AnalyticalInk: An Interactive Learning Environment for Math Word Problem Solving

We present AnalyticalInk, a novel math learning environment prototype that uses a semantic graph as the knowledge representation of algebraic and geometric word problems. The system solves math problems by reasoning upon the semantic graph and automatically generates conceptual and procedural scaffoldings in sequence. We further introduces a step-wise tutoring framework, which can check students' input steps and provide the adaptive scaffolding feedback. Based on the knowledge representation, AnalyticalInk highlights keywords that allow users to further drag them onto the workspace to gather insight into the problem's initial conditions. The system simulates a pen-and-paper environment to let users input both in algebraic and geometric workspaces. We conducted an usability evaluation to measure the effectiveness of AnalyticalInk. We found that keyword highlighting and dragging is useful and effective toward math problem solving. Answer checking in the tutