Proof Blocks: Autogradable Scaffolding Activities for Learning to Write Proofs
This tool addresses the problem of providing scalable, automated assessment for proof-writing in education, though it is incremental as it builds on existing autogradable activity concepts.
The paper tackles the challenge of teaching students to write proofs by introducing Proof Blocks, a software tool that allows students to assemble proofs from prewritten lines and receive automatic grading, resulting in rapid feedback and improved learning autonomy.
Proof Blocks is a software tool which enables students to write proofs by dragging and dropping prewritten proof lines into the correct order. These proofs can be graded completely automatically, enabling students to receive rapid feedback on how they are doing with their proofs. When constructing a problem, the instructor specifies the dependency graph of the lines of the proof, so that any correct arrangement of the lines can receive full credit. This innovation can improve assessment tools by increasing the types of questions we can ask students about proofs, and can give greater access to proof knowledge by increasing the amount that students can learn on their own with the help of a computer.