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1.1       bowersj2    1: \label{Cascading_Parameters}
                      2: 
                      3: LON-CAPA uses a powerful and flexible {}``cascading parameter''
                      4: system. A {}``parameter'' is anything that can be set for a problem
                      5: in a course, such as a due date. LON-CAPA parameters can be set for
                      6: the {}``entire course'', for {}``all problems in a particular sequence'',
                      7: or for an {}``individual problem''. Fully independently of that,
                      8: they can be set for {}``everyone in a course'', for {}``everyone
                      9: in a section'', or for {}``a single person''. More specific parameter
                     10: settings override more general ones.
                     11: 
                     12: Some of the more common parameters include {}``open date'' (when
                     13: a problem becomes visible for the student to complete), {}``due date''
                     14: (the time the student must have the problem done by), {}``answer
                     15: date'' (an optional date where the solution to the problem becomes
                     16: visible if they did not complete it earlier), and {}``weight'' (the
                     17: point value of the problem). Different problem types can also take
                     18: different parameters; for instance, the instructor can override the
                     19: {}``tolerance'' for a numerical problem (how close the student must
                     20: come for a numerical problem to be considered correct), or control
                     21: the style of the problem (for instance, the system has an {}``exam''
                     22: mode where it will give the student multiple choices for a numerical
                     23: problem, which is useful for printed exams). Problems can also export
                     24: arbitrary other parameters, which may give instructors the ability
                     25: to control the difficulty level or select a specific varient of the
                     26: problem, depending on how the problem was authored.
                     27: 
                     28: This parameter system makes most common manipulations of these parameters
                     29: very easy. If a specific section missed a lab because of a fire drill,
                     30: that section can have its due date extended for the week without affecting
                     31: any other section with a single operation. A single student can have
                     32: their problems opened earlier if they're going to be gone for some
                     33: excused reason. An entire self-paced learning course can have a global
                     34: due-date set at the beginning of the course.
                     35: