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Wed Aug 20 16:17:40 2003 UTC (21 years ago) by
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Adding some .tex files in. (LPML addition later; still some to go.)
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:
36: On a technical level, the parameter setting is handled by \texttt{lonparmset}.
37: \texttt{lonnavmaps} provides an easy-to-use interface to most of the
38: common parameters while doing much of the bookkeeping for you. See
39: documentation for those things in the appropriate section below. A
40: function called {}``\texttt{parmval}'' in \texttt{Apache::lonnavmaps::navmap}
41: and \texttt{Apache::assesscalc} handle the computation of which parameter
42: is in effect and can be consulted for precise details on the cascading.
43:
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