Month: June 2025

How Online Math Learning with Wiris Transformed UNED

Post author By Aida Alsina
Post date June 25, 2025

Breaking Barriers in Online Math Learning with Wiris

In the ever-evolving landscape of online education, ensuring that mathematical and scientific content is easy to create, share, and evaluate is a challenge.

Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Spain’s leading distance-learning university, recognized this challenge early on. With thousands of students across various disciplines, UNED sought a robust solution to enhance its teaching and evaluation processes, particularly in mathematics and science-related subjects.

To tackle these challenges, UNED turned to online math learning with Wiris, integrating WirisQuizzes and MathType into their educational workflow. Having been a valued client of Wiris for over 15 years of the company’s 25-year journey, UNED has continuously trusted in Wiris’ math solutions to support its evolving digital education needs. We sat down with Mari Carmen García Llamas, a professor in the Economics and Tourism Bachelor’s Degrees, and Raúl Morales Hidalgo, Head of the E-learning Platform at UNED, to understand how these tools transformed their math teaching and assessment methods.

The Challenge: Teaching Math in a Digital Environment

Before implementing Wiris’ solutions, UNED faced significant obstacles in creating and communicating mathematical content effectively in an online setting.

From a technical perspective, their biggest challenge was integrating a math-editing tool into their custom learning platform. Faculty members struggled with writing mathematical formulas in forums, assignments, and quizzes resulting in a poorer learning experience for students.

From a teaching perspective, professors required an intuitive solution to easily insert mathematical expressions into quizzes and ensure smooth interaction with students.

Carmen explains:

“Without a tool to write mathematical symbols, explaining calculations was a big challenge. Whether it was an integral or an algebraic equation, it was always difficult to pinpoint where a student had made an error.”

Additionally, UNED needed an assessment tool that allowed mathematical expressions throughout a quizz, from problem statements to answer options. The absence of such a tool limited quiz and assignment creation.

The Solution: Enhancing Online Math Learning at UNED with Wiris

To overcome these challenges, UNED explored available solutions and found WirisQuizzes and MathType to be the most comprehensive and well-integrated tools for their needs. Their decision to implement Wiris’ solutions was based on several key factors:

Seamless integration with OpenLMS that they use in-house

UNED initially discovered MathType through faculty recommendations and was particularly drawn to its integration with Microsoft Office. However, since they had a custom in-house platform, they needed a solution that could be fully embedded.

Wiris’ technical team collaborated with UNED to integrate MathType and WirisQuizzes into their platform, ensuring a smooth transition and enhanced functionality.

User-friendly for professors and students

With online math learning with Wiris, professors could now write and edit formulas effortlessly across various platforms, including forums, quizzes, and assignments. This eliminated previous barriers in math-based communication between students and teachers.

Carmen highlights the impact:

“We needed a tool that was just as easy to use for the teacher as it was for the student. Wiris makes it possible to create math-rich quizzes where every question is fully customizable.”

Encouraging Active Learning by Breaking Away from Memorization

One of the standout features of WirisQuizzes is its ability to introduce randomized mathematical expressions into quizzes. This ensures that each student receives a unique version of an exercise, discouraging memorization and promoting active learning. This was highlighted by Carmen when she stated:

“WirisQuizzes allows us to create quizzes where every exercise is unique. The level of flexibility it provides is amazing.”

A welcome surprise: the power of WirisQuizzes

While UNED initially focused on MathType, they soon discovered that WirisQuizzes offered additional benefits. As they expanded their digital assessment strategies, WirisQuizzes proved to be an unexpected but valuable tool in enhancing student engagement and practice opportunities.

Raúl shares his excitement:

“When we started making changes to our platform, we were pleasantly surprised by WirisQuizzes. It felt like an unexpected gift, and it has been an incredibly powerful one.”

The Implementation Process: A Collaborative Approach

To successfully integrate online math learning with Wiris into their learning environment, UNED, along with Wiris’ technical team, followed a structured implementation process:

Understanding institutional needs

UNED’s faculty and technical teams worked with Wiris to assess their specific requirements, particularly the need for platform integration and math-based assessments.

Customization and integration

Wiris’ technical experts customized the tools to align with UNED’s platform requirements, ensuring a smooth user experience. Furthermore, the team at Wiris assisted in resolving any doubts as well as providing tips and training on how to use WirisQuizzes efficiently.

