Math Symbols in WebCT Assessments
An overview of WebCT 3.7+, WebEQ, MathType, and Respondus

(Editor's note: Special thanks go to Bill Moss at Clemson University who has provided us — and the entire WebCT community — countless suggestions and advice regarding this topic.)

Introduction
Math and science instructors have been reluctant to fully embrace course management systems such as WebCT because of the difficulty associated with including symbols and equations in online assessments. The primary problem is that standard web browsers, such as Internet Explorer and Netscape, are incapable of displaying common math symbols. To deal with this limitation, instructors resort to turning symbols and equations into image files (e.g., gif) which can then be displayed by browsers. A second approach is to create symbols using a XML-based language called MathML, which then requires a MathML "plug-in" to be installed to a browser to display the symbol. A third approach is made possible through a web-based equation editor called WebEQ. WebEQ creates equations that are based in MathML, but doesn't require the user to manually install a plug-in to the browser. In addition, WebEQ runs alongside the course management system (such as WebCT) so that both instructor and student can insert equations in assessments and course content.

This paper provides an overview of the three methods described above as it relates to the assessment tools in WebCT. Special focus will be placed on WebCT (which includes the WebEQ equation editor) and Respondus, a third-party tool that allows users to create WebCT assessments offline.

Image-based Equations
To turn a math symbol or equation into an image file, instructors have commonly relied on programs like Design Science's "Equation Editor" or the full-featured version of this software called "MathType." Equation Editor has been integrated into several software applications — including Microsoft Word and Respondus — and it provides a basic palette of math symbols. MathType works almost identically to Equation Editor but provides a greater palette of math symbols and features.

Once a symbol or equation has been created using either Equation Editor or MathType, it can be saved to an image file (e.g., gif), added to a web page, and then viewed with a web browser. If an instructor wants to place an equation image within a WebCT assessment, the following steps would be followed:

1. Create the equation in Equation Editor or MathType
2. Save the equation to an image file (e.g., gif)
3. Upload the image to the "My-Files" folder in the WebCT course
4. Go to the quiz editor in WebCT, position the cursor in the question where the equation is to be inserted, and enter an HTML statement such as:
   <img src="/_COURSEID_/filename.gif" >

During the administration of the quiz, the image containing the symbol or equation is displayed to the student.

An obvious disadvantage of this approach is that it becomes tedious if more than a few math symbols are used in an assessment. This approach also requires the user to learn the HTML needed to link the equation image to the appropriate location in the assessment.

Creating Image-based Equations Using Respondus
Respondus is a third-party tool that allows users to create WebCT assessments offline. Respondus has licensed and integrated the Equation Editor by Design Science, so that it is called up when the equation editor button is selected on the Respondus toolbar. To insert an equation in a question, the instructor positions the cursor at the desired location, clicks the equation editor button on the Respondus toolbar, and creates the equation. From the instructor's standpoint, the process is finished as soon as the equation editor is exited because Respondus will automatically upload the equation to WebCT (along with the assessment) and create the requisite link to the equation image.

Respondus also works seamlessly with MathType, the full-featured version of Equation Editor. So if the instructor has MathType installed on his/her computer, it will appear in place of the Equation Editor when launched from within Respondus. A second advantage of using Respondus to create assessments containing equations is that the identical questions can be used for print exams. That is, assessments created in Respondus can be "published" as either WebCT exams or print exams.

Respondus can also be used to retrieve an assessment from WebCT. If the assessment contains equations that are stored as images, Respondus will download the images along with the assessment. It is important to keep in mind, though, that since the equations are images (essentially "pictures" of the equations) there is no way to "edit" the equations once they are downloaded from WebCT to Respondus. Also, printing the equation "picture" will result in much lower quality output since the dots-per-inch are fixed (typically less than 90 dpi). So the best solution is to retain the Respondus file that was used to create the original assessment since equations are always editable in this format and can be printed at high levels of resolution.

MathML Equations A second — albeit less used — method for creating math symbols for WebCT assessments is to use an application like MathType 5 to generate what is known as MathML. MathML is similar to HTML, but requires a browser "plug-in" to be installed so that the equations can be viewed properly. There are several MathML plug-ins available, including the free WebEQ Viewer available from Design Science at http://www.dessci.com/dl/webeq.stm

To place a MathML equation in WebCT, the following steps are followed:

1. Create the equation in a MathML-compatible equation editor
2. Select the option to save (or display) the equation as MathML
3. Copy the block of MathML to the clipboard
4. Go to the quiz editor in WebCT, position the cursor in the question where the equation is to be inserted, and paste the MathML applet.

Instructors should keep several factors in mind when using MathML in WebCT. First, not all equation editors can generate MathML. For instance, MathType 5 can generate MathML but Equation Editor and earlier versions of MathType cannot. Second, there are different variants of MathML. For example, MathType 5 can output five different flavors of MathML (the version that is generally preferred is "MathML 2.0, m namespace"). Third, as noted above, a MathML plug-in must be installed to a browser in order to view MathML equations. Fourth, some MathML plug-ins are only available for certain web browsers and operating systems. So an instructor should carefully consider which plug-in to recommend to students before adding MathML to a WebCT assessment. Fifth, an equation saved as MathML can require 30 or more lines of HTML-like code. So the instructor should take extra care when copying the code from one program to another. The instructor will also have to wade through this code every time he/she wants to edit the question within WebCT.

