Individualized Biology Homework within an Open Source Distributed Learning Content Management and Assessment System

John Merrill*, Joyce Parker, Merle Heidemann, Jim Smith
*Biological Sciences Program, 100 North Kedzie Lab, Michigan State
University, East Lansing MI 48824 USA

Biology Leadership Conference, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; 26-28 Mar 2004.

We have developed a large library of online homework problem sets for use in teaching introductory biology. The materials are implemented in the LON-CAPA system (LearningOnline Network with a Computer Assisted Personalized Approach), a freely available, and free (GNU General Public License) integrated system for online learning and assessment.

Of particular interest should be the powerful variety of possible question formats and the ability to individualize problems so that each student receives a unique version of the homework assignment. If properly constructed, individualized problems can be the stimulus for significant collaborative learning. Immediate computer scoring provides prompt feedback for students and instructors, as well as statistical information on performance and on effectiveness of materials. Discussion pages attached to every homework assignment encourage communication among students and faculty.

This system allows the implementation of homework in large enrollment courses (300-600 per section), where previously the magnitude of the effort required for grading prohibited the use of homework as a learning tool.

Most recently we have been developing problem sets to complement laboratory exercises, in the hope of reducing teaching assistant or other staff time spent on grading pre-lab and post-lab exercises. Our library is available to other institutions via the built-in sharing capability of the LON-CAPA system.