Welcome to the Room for Improvement
Room for Improvement (RfI) is a learning platform that aims to support new blended learning methods. Its interactive question types are developed with the aim of matching the course content and skills. In our opinion, interactive learning tools should be adapted to the content, not the content/task formats to the available tools due to a limited selection. Especially, we do not want to rely on single/multiple-choice questions during the learning process.
The RfI is currently used in engineering sciences. The core element of the RfI, the Learningflow, alternates short videos and interactive tasks. For the tasks, we mainly use a system in which given mathematical variables can be inserted into gaps. The resulting mathematical expressions are then compared with the correct result on a server using a computer algebra system. In response, the learner is given feedback on their answer. Is the answer correct or incorrect? Answers can be checked for common mistakes and a hint can be sent back. This type of task combines clarity with the learner's need to construct answers himself. Unlike programming tasks or input lines for computer algebra systems, mathematical symbols are used that look like those written on a piece of paper or set in LaTeX. Learners are also deliberately required to construct the answer themselves and not to choose from a list of possible answers, as would be the case with single/multiple-choice questions. With both aspects, we want to bring the task type as close as possible to the skills to be acquired in many engineering subjects.