Circuit theory e-assessment realized in an open-source learning environment

Abstract

This study discusses university-level e-education on circuit theory. Automatic assessment activities were realized in the learning environment Moodle with symbolic math enhancement plugin STACK. With a comprehensive set of self-study e-assignments, the desired outcome was to help the students to improve their conceptual understanding. Here, the instructional approach is to assign take-home e-activities during the course. The rationale for such approach is to guide the student to prepare themselves for the final exam. This study discusses the learning results in comparison with the traditional paper-assessments conducted in the previous year. E-activities can improve learning, but a lot of attention must be paid to two issues: realizing the activities and accompanying students' varying learning skills. Moreover, the structure of a circuit theory e-quiz differs from a typical mathematics quiz, which is also discussed here.