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Using MathML in Blackboard/WebCT

Using MathML in Blackboard/WebCT. Bob Mathews Director of Training Design Science, Inc. bobm@dessci.com. Why MathML?. Accessibility Ease of re-use Re-size math with browser text re-size (but not via the Equation Editor) Better resolution than images Can copy from other sources

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Using MathML in Blackboard/WebCT

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  1. Using MathML in Blackboard/WebCT Bob Mathews Director of Training Design Science, Inc. bobm@dessci.com

  2. Why MathML? • Accessibility • Ease of re-use • Re-size math with browser text re-size (but not via the Equation Editor) • Better resolution than images • Can copy from other sources • existing documents • web pages

  3. Entering MathML directly • Blackboard offers the MathML Editor. • IE-Win: • Others: • WebCT requires a work-around.

  4. Quirks: Blackboard • Doesn’t allow whitespace in the code. • <math> <mi> x </mi> <mo> = </mo> <mfrac><mn>1</mn><mn>2</mn></mfrac></math>

  5. Quirks: Blackboard • Doesn’t allow whitespace in the code. • Doesn’t allow spaces at all – hence no attributes: • <math><mi>x</mi><mo>=</mo><mstyle mathcolor=“red”> <mfrac><mn>1</mn><mn>2</mn></mfrac></mstyle></math>

  6. Quirks: Blackboard • Doesn’t allow whitespace in the code. • Doesn’t allow spaces at all – hence no attributes. • Be careful copying & pasting from other apps (MathType, WebEQ, etc.) <math display='block'> <semantics> <mrow> <mi>x</mi><mo>=</mo><mfrac> <mn>1</mn> <mn>2</mn> </mfrac> </mrow> <annotation encoding='MathType-MTEF'> </annotation> </semantics> </math> <m:math> <m:semantics> <m:mrow> <m:mi>x</m:mi><m:mo>=</m:mo><m:mfrac> <m:mn>1</m:mn> <m:mn>2</m:mn> </m:mfrac> </m:mrow> </m:semantics> </m:math>

  7. Only these are okay Quirks: Blackboard • Doesn’t allow whitespace in the code. • Doesn’t allow spaces at all – hence no attributes. • Be careful copying & pasting from other apps (MathType, WebEQ, etc.) • Choice of MathType translator options

  8. Quirks: WebCT • Biggest quirk is that WebCT requires a work-around. • No easy way to insert a formula into an answer slot. • It is possible to insert images, but it’s not easy. • It’s also possible to insert MathML, and that’s a little easier, but still quirky. Activates Equation Editor

  9. MathML in WebCT • Must be entered via an applet tag: <applet name="0" code="webeq.Main" codebase="" archive="/webct/jar/WebEQ2Applet.jar" height=XX width=XX align=middle > <param name=color value="#FFFFFF" > <param name=size value="18" > <param name=controls value="false" > <param name=eq value="[MathML goes here]" > <param name=parser value="mathml" > <param name=title value="[Give equation a unique name]" > </applet> Different rules than Blackboard

  10. MathML in WebCT • Must be entered via an applet tag. • It’s a good idea to save this code to a file on your hard drive.

  11. Another way… • MathPage • Word + MathType • Only works for course documents, assignments, etc. • IOW, not for assessments, e-mail, etc.

  12. Another way… • MathPage • Click the “Export to MathPage” icon: • Fill in the dialog: • Title • File name • Math “target”: • XHTML + MathML • MathPlayer (IE Behavior) • Multi-browser (UMSS) • Click OK

  13. Another way… • MathPage • Click the “Export to MathPage” icon: • Fill in the dialog. • Zip & upload the files. • Full instructions in our tutorials: • Using MathType with Blackboard:http://www.dessci.com/en/support/tutorials/mt_bb/tutorial.htm • Using MathType with WebCT:http://www.dessci.com/en/support/tutorials/mt_webct/tutorial.htm

  14. Sing it up… • Easier for you to use IE (student browser doesn’t matter, as long as it’s Java-capable). • Know the quirks. • Blackboard includes a MathML editor. • WebCT requires using an applet tag. • Both allow uploading a MathPage. • See the tutorials on our web site.

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