CAPA, an integrated Computer Assisted Personalized Approach for assignments,
quizzes and examinations, D.J.Morrissey
With Prof. E. Kashy (MSU, Physics Dept.), Issac Tsai (MSU, Computer Science),
and Ms. Sherry Wolfe, we have developed a computer based system to create
personalized homework problem sets for students. This computer based system,
called CAPA
, was initially created through a collaborative effort of people in the
Physics, Computer Science and Chemistry Departments here at Michigan State
Univeristy. CAPA
can create personalized, that is, individual numerical and multiple-choice
problem sets that are distributed to the students. The computer generation
of individual numerical problems for students is not new, for example, it
has a long tradition in the MSU Chemistry Department (R.H. Schwendeman,
J. Chem. Educ.45, 665-668 (1968)). The new system uses the InterNet
information superhighway to allow the students to test their answers and correct
any mistakes in their homework before it is `collected'.
We first applied the CAPA system (originally tested in a small nonscience
physics course) to a chemistry course three years ago in Chemistry 152
Principles of Chemistry, the second semester of freshman chemistry for
science and engineering students. The course material included a review of
stoichiometry, an introduction to chemical kinetics, thermodynamics and equilibrium.
The enrollment was approximately 250 students, and was the largest number
of students up to that time to use CAPA. Beginning in the Fall/94
semester, CAPA was used in Chemistry 141 General Chemistry
by approximately 1800 students (with Profs. Babcock, Galloway, and Kenney),
and at the same time in Biochemistry 461 Biochemistry I by approximately
360 students (by Prof. J.T. Watson). The CAPA system is being used
in Chemistry and Physics Departments in about six other major universities.
References
- CAPA -- An Integrated Computer-Assisted Personal Assignment System,
E. Kashy, B.M. Sherrill, I. Tsai, D. Thaler, D. Weinshank, M. Engelmann,
and D.J. Morrissey, Amer. J. Phys.61, 1124 (1993).
Manuscript
(PostScript, 290K)
- Using Computer-Assisted Personalized Assignments in Freshman Chemistry
, D.J. Morrissey, E. Kashy, and I. Tsai, J. Chem. Ed. 72, 141 (1995).
Manuscript
(PostScript, 368K)
- An Introduction to CAPA, A Versatile Tool for Science Education
, E. Kashy, D.J. Morrissey, Y. Tsai and S.L. Wolfe, MSU-NSCL Report 971
, May, 1995.
Manuscript
(PostScript, 1585K)
- Conceptual Questions in Computer-Assisted AssignmentsE. Kashy,
S.J. Gaff, N.H. Pawley, W.L. Stretch, W.L. Wolfe, D.J. Morrissey, and Y.
Tsai, Amer. J. Phys., 63, 1000 (1995).
Manuscript
(PostScript, 659K)
Examples of CAPA Assignments
- CAPA Sampler Two pages with a variety of problems.
Assignment
(PostScript, 203K)
- Chemistry 141 Fall/94 Problem Set 1.
Assignment
(PostScript, 51K)
Options
djm - last update:
03-Jan-2005