Numbas

Bill Foster & Christian Perfect, Newcastle University

What is Numbas?

Numbas is an open-source system developed by the e-Learning Unit of Newcastle University's School of Maths and Stats, based on many years of use, experience and research into e-assessment.

It's aimed at numerate disciplines.

Everything runs on the client - no backend server, even for maths.

It creates SCORM-compliant exams which run entirely in the browser, compatible with VLEs such as Blackboard and Moodle.

Current use

All first-year and most second-year maths modules at Newcastle have 4 Numbas tests. Approx. 40,000 sessions expected this year.
Diagnostic and formative use in psychology, business studies, electrical engineering, animal science, and maths support.
Tests and exercises in use at several other UK universities.
Revision material on Newcastle/Birmingham's maths support site.
High schools; professional training; FE colleges.
Dutch, Spanish and Norwegian translations.

Methods of delivery

Stand-alone over the web
DVD, USB key
VLE, e.g. Blackboard or Moodle

Compatible devices

All of them!

Formative vs summative use

Computer-aided assessment is great for formative assessment.

Students can try randomised questions over and over until they're happy.

Summative assessment poses problems:

How to prevent cheating?
Can you ask sufficiently challenging questions?

Open access

Compiled Numbas tests are SCORM packages: they're completely self-contained. Perfect for open access resources.

We want to establish a community of authors and users producing quality open-access material.

The mathcentre editor

Open to everyone.
Over 1,000 questions available to use.
Collect ready-made questions into a custom test, or write your own.

numbas.mathcentre.ac.uk

Survey of Stage 1 students

"There was a strong consensus that the CBAs were easy to use"

"There was a strong consensus that CBAs enhance the understanding of the course."

"The perception of CBAs being, on average, easier than written assignments is not surprising given the focus on 'seen' questions and the extensive practice mode."

Report on the Numbas blog at bit.ly/numbas-survey.

Thanks!

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