Automated problem generation in Learning Management Systems: a tutorial

The benefits of solving problems have been widely acknowledged by literature. Its implementation in e–learning platforms can make easier its management and the learning process itself. However, its implementation can also become a very time– consuming task, particularly when the number of problems to generate is high. In this tutorial we describe a methodology that we have developed aiming to alleviate the workload of producing a great deal of problems in Moodle for an undergraduate business course. This methodology follows a six-step process: exercise design, data generation, exercise computations, design of interpretation rules, wording generation and generation of cloze questions. It allows evaluating student’s skills in problem solving, minimizes plagiarism behaviors and provides immediate feedback to students (thus improving their results). Additionally, it also reduces the workload of teachers in large groups and helps evaluating the student's learning more objectively. We have designed this methodology based upon our experience in Economics curricula, where we have applied it at undergraduate and graduate courses. However, we consider that it can be applied with minor modifications in a very wide range of college courses and e–learning platforms. We expect that that this tutorial encourage other educators and educational developers to apply our six steps process, thus benefiting themselves and their students of its advantages.