Deployment across OpenLMS

The integration was successfully implemented on OpenLMS, allowing professors to seamlessly create and edit formulas within quizzes and discussion forums.

Learning Math Online with Wiris – The Results

Following the implementation of online math learning with Wiris, UNED experienced measurable improvements in teaching efficiency and student engagement:

Greater flexibility for teachers in math-based quiz creation.
Improved student engagement through randomized exercises.
Seamless math communication in forums and assignments.
Quick technical support ensures smooth day-to-day usage.

Carmen notes:

“Wiris allows us to create diverse quizzes with distinct options, making every assessment dynamic and interactive.”

Students also benefit from interactive, dynamic learning experiences, where every exercise is different, allowing them to practice multiple problem variations in a single topic.

Future Plans: Looking Ahead with WirisQuizzes

After experiencing the benefits of WirisQuizzes, UNED is eager to see how the tool evolves and continues to support its online math learning needs. While it is currently used for continuous self-evaluation, faculty members appreciate its capabilities and will continue integrating it into their teaching workflows.

Carmen shares:

“More than one of my colleagues has reached out to me about the potential of Wiris’ solutions. I believe we are only beginning to explore what’s possible.”

Rounding Off: UNED’s Endorsement of Online Math Learning with Wiris

With over 15 years of using Wiris products, UNED strongly endorses WirisQuizzes and MathType for their ease of use, powerful assessment features, and seamless integration.

Raúl emphasizes:

“We have always recommended Wiris. That’s why we’ve been with you for 15 years already.”

Try Wiris for Your Institution

UNED’s success story showcases how online math learning with Wiris can revolutionize digital math education.

If you’re looking to improve math-based assessments in your institution and want a seamless math-writing experience for students and teachers, don’t delay—contact us today.

Request a Demo Today

Uncategorized

AI for Math: The Smart Way to Create Quizzes Faster

Post author By Aida Alsina
Post date June 12, 2025

Creating engaging and varied math quizzes can be a surprisingly time-consuming task. Teachers often face the dreaded blank page, struggling to come up with fresh problems that match different levels, topics, and student needs. But that’s about to change. With AI for math making its way into classrooms, quiz creation just got a powerful upgrade.

Meet LearningLemur: Your AI Question Generator

LearningLemur is an intuitive math platform integrated with Google Classroom that provides customizable quizzes, automatic grading, and personalized feedback, saving educators time and enhancing student learning. Its extensive library of customizable quizzes and exercises fosters engagement and mastery, while detailed analytics help educators track progress and identify areas for improvement. From simplifying assignment creation to delivering instant feedback, LearningLemur transforms classrooms into dynamic and interactive learning spaces, making math more accessible and engaging for all students.

Now, Wiris has introduced a new feature within LearningLemur: a math question generator that understands your needs and generates ready-made quizzes in seconds. It’s designed to address one of the most common pain points for educators: how to start creating math assessments efficiently without sacrificing quality.

Here’s what LearningLemur’s new AI-powered tool offers:

Describe the type of questions you want.
Receive an instant set of customized math problems.
Edit, refine, and assign them directly to your students.

Forget about starting from scratch. This tool helps you work smarter, not harder, all within a platform that is intuitive and easy to navigate, even for teachers with limited tech experience.

How does it work?

Using this tool is simple and straightforward. Teachers input the number of questions, select the question type (e.g., open answer, multiple choice) and finally provide a prompt (e.g., “Make fractions sum problems for students of grade 12. Ask them to be simplified.”).

The AI handles the rest, offering draft content that aligns with your instructions. And because it’s powered by the trusted Wiris correction engine, you maintain full confidence in the mathematical accuracy.

Why This AI Feature Matters for Educators

The LearningLemur AI question generator isn’t just about saving time. It’s designed to help teachers focus on what really matters: pedagogy, clarity, and curriculum alignment. While the AI handles the generation, teachers can shape the output by ensuring pedagogical alignment with curricular goals, adjusting the complexity and style of each question, and refining the language and clarity for the specific group of learners. This tool does not replace your expertise but accelerates your workflow, allowing you to dedicate more time to effective teaching.

