Introduction to Numbas

Christian Lawson-Perfect, Newcastle University

<section class="section2"><h2>Zoom rules</h2>
<ul>
<li>This session is <em>informal</em>: we've all got enough to worry about.</li>
<li>Mute yourself when not speaking.</li>
<li>Use the 'raise hand' button before asking a question.</li>
<li>Use text chat to ask questions or comment while someone else is speaking.</li>
</ul>
<hr/>
</section><section class="section2"><h2>Plan for today</h2>
<ul>
<li>Introduce Numbas and demo</li>
<li>Find out what's wanted</li>
<li>Explore the Numbas editor</li>
<li>Q & A</li>
</ul>
<hr/>
<ul>
<li>Numbas is an open-source web-based e-assessment tool.</li>
<li>It is aimed at numerate disciplines.</li>
<li>Developed by the e-Learning Unit in Newcastle University's School of Mathematics, Statistics & Physics</li>
</ul>
<hr/>
</section><section class="section2"><h2>Key features</h2>
<ul>
<li>Scalable, reliable and accessible to a broad range of users.</li>
<li>Easy to use.</li>
<li>Used by question authors who aren't experts.</li>
<li>Feedback is important.</li>
<li>Customisable everywhere.</li>
<li>Delivered through VLE or standalone.</li>
<li>Lots of maths features.</li>
</ul>
<hr/>
</section><section class="section2"><h2>A quick demo</h2>
<p><a href="https://numbas.mathcentre.ac.uk/exam/1973/numbas-website-demo/embed/" target="_blank">Numbas demo exam</a></p>
<hr/>
</section><section class="section2"><h2>Formative vs summative use</h2>
<p>Computer-aided assessment is great for formative assessment.</p>
<p>Students can try randomised questions over and over until they're happy.</p>
<div class="fragment">
<p>Summative assessment can pose problems:</p>
<ul>
<li>How to prevent cheating?</li>
<li>Can you ask sufficiently challenging questions?</li>
</ul>
</div><hr/>
</section><section class="section2"><h2>Applications of Numbas</h2>
<p>At Newcastle, we use Numbas for:</p>
<ul>
<li>Formative use in a pre-entry course.</li>
<li>Diagnostic tests in week 1.</li>
<li>Banks of practice material to supplement lecture material.</li>
<li>In-course assessment.</li>
<li>Some final exams.</li>
</ul>
<hr/>
</section><section class="section2"><h2>Subjects using Numbas</h2>
<ul>
<li>Mathematics and statistics</li>
<li>Physics</li>
<li>Engineering</li>
<li>Chemistry</li>
<li>Business studies</li>
<li>Psychology</li>
<li>Biomedical science</li>
<li>Sports science</li>
<li>... and more</li>
</ul>
<hr/>
</section><section class="section2"><h2>Outside of Newcastle</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>1,200+</strong> institutions in the UK and around the world.</li>
<li><strong>5,600+</strong> users registered on public editor.</li>
<li><strong>9,000+</strong> questions and exams released for free reuse under an open access licence.</li>
</ul>
<p>(as of February 2021, <a href="https://numbas.mathcentre.ac.uk/stats/">as far as we can tell</a>)</p>
<hr/>
</section><section class="section2"><h2>The mathcentre editor</h2>
<ul>
<li>Open to everyone.</li>
<li>Collect ready-made questions into a custom test</li>
<li>Or write your own.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="http://numbas.mathcentre.ac.uk">numbas.mathcentre.ac.uk</a></p>
</blockquote>
<hr/>
</section><section class="section2"><h2><a href="https://docs.numbas.org.uk">docs.numbas.org.uk</a></h2>
<figure class="figure1" data-title="Screenshot of documentation"><img alt="Screenshot of documentation" src="images/0000-documentation.png"/></figure><hr/>
<figure class="figure2" data-title="Planning a question"><img alt="Planning a question" src="images/0001-planning-a-question.png"/></figure><hr/>
<figure class="figure3" data-title="Project"><img alt="Project" src="images/0002-project.png"/></figure><hr/>
<figure class="figure4" data-title="Folders"><img alt="Folders" src="images/0003-folders.png"/></figure><hr/>
<figure class="figure5" data-title="Editing history"><img alt="Editing history" src="images/0004-editing-history.png"/></figure><hr/>
<figure class="figure6" data-title="A variable definition with a good description"><img alt="A variable definition with a good description" src="images/0005-variable-description.png"/></figure><hr/>
<figure class="figure7" data-title="Random person"><img alt="Random person" src="images/0006-random-person.png"/></figure><hr/>
<figure class="figure8" data-title="Worksheet"><img alt="Worksheet" src="images/0007-worksheet.png"/></figure><hr/>
<figure class="figure9" data-title="Extensions"><img alt="Extensions" src="images/0008-extensions.png"/></figure><hr/>
<figure class="figure10" data-title="Custom part types"><img alt="Custom part types" src="images/0009-custom-part-types.png"/></figure><hr/>
</section><section class="section2"><h2>Thanks!</h2>
<p><strong>Website</strong>: <a href="http://www.numbas.org.uk">numbas.org.uk</a></p>
<p><strong>Email:</strong> <a href="mailto:numbas@ncl.ac.uk">numbas@ncl.ac.uk</a></p>
<p><strong>Twitter:</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/NclNumbas">@NclNumbas</a></p>
<p><em>Source code</em>: <a href="http://github.com/numbas">github.com/numbas</a></p>
</section>