Re: [WWdevel] webwork: problem values getting set to zero

[Michael G. <ga...@ma...>]

On Jul 14, 2005, at 12:45 PM, P Gavin LaRose wrote:

>
> Isn't the distinction between "haven't tried" and "score of zero" also
> captured by the attempted field in problem_user?  I think if the status
> codes this also, it's redundant information.
>
> Am I making sense?
> Gavin
>
That makes sense to me.  I believe that we tried to eliminate all of 
the null responses
when extracting scoring data because we were getting a lot spurious
"undefined variables" warnings.  We also get a  lot of "non-numeric in 
comparison" errors
when sorting, etc. etc. etc.  In any case I think this is why most 
things are promoted
from null at least to "" or to 0.

In light of what you have pointed out I suggest that we "insist" that 
the student score
be a number.  I believe that blanks are automatically converted to 0, 
so they would be ok in sorts.
(I haven't checked this.)  Otherwise we'll need checks in every sort 
routine as well as other places.
Use the "attempts" field to determine if the problem hasn't been tried 
yet.

We may need to fix some assumptions in the grading and scoring packages 
to conform to this.
The simplification in sorts that we gain by assuming that score is 
always a number seems to
me to outweigh desires for more, occasionally non-numeric states.

Take care,

Mike


> On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 at 12:39 Michael Gage wrote:
>
>> Could we get a list of what states are needed for the student score?
>>
>> number     -- means the student has achieved this score on this 
>> problem
>> 0                --  means the student has tried this problem but
>> hasn't gotten in correct
>> null/ blank  -- means that the student hasn't tried the problem.
>>
>> Are there are other states we need?
>>
>> Do we need the state that distinguishes between "hasn't tried the
>> problem" and the one where the score is zero?
>> I think perhaps we do, so that we can warn the student they haven't 
>> yet
>> completed an assignment while not
>> bugging them about problems that they haven't successfully completed.
>>
>> any other thoughts on what is needed?
>>
>> Take care,
>> Mike
>
> -- 
> P. Gavin LaRose, Ph.D.  Program Manager (Instructional Tech.)
> Math Dept., University of Michigan
> gl...@um...                        "There's no use in trying," 
> [Alice]
> 734.764.6454                             said. "One Can't believe 
> impossible
> http://www.math.lsa.umich.edu/~glarose/  things." "I daresay you 
> haven't had
>                                          much practice," said the 
> Queen.
>                                                               - Lewis 
> Carrol
>