Tips for Writing Effective Prompts

Crafting the right prompt is crucial to getting the most out of the LearningLemur AI for math tool. Think of it as briefing a colleague or delegating to a student teacher. Be clear, be specific, and include the following:

Specify the exact math topic you want to assess in your students. For example, indicate whether you want exercises on fractions or polynomials.
Define the educational level or age of your students to tailor the difficulty. Questions should be accessible yet challenging, matching the knowledge and skills of your learners.
Add any constraints. If you have specific requirements, such as simplifying answers or using decimals only, be sure to include them. This ensures the generated questions meet your pedagogical or exam criteria.
Optionally, use word problems to add context and generate relatable scenarios. Adding context or real-life situations makes problems more engaging and easier to understand for students. For instance, framing a problem in the context of shopping, travel or science helps connect math to everyday life and increases motivation.

Example Prompts

“Create 6 word problems on solving linear equations for Grade 9. Include at least one with negative coefficients and require students to simplify x.”

“Create 10 questions on simplifying algebraic expressions for 11-year-old students. Include at least one question involving the distributive property and another with factoring.”

“Create 5 questions for first-year university math students on calculating the rank of a matrix using elementary row operations.”

Use Cases in the Real Classroom

The LearningLemur math question generator adapts across levels and contexts:

For daily practice, generate variations to reinforce a concept.
For formative assessment, tailor difficulty and format.
For homework, instantly provide differentiated sets by level.
For exam prep, create question banks by topic or skill.

And since you can edit anything, it integrates seamlessly into any teaching style.

Diverse Learning Needs: Easily Tailor Content to Students’ Needs

From the teachers’ perspective, LearningLemur offers great flexibility, as educators with limited time or resources in creating math problems can now generate high-quality content more quickly. These advantages are particularly evident for teachers managing large classes, as they can personalize content while reducing preparation time.

Additionally, LearningLemur enables teachers to address the diverse needs of their students by creating customized quizzes and exercises tailored to different skill levels and learning requirements. Teachers can also assign targeted homework tasks, allowing students to strengthen specific competencies where they may need additional support.

Empowering Teachers Through Intelligent Automation

AI for math isn’t about replacing educators: it’s about empowering them. LearningLemur is a clear example of how AI question generators can reduce friction in the creative process while leaving full pedagogical control in teachers’ hands.

Whether you’re battling writer’s block or trying to generate multiple versions of a quiz quickly, this tool gives you a solid head start.

Try the AI of LearningLemur now

Uncategorized

The Role of Technology in Modern Mathematics Education

Post author By Aida Alsina
Post date June 12, 2025

Technology is no longer a guest in the classroom: it’s become a core part of the educational experience. And in the world of mathematics, it’s proving to be a powerful ally. From interactive whiteboards to adaptive AI systems, technology in math education is reshaping the way students learn and how teachers teach.

But what are the tools driving this transformation? And how can enterprises and institutions make the most of them while navigating the inevitable challenges?

In this article, we break down the evolution of digital learning tools, explore their practical impact, and look ahead to where educational technology trends are taking us.

How Technology Has Evolved Math Education

There was a time when learning math meant pencil, paper, and a lot of chalk. Today, that equation includes dynamic software, mobile apps, and real-time collaboration platforms. Over the years, technology has evolved from a classroom supplement to a strategic cornerstone of math education.

What changed? The tools got smarter, more intuitive, and better aligned with pedagogical goals. Technology in math education now means:

Receiving instant feedback and adaptive assessments.
Engaging in problem-solving through interactive scenarios.
Collaborating beyond borders with cloud-based platforms.
Visualizing abstract concepts through simulations.
Helping students to reduce math anxiety.

Digital tools for math teaching are not only enhancing understanding but also making math more approachable, flexible, and inclusive.

Key Technologies Enhancing Math Learning

From immersive 3D platforms to algebra systems that respond in real time, the toolbox for math educators is broader and more innovative than ever. Let’s look at some of the most impactful digital learning tools reshaping classrooms today.

AI and adaptive learning

Artificial intelligence is reshaping math education by enabling more personalized and adaptive learning experiences. By analyzing individual performance, adaptive systems deliver tailored exercises, offer real-time hints, and adjust difficulty levels on the fly. Many platforms now include AI-driven features to support this responsiveness.

