Training Interface for PROMATH application

Author: Odile Bénassy
 

2 frames

ON THE LEFT
(3/4)
Everything happens there.
Instructions for items are printed there.
The trainees are asked to provide short answers at some places inside or at the end of the printed text.
Messages in reaction to trainee's answer are printed there.
All in xml.

ON THE RIGHT
(1/4)
I would like PROMATH software to be a math tutorial. Neither a typing tutorial nor a window-opening-and-closing tutorial !
So: the simpler to use, the better.
Either short answers or simple manipulations.
 
Therefore I propose tools:

  1. button-palette
  2. list-box
  1. Button-palette
    Example of use:
    You are teaching, say, how to derive polynomials and rationals like (x5+19x4-3x-7)/(51x3-133x+4), and your students ignore all of TeX marvels.
    Of course they could use a WYSIWYG editor, but you plan to get them derive about 20 expressions in the session, and you fear it will take some time.
    Then: a button-palette with all the necessary monoms - 1, x, x2, x3, etc...- each represented by one button. That makes a lovely vertical button-palette, with real artistic-looking faces, and will save a lot of time. (I'm afraid your students will actually have to learn how to derive functions). In addition, if you really want to train champions, you will like to add "define-key"s for your buttons.  
     
  2. List-box
    A most simple and useful tool.
    Of course you can make MCQs, if you like.
    But why not get the students to put some words in the right places inside a reasoning ? Then you make a nice list-box with all necessary words like "parallele", "perpendicular", "since", "because", "so that","and", "or",and whatever you need. With one list-box you can create lots of good quizzes.
     
    List-box items could be:
 
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