Dr. Math at CWAC

Phase 1: Launching service, evolving standards for quality
(November 1994 - December 1995)

Original Announcement posted to discussion groups
Used a simple email-based system - everyone saw everything
What kind of service do we want to be? Homework help? Reference service? Interactive tutoring?
What distinguishes a helpful answer from a bad one?
Will we try to answer all the questions we get? If not, which ones will we choose?
Some examples:
1 and 0
Pi, Irrational Numbers, Purpose of Zero
3rd Grade addition problem
Adding pets
Solving problems the hard way
Circle Chords
Lines determined by 5 points

Phase 2: Building archive, incorporating outside volunteers, implementing standards
(January 1996 - March 1997)

We shift the focus to the building of a resource of previously answered questions.
We start involving volunteers from outside the Swarthmore Community.
We build a software package that manages the flow of questions and answers and assists in the archiving process.
We develop a system for mentoring new volunteers.
Sydney Foster builds a guide to writing answers
Some examples:
Zero as an Exponent
Planes and Lines
Circumference of a Circle, Value of 5!
Why do the angles of a triangle add to 180 degrees?
4th Grade Estimation Problems
Equations for Lines

Phase 3: Adding value to archive, planning for future
(April 1997 - present)