Random assignment

Random assignment is an attempt to handle larger classes of students. For this purpose, we generate a series of html (txt, pdf, ...) files with the same structure but different numbers. In addition, we generate corresponding files with hints to solutions for teachers.

Basic functionality of the module

If there are more files than students, each student will get a different assignment. If there are more students than assignments, then some students will get the same assignment.

Students

• Each student gets one file randomly.
• If the file has extension htm, html, or txt, it will be shown directly at the assignment page. Otherwise, only a link to file will be shown.

Teachers

• Teacher specifies one or more files for assignments and (optionally) solution files with the same names
• In the assignment feedback page, teacher sees the assignment file and optionally the solution file as well. However, assignments are assigned to students (and teacher sees links to them) only after they see them for the first time.

Installation Moodle 2.3-2.4

• Copy directory random/ to moodle/mod/assign/submission/.
• If needed, add your language. Language files are located in moodle/mod/assign/submission/random/lang
• Hack file mod/assign/renderer.php: add code from random/renderer_hack/renderer.include.php before the return statement of the function render_assign_header. The detailed procedure is as follows:
  • backup mod/assign/renderer.php to mod/assign/renderer.orig.php
  • find last line of the function render_assign_header in mod/assign/renderer.php and add file random/renderer_hack/renderer.include.php before it
  • the difference between modified and original file must be the same as between random/renderer_hack/renderer.php and random/renderer_hack/renderer.orig.php
  • if your Moodle is updated, check if file mod/assign/renderer.php was not modified. If yes, repeat the previous steps

Installation Moodle 2.0-2.2

• Copy directory random/ to moodle/mod/assignment/type/.
• If needed, add your language. Language files are located in moodle/mod/assignment/type/random/lang
• If upgrade from Moodle 1.9 will be performed, replace the file assignment/db/upgrade.php by the provided one.

Creation of an assignment

• Create activity: Assignment: random assignment and specify files for assignments and solutions.

Credits

The activity has been designed and built with the contributions of the following people:

• Lubos Cirka - Slovak Technical University in Bratislava > development
• Miroslav Fikar - Slovak Technical University in Bratislava > design concept

Issues

• Not known at the moment.