Assessment is a key driver in mathematics education. This book examines computer aided assessment (CAA) of mathematics in which computer algebra systems (CAS) are used to establish the mathematical properties of expressions provided by students in response to questions. In order to automate such assessment, the relevant criteria must be encoded and, in articulating precisely the desired criteria, the teacher needs to think very carefully about the goals of the task. Hence CAA acts as a vehicle to examine assessment and mathematics education in detail and from a fresh perspective. One example is how it is natural for busy teachers to set only those questions that can be marked by hand in a straightforward way, even though the constraints of paper-based formats restrict what they do and why. There are other kinds of questions, such as those with non-unique correct answers, or where assessing the properties requires the marker themselves to undertake a significant computation. It is simply not sensible for a person to set these to large groups of students when marking by hand. However, such questions have their place and value in provoking thought and learning. This book, aimed at teachers in both schools and universities, explores how, in certain cases, different question types can be automatically assessed. Case studies of existing systems have been included to illustrate this in a concrete and practical way.

About the Author
Chris Sangwin is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematics at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. From 2000-2011 he was seconded half time to the UK Higher Education Academy "Maths Stats and OR Network" to promote learning and teaching of university mathematics. In 2006 he was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship. His learning and teaching interests include (i) automatic assessment of mathematics using computer algebra, and (ii) problem solving using Moore method and similar student-centred approaches. Chris Sangwin is the author of a number of books, including How Round is Your Circle (Princeton University Press, 2011), which illustrates and investigates many links between mathematics and engineering using physical models.

Reviews
It is a well written and well referenced text with attention to detail and practicalities ... of value for professionals in mathematics education of all levels. * Francis McGonigal, Mathematics Today *
The detailed discussion of the nature of mathematics and its assessment, which is necessary to discuss the computer aided assessment of the subject, is interesting in itself and challenges even non-computer assessment users to consider how and why they assess their students...The author makes good use of historical references to enliven the text, and which also demonstrate the timelessness of many of the problems that users of such systems face today. * Tim Lowe, Open University *
Automatic computer-aided assessment in mathematics has the potential to enhance learning in a serious way...This book provides an important contribution here, and will help to improve assessment in mathematics in many ways. * Mika Seppala, Florida State University and University of Helsinki *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199660353
Author Chris Sangwin
Format Hardback
Page Count 200
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 462g
Dimensions(mm) 242mm * 162mm * 18mm