tutor in the form of worked examples. Instead of the interactive UI/UX where the kid taps to add dots, the examples would be stories illustrated with pictures of the configurations of dots created by tapping.
+: Could present problems and solutions as illustrated stories in HEAR mode without needing new code.
-: Inferior to word problem tutor where kid actually taps to create the representations.
Is it worth the effort to create, illustrate, and narrate the stories, and is there time to do it for code drop 2?
@ealanhill - Where have you gotten so far with the Word Problem tutor? Can you finish it by Friday 9/28?
@JackMostow not very far. I don't think I'll be able to get it done by the 28th, it's turning out to be much more complicated than originally thought.
@kevindeland - Under the circumstances, what programming or testing task(s) would be best for Alan to do?
@ealanhill - Have you used monkey tool and/or other automated testing tools for interactive software? We used it to find crashes in the past. Do you know any tool(s) that can find hangs?