Creating MathML equations using Respondus
By default, Respondus will store equations created with either the Equation Editor or MathType as image files. As noted above, equation images are automatically uploaded to WebCT when the assessment is published. However, if an instructor uses the latest version of MathType (version 5) in conjunction with Respondus, it is possible to have equations uploaded to WebCT as MathML instead of images. This setting can be determined in Respondus by going to File>Preferences and selecting the option "MathML applet for all equations." When Respondus uploads an assessment to WebCT, all equations will be uploaded as MathML applets.

It is important to note that it is not necessary to specify the format of the equation (i.e., image or MathML) at the time the equation is created in Respondus. Rather, the preference settings in Respondus only affect how the equation will appear when the equation is uploaded to WebCT during the publishing step, and how the equation is previewed in Respondus. Or to put it simply, you can select a different format for equations after they have been created in Respondus.

As mentioned above, Respondus can retrieve assessments from WebCT courses. If the assessment contains MathML equations that were originally created with Respondus (in conjunction with MathType 5), then the equations can be modified (and even printed) once they are downloaded to Respondus. However, if the MathML equations being downloaded were originally created outside of Respondus, were created using an equation editor other than MathType 5, or were created within WebCT using WebEQ, the equations will be downloaded to Respondus as a block of HTML which cannot be modified further using the MathType 5 equation editor. Finally, it should be noted that MathType 5 can generate symbols that are beyond the set of characters that are supported by the MathML language. If a non-supported character is used in an equation — and if you have set your preferences to have equations uploaded as MathML applets — then Respondus will detect and replace the problematic MathML equation with one that is based on an image. The user is informed of this substitution during the upload process from Respondus to WebCT.

WebEQ Equations
WebCT 3.7 (and higher) includes the web-based equation editor from Design Science called WebEQ. WebEQ makes it possible for an instructor to create equations within the assessment module of WebCT and for students to provide answers in an exam that contain equations.

The implementation of WebEQ in WebCT allows instructors to insert equations in the "question wording" of a quiz question and in the "pre-fill answer box" of an essay question. (As of this writing, the WebEQ equation editor cannot be used to add symbols to answer choices, feedback, or self-tests.)

Placing an equation in the question wording is straightforward. Click the equation editor button, create the equation, and exit the equation editor. A text statement like {Equation:id=1, title=eqn_1} is added to the end of the question wording and will be replaced with the actual equation during the administration of the quiz.

There are several advantages to the WebEQ equation editor in WebCT. First, students aren't required to install a plug-in in order to view the equation during an exam, despite the fact that MathML is being used to display the equations. (This is because WebCT generates HTML to download the proper plug-in "behind the scenes.") Second, students can use the built-in equation editor to formulate answers to paragraph questions (i.e., essays). Third, if an instructor places an equation in the "pre-fill answer box" of an essay question, students can use the equation as the starting point for the answer. This is a time-saving method that allows an instructor to create most of an equation in advance, so that students can focus on just those parts of the equation that are relevant to answering the question.

There are a few disadvantages to the built-in equation editor in WebCT. First, as mentioned above, the web-based equation editor can only be used in certain parts of the assessment module. Second, the WebEQ equation editor offers significantly fewer symbols and options than its offline sibling, MathType (again, both products are from Design Science). Third, WebEQ equations don't always appear as sharp as gif equations that can be created in other applications. Fourth, the editing and display of equations can be slow and clunky at times, particularly if the user doesn't download and install the optional WebEQ Viewer plug-in that is available from Design Science (see http://www.dessci.com/dl/webeq.stm).

Creating WebEQ Equations using Respondus
As noted above, the default setting in Respondus is to upload equations as image files. A second option is to have equations uploaded to WebCT as MathML (also discussed above). Yet a third option is to have equations uploaded so that they can be used with WebCT's built-in equation editor (WebEQ).

Since WebCT's built-in equation editor cannot be used in all areas of assessments (such as answer choices, feedback, and self-tests), Respondus offers a hybrid approach to address this issue. (Before continuing, it's important to note that the following discussion is only applicable to Respondus users who also use MathType 5 — that is, the Equation Editor that comes with Respondus and older versions of MathType do not support this hybrid approach.) If the WebEQ setting is selected in Respondus (by going to File>Preferences), one must additionally decide the format to be used (images or MathML) for equations that are uploaded to areas not supported by WebEQ. Respondus offers both a "WebEQ+Image" setting and a "WebEQ+MathML" option. During the publishing of the assessment, Respondus will detect which areas of WebCT are unsupported by WebEQ and will upload equations to those areas as either images or MathML (depending on which option was selected in Preferences).

It's worth stating again that it's unnecessary to specify the format of the equation (i.e., image, MathML, WebEQ hybrid) prior to creating the equation in Respondus. Rather, the preference settings in Respondus only affect how the equation will be uploaded to WebCT in the publishing step, and how the equation will be previewed in Respondus.

Finally, if Respondus is used to retrieve an assessment from WebCT that contains WebEQ equations, the equations will be downloaded to Respondus as a block of HTML which cannot be modified further using MathType 5 or other equation editors. In addition, such equations cannot be printed from Respondus because there is currently no way to convert the WebEQ equations to a format that can be used in printing. As noted above, the best practice is to retain the Respondus file that was used to create the original assessment since equations are always editable in this form and can be printed at high levels of resolution.

Source: Respondus, Inc. (www.respondus.com)
Originally Published: April 18, 2002
Revised: January 29, 2003

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