A clear example is MathType handwriting, a tool that uses artificial intelligence to convert handwritten expressions into clean, digital equations ready to be used in your documents. These innovations represent a step forward in simplifying the transition from analog input to digital output and supporting more intuitive interaction with mathematical content in digital learning environments.

Graphing calculators and CAS tools

Graphing calculators and Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) allow students to explore equations, functions, and transformations in real time. These solutions shift the focus from mechanical calculation to analytical insight. A prime example is CalcMe, Wiris’ JavaScript-based CAS, which enables users to perform complex calculations and visualize mathematical concepts interactively across various devices.

Interactive software

Visual and interactive platforms offer higher engagement. Programs like WirisQuizzes and Learning Lemur enable learners to build, manipulate, and visualize mathematical models.

With MathType, creating complex equations becomes intuitive, helping students and teachers focus on the math, not the formatting.

LMS integration

Platforms such as Moodle and Canvas have become exponentially more powerful with integrated digital math tools. Embedding the previously mentioned platforms within these systems turns traditional coursework into interactive, dynamic experiences that meet learners where they are.

Online collaborative platforms

Math isn’t always a solo activity. Digital platforms make it easy for students to co-create solutions, share ideas, and solve real-world problems together, whether in the classroom or worldwide. Working in teams, sharing solutions, and learning from peers isn’t just good practice; it’s real-world preparation.

Challenges on the Digital Road

Of course, no transition comes without friction. Schools and universities face several challenges in adopting digital tools for math teaching:

Access inequality: Not every student has reliable internet or a personal device.
Teacher training gaps: Tools are only as effective as those using them.
Overreliance risk: Tech should enhance, not replace, mathematical reasoning.
Privacy concerns: Data protection must be part of the planning.
Maintenance and cost: Edtech isn’t a one-time purchase; it’s an evolving ecosystem.

These issues are real, but not insurmountable. They call for thoughtful planning, continuous support, and strategic investment.

Smart Implementation: Making the Most of Digital Tools

What does it take to ensure technology truly enhances math education? How can enterprises and institutions deploy digital learning tools effectively while avoiding common pitfalls?

Start with clear goals. Tech without purpose is just noise. Define your outcomes first, then choose solutions that help achieve them.
Empower teachers and invest in training. Teachers need to feel confident, not just compliant, when using digital tools for math teaching.
Ensure access, make inclusion a priority. Equitable access to devices and software should be foundational, not optional.
Blend old and new. Combine traditional instruction with digital methods. Balance is key: let tech support, not replace, core learning.
Safeguard data. Choose platforms with robust privacy protocols. Make sure every tool complies with education data standards.
Encourage exploration. Let students use technology to tinker, test, and create. Math becomes more meaningful when they take ownership of their learning.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next in EdTech for Math?

The pace of innovation is only accelerating. These educational technology trends are already reshaping what’s possible:

Smarter AI: Learning systems that adapt in real time based on student engagement.
Blockchain records: Tamper-proof credentials that simplify academic verification.
Game-based curricula: Turning math practice into immersive, story-driven experiences.
Immersive AR/VR: Math will move off the page and into the student’s physical space, making abstract ideas concrete.
Global classrooms: Seamless, multilingual collaboration across borders.
Modular microlearning: Bite-sized lessons for modern attention spans.
Accessibility: Digital tools are increasingly designed to support learners with disabilities or diverse learning needs, including visual impairments, dyslexia, and motor challenges.

How Wiris Is Leading the Change

At Wiris, we believe technology in math education should empower without overwhelming. That’s why we’ve built solutions that integrate seamlessly into classrooms while amplifying learning outcomes.

WirisQuizzes: create auto-graded, math-rich assessments inside your LMS.
MathType: author complex math expressions with ease, across any device.
Learning Lemur: generate math content and adapt the learning process to individual student needs.
CalcMe: perform complex calculations and visualize mathematical concepts interactively across various devices.

Whether you’re teaching derivatives or designing STEM assessments, Wiris helps educators turn digital potential into real progress.

Final Thoughts

The classroom is changing, students are changing, technology is changing, and math education must evolve to meet the moment.

By thoughtfully and strategically integrating digital learning tools, schools can unlock deeper understanding, greater engagement, and lifelong skills. At Wiris, we’re proud to help educators worldwide navigate this journey.

