Educators and institutions are constantly seeking innovative solutions to make STEM assessments more…
- Effective – how can we measure a student’s understanding, not just on the surface but truly test their knowledge?
- Scalable – with increasing student numbers and decreasing resources, how can we assess large numbers of students without compromising the quality of the assessment and the learning experience?
- Meaningful – formative assessments, coupled with timely feedback, provide opportunities for students to learn from errors and refine their understanding, making assessment a tool for growth rather than merely evaluation.
STACK is leading the charge in transforming maths and STEM education. As the world’s leading open-source tool for online mathematics assessment, it enables dynamic, personalised learning with instant feedback. At Catalyst, we help institutions harness the full potential of STACK through seamless integration and expert support.
Whether you’re a seasoned STACK user or hearing about it for the first time, we can show you how STACK can elevate STEM learning for your students and simplify assessment processes for your team.
What is STACK?
STACK is a powerful tool designed to bring maths and STEM assessments into the digital age. It stands for System for Teaching and Assessment using a Computer Algebra Kernel. It is a mature, highly specialised system for maths education. At its core is the Maxima Computer Algebra System, which has been under development for over 30 years. This robust backend enables STACK to handle a wide range of mathematical problems, from basic arithmetic to advanced calculus and linear algebra.
STACK supports:
- Dynamic, randomised questions that foster personalised learning and uphold academic integrity.
- Sophisticated answer evaluation powered by the Maxima Computer Algebra System (CAS), ensuring precision and reliability.
- Scalable solutions for institutions of all sizes, from individual educators to large universities.
STACK is available as a plugin for Moodle LMS. However, it also integrates with other platforms such as Blackboard, Canvas, and Brightspace via LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability). This flexibility allows STACK to synchronise grades with your LMS’s gradebook, regardless of your chosen platform.
Trusted by globally recognised institutions such as the University of Edinburgh and the UK Open University, STACK has become a cornerstone of modern STEM education.
Key Features of STACK
Dynamic Question Variations
STACK can generate numerous variations of a single question, ensuring each student encounters a unique problem. For instance, a simple multiplication question could range from basic times tables to more complex computations. This feature minimises the likelihood of students seeing the same question twice, making STACK suitable for both formative and summative assessments.
Advanced Feedback Mechanisms
STACK provides immediate, tailored feedback based on students’ answers. For example, if a student multiplies instead of dividing, the system can detect this and provide specific guidance. Teachers can also customise feedback to address common errors, helping students learn from their mistakes.
Support for Complex Calculations
Thanks to its Maxima backend, STACK can handle virtually any type of calculation, including:
- Calculus
- Linear algebra
- Differential equations
- Symbolic computation
This capability makes STACK invaluable for teaching advanced mathematical concepts.
User-Centric Design
STACK was designed with both teachers and students in mind. Key features include:
- Multi-part questions
- Step-by-step reasoning
- Support for scientific units
- Free-text fields for students to explain their thinking
Teachers can review students’ reasoning alongside their answers, gaining insights into their thought processes.
Customisability
STACK includes tools like the JSXGraph library, allowing teachers to create interactive, graph-based questions. Students can input values by dragging points on a graph or drawing shapes, with each attempt presenting a new randomised version of the question.
Why Choose STACK?
Benefits for Teachers
Experienced teachers’ time is a precious resource. STACK reduces the time spent on marking by automating feedback and grading, freeing teachers to focus on planning lessons and providing personalised support. Additionally, STACK’s randomisation and feedback capabilities improve the quality of assessments.
Benefits for Students
Students generally prefer “low-stakes” quizzes to high-stakes exams. STACK offers a safe environment for students to practice, make mistakes, and learn without fear of judgment. Dynamic question generation prevents repetition, keeping quizzes engaging and challenging.
Improved Academic Integrity
STACK enhances academic integrity through randomised questions and secure backend processing. Correct answers remain hidden from the browser, reducing opportunities for cheating. Even when students take quizzes simultaneously, they encounter unique variations of each question.
Immediate Feedback
Real-time feedback helps students identify and correct mistakes instantly. This stands in contrast to the delays inherent in hand-marked assessments, which can take days to complete.
Infrastructure and Support
Implementing STACK requires hosting a Maxima backend, Catalyst offers:
Infrastructure Simplified:
STACK requires a robust backend system to run effectively. Our hosting solution handles upgrades, maintenance, and support. Removing the technical complexities and ensuring smooth performance at scale.
Empowering Educators:
Creating STACK questions requires familiarity with Maxima CAS and LaTeX. That’s why we provide training, resources, and tools like the STACK UI plugin, which simplifies question creation by hiding rarely used fields and adding intuitive features.
Conclusion
STACK is the most powerful maths question type available, offering unparalleled flexibility, automation, and customisation. Whether you’re teaching basic algebra or advanced calculus, STACK enables you to create dynamic, engaging assessments that save time and enhance learning. With Catalyst as your partner, you’ll have everything you need to implement STACK successfully, from expert hosting and technical support to training and consultancy.
Ready to transform STEM assessment at your institution? Discover how STACK can streamline your assessment process and enhance learning outcomes.
Book a free demo to see STACK in action! Our experts will guide you through its features and show how it can work for your institution.
With Catalyst, you have the freedom to innovate.
