LeActiveMath

LeActiveMath is European Union’s project under the 6th Framework program [1]. It was designed to develop an innovative web-based, intelligent, multi-lingual e-learning system for mathematics that will be used in high school and college or university level classrooms as well as for self-study. This system uses cutting edge technologies and combines the technologies and opportunities of the Web with intelligent tutoring techniques and language technology.
 * Report on LeActiveMath Project **
 * 1) ** Introduction **

The LeActiveMath project was designed to develop intelligent web based learning system for mathematics. The project produced e-learning course materials that will be used by universities to teach maths for first year studetns. The course can be also used for engineering students. The result of the project also creates a research are for researchers who are working for advancement of educational technology. The project has the following aims: 
 * 2. Summary of the LeActiveMath  **** project **
 * 3. Main aims and objectives of the project **
 * To develop adaptive learning system to the individual learners’ needs
 *  To develop a system that supports active and exploratory learning system
 *  To implement semantic learning object and knowledge representation in the learning system design
 *  To translate pedagogical and cognitive research results in practical applications
 *  To implement truly student-centered learning system
 *  develop new concepts in the design of course materials
 * 4. Short presentation of the work **

LeActiveMath system is developed based on cutting edge technologies. Its semantic content encoding uses and extends existing standards (such as OpenMath, IEEE LOM, Maths QTI). The main highlights of the system components are [2]

== 4.1 System Architecture == > Generally LeActiveMath system is designed to adapt to the learners capability and interest >  >   > The following Figure shows the system architecture of the LeActiveMath learning system
 * 1) Front End – This gives an interface for students to interact with the system. Students can work with system from school as well as from their home. It also supports collaborative works with the classmates. The front end is directly connected to the Presentation System and Dictionary, which allow for the display of complex math formula.
 * 2) Content Manager - This component allows for seamless interactions with a wide variety of objects a learner might need to work with. An element might be a definition, a proof, a mathematical formula, or an organized collection of these that form a lesson plan (a book).
 * 3) Tutorial Component – The tutorial component is used to elicit student performance. It access two resources: the content which contains the problems and the leaner model which knows the capability of the learner who currently interact with the system. The system automatically generate exercises that suits to the learner. This implies that the exercise is not too difficult or too easy.
 * 4) Natural Language Dialogue Manager – when the learner fails to complete the exercise, the system assists the learner by providing appropriate guidance and suggestions. Natural language allows the learner to type in questions in regular language as well as mathematical formulas, and have the computer generate language-based responses and explanations based on reasoning automatically about the correctness or incorrectness of the learner's statements.
 * 5) Learner Model - The learner model contains information about the learner's past progress during problems as well as an estimate of their current abilities at tackling a wide array of types of math problems. The learner model is initially created from either a sample test or a self-assessment, and subsequent attempts at solving problems are then used to modify relevant areas of the learner model by analyzing their performance.
 * 6) Assembling Tool - This tool allows the learner to 'bookmark' those items that were most helpful or interesting during the lesson interaction, allowing them to create a personalized 'book' containing the most interesting things they have learned. The learner can then reuse this individualized information in the future.
 * 7) Concept Map Tool - This component allows the learner to visualize relationships between concepts that are not immediately obvious through the lessons themselves.
 * 8) Siette Assessment Tool - Siette is a web-based tool for dynamically creating tests to assess the learner's performance. It adaptively poses problems to the learner, allowing for a more accurate assessment of their capability for problem solving.

** The Pedagogical used to develop the system are:
 * 4.2  Pedagogical background
 * moderate constructivist course
 * problem-based learning support
 * to model pedagogical knowledge
 * to model competency-level pedagogy.

** 5. System Use ** Learners who are interested to learn maths in LeActive, they can login to the main page by the following address: http://leam-calculus.activemath.org/ActiveMath2/main/menu.cmd After they open the main page, they get two books In the prerecorded books, they learn what is presented by the Learning system designers. The learning path is also predefined. But learners are expected to follow those predefined content and paths.
 * 5.1 **** Learners Interactions **
 * 1) pre-recorded books
 * 2) personalized books
 * Prerecorded Books **

If the learners select Complete Content of LeAM_calculus, they will get the following window. The topics are listed on the left frame, and the definition and detailed explanations are shown on the right frame. They click on the right green arrow button in upper right corner of the screen to the next page until they finish the entire lesson on the topic. In the personalized option, learners can create their own learning environment. They have the options to select what they want to learn. Learners must first create an account by clicking on **New Registration** button in the Login window to use the **Personal Books**. The system has also a search engine so that learners can pick any topic they want to learn in stead of going through sequential path designed in the prerecorded navigation button.
 * Personal Books **
 * Search Engine **

This is the screen shot for the search result Learners can create their own book to make the system adaptive to their particular learning needs. They customize the following four elements:
 * 5.1 **** Learners Adaptation **
 * 1) Area – they define there area of interest such as differential calculus
 * 2) Type - Here learners ** select the type of book ** they want ActiveMath will create for them. Whether you want to prepare for an exam or discover a topic in depth. They will select the type of book from the list that best suits their needs.
 * 3) Topic – the will select the topic they want
 * 4) Summery


 * 6. Concrete Resuts**

The project developed e-learning course materials for mathematics that will be used for first year university students. The main interesting feature of this e-learning material is that it is adaptive to: One can login to the course web site [|http://www.leactivemath.org] and study Mathematics. In addition it creates a research area for researchers who are working in the field of educational technology. It is also interesting resource for teachers who are teaching at university levels. Teachers who teach at highschools can also use this e-learning resource to refresh and upgrade their knowledge.
 * the learner's goals
 * the learning scenario
 * the learner's individual competency-level
 * user preferences


 * 6. Reflection **
 * State of the art**

This technology is new innovation in the learning of mathematics. It allows learners to create their own personalized learning goal and work along the way to achieve their own specific learning goal. The system dynamically gathers information about the learner and gives feedback about the learner’s strength and weakness. Based on the feedback obtained from the system the learners study the suggested module by the system until they become confident in that particular study lesson. Specifically what makes the system is state of the art technology is that
 * It is developed based on the semantic web technology concept.
 * It utilizes the concept of leaning objects
 * It is an open architecture system which can be further upgraded by any one interested to advance the system
 * It creates personalized learning environment
 * It uses semantic knowledge representation concept


 * Practical implications**

This project is really a big contribution to the teaching of Mathematics. Mathematics is one of the challenging courses for many students. It requires students to sit long hour and do boring mathematical calculation to understand mathematical concepts.

One of the big challenges, at present, is to create personalized learning. Such systems facilitate transfer of knowledge from the computer system to the learners. The experience gained from this project can be applied for other subjects to create enjoyable learning environment for future learners.
 * Most interesting**

The most interesting feature of this system is its adaptation feature to each and every learner. The system acts like an expert and provides immediate help to fix learners problem. In the learning process, one important feature is getting feedback. Unless students get feedback on what they have done, they may not develop confidence in the new knowledge they acquired. The concept is interesting and I will use it to when I develop course materials for my students. Besides, I can suggest other teachers to suggest their students to login LeActiveMath website and learn maths as supplementary tutorial to develop their maths knowledge and skill. It is also helpful for mathematics teachers to develop their knowledge and skill in their profession.
 * Using the Project Results**
 * Reference **
 * 1) http://www.leactivemath.org/
 * 2) http://www.leactivemath.org/system-architecture2.html