Ready to bring your math instruction into the future? Discover how Wiris can help you lead the way with cutting-edge educational technology.

Learn More About Wiris Solutions

Uncategorized

How to Calculate the Area Between Two Curves?

Post author By Aida Alsina
Post date June 5, 2025

Step-by-step Solution to an Oxford Access Exam Problem.

The Oxford University access exams are famous for their difficulty and for challenging students with mathematical problems of high complexity. In this article, we will focus on a 2020 exam problem that involves calculating the area between two curves. Through a clear and detailed analysis, we will break down each step necessary to approach and solve this mathematical challenge.

If you are interested, feel free to also visit our other article, “How to solve an equation of degree 16”, where we explore another challenging Oxford exam problem.

The problem statement is as follows:

A line is tangent to the parabola y=x² at the point (a,a²), where a>0.

The area of the region bounded by the parabola, the tangent line, and the x-axis equals

(a) a²⁄₃, (b) 2a²⁄₃, (c) a³⁄₁₂, (d) 5a³⁄₆, (a) a⁴⁄₁₀

This is a classic calculus problem that, as we will see, requires the use of both derivatives and integrals. Don’t worry; we’ll break it down into three clear and simple steps. Let’s get to it!

How to Find the Equation of the Tangent Line?

Before starting with the calculations, let’s visualize the problem. Below, you’ll see a graph illustrating the parabola y=x² and the tangent line at the point (a, a²), where a>0. In this graph, we can see how the tangent line touches the curve of the parabola at a single point without crossing it.

Now, to proceed, we first need to find the equation of the tangent line at that specific point. Since the tangent touches the parabola at point (a, a²), we need to determine both its slope and its equation.

This is where the derivatives come into play. The slope of the tangent at any point on the parabola is given by the derivative of the function y=x². We start by calculating the derivative: dy/dx=2x

This means that the slope of the tangent at any point on the parabola is 2x. To find the slope at the tangent point (a, a²), we substitute in the derivative:

Therefore, the slope of the tangent line at point (a, a²) is 2a.

Now that we have the slope, we can write the equation of the tangent line using the formula for the line in its form:

y – y₀ = m (x – x₀)

Where m is the slope of the line, and (x₀ , y₀) is the point through which the line passes. In our case, the point of tangency is (a, a²), and the slope is 2a, so we substitute these values in the formula for the line:

y – a² = 2a (x-a)

y – a² = 2ax – 2a²

y = 2ax – a²

So, the equation of the tangent line at the point (a, a²) is:

y = 2ax – a²

Find the Intersection Points

Now that we have the equation of the tangent, we need to find the points of intersection between this tangent and the x-axis, that is, when y=0. This will allow us to determine the limits of the region whose area we want to calculate.

The area to be calculated is marked in orange in the graph below.

Substituting y=0 in the tangent equation and solving for x we obtain:

0= 2ax – a²

2ax = a²

x = a/2

So the tangent cuts the x-axis at point

P=(a/2, 0 )

Calculate the Area Between the Parabola, the Tangent and the X-axis

Once we have the equation of the tangent and we know the points of intersection, we can proceed to calculate the area of the region bounded by the parabola, the tangent and the x-axis. For this, we use the definite integral, which allows us to find the area between two curves.

The area we want to calculate is obtained by subtracting two regions. In the first graph, you can see the total region we are interested in. However, part of this area is specifically delimited in the second graph, which we must subtract to be left with only the part we are looking for.

Let us calculate both integrals:

a) Integral of graph 1:

definite integral of x squared from 0 to a. It equals the integral from 0 to a of x squared dx, which is equal to x cubed over 3 evaluated from 0 to a, resulting in a cubed over 3.

b) Integral of graph 2:

Now that we have solved all the integrals, we subtract the results to obtain the total area:

In conclusion, the area of the region bounded by the parabola y = x², the tangent y = 2ax – a² and the x-axis, is:

a sup 3 / 12

Therefore, option c is the correct answer

And so we come to the end of this fascinating problem! If you enjoyed this analysis or found it useful to better understand the solving process, feel free to share it with other math enthusiasts!

Now we challenge you: do you dare to calculate the area formed by the curve y = x³ and its tangent at the point (1,1)? Share your solution or your ideas in the comments. We’d love to hear your approach!

Try WirisQuizzes to generate this exercise or others!