Assignments

Assignments are used to help the learner to structure the learning process (planning). In such a way, the author can direct the learner in a certain direction or point out specific difficulties. Assignments can also be used to put the simulation in a certain state in order to point the learner to interesting phenomena. SimQuest offers 8 different types of assignments.

Adding assignments

You can create new assignments by following the general steps below:

1.	In the Library window, select an Assignment.

2.	Drag the assignment from the Library window and drop it into the Application window.

Copying assignments

Once you have dragged an assignment into you application, you may want to make one or more copies of it.

You can do this as follows:

1.	Right click on the assignment in the Application window.

2.	Select Copy.

3.	Right click again.

4.	Select Paste. A copy will appear underneath the original assignment, with (copy) behind its original name.

Renaming assignments

To rename an assignment you:

1.	In the Application window, select the assignment.

2.	Click right and choose Rename.

3.	Type the new name.

Click OK.

Different types of assignments

SimQuest has 8 different assignments. In the table below these have been briefly summarized. You can get a more detailed description if you click on the regarding link.

Assignment	Description	Initial conditions	Possible feedback

Do it	A ‘free’ assignment, without any possibility to enter or check answers. Can be used as an introductory assignment of a context.	1	General feedback after closing the assignment
Do them	Identical to Do it, but multiple initial conditions can be set	multiple	General feedback after closing the assignment
Explicitation	Identical to Investigation, but multiple initial conditions can be set	multiple	Per proposition, overall, wrong and right.
Investigation	A multiple choice assignment, more than one correct answer is possible	1	Per proposition, overall1, wrong and right.
Open answer	Features a text field where the learner can enter text.	1	General feedback after closing the assignment
Optimisation	The learner has to set particular variables in the interface in a way prescribed in this assignment. For instance: ‘Set the velocity of the car is such a way that it will cover 12 meters in 3 seconds’, ‘Check your answer by clicking on the ‘Start’ button’. It is possible to ask the learner to set more than one variable. The correct answers can be given within prescribed margins.	1	Per variable you can set a feedback for a ‘wrong’ answer, plus you can give overall and ‘right’ feedback.
Specification	Identical to ‘Static specification’, but for dynamic models.	1	Just overall right and wrong
Static specification	Assignment where the learner must enter the answer (a number) in a seperate field. Only for static models!	1	Just overall right and wrong

Different types of answers

There are five possible answers that SimQuest can ask from the learner. These are:

1.	One or more multiple choice answers: the learner selects one of the given options. Feedback can be given per option and also a general feedback can be given. This type of answer is requested in ‘Investigation and Explicitation assignments.

2.	One or more numbers: the learner is ask to enter a simulation result or predicted value in a text box. General feedback for a right and a wrong answer can be given. This type of answer is requested in a Specification and a Static Specification.

A particular state of the simulation: the learner has to make sure the simulation reaches a certain state or combination of variable-values and SimQuest checks the answer. Feedback can be given per variable, and general right and wrong feedback can be added as well. This type of answer is requested in an Optimisation assignment.

The last two types of answers cannot and do not need to be specified by the author:

4.	A typed explanation (text): SimQuest does not check the answer for you, but it is possible to log these answers and to give a general feedback after the learner has closed the assignment. This type of answer is requested in an Open Answer type of assignment.

5.	A particular action: Do It and Do Them assignments do not ask the learner to enter or select any answers, and therefore none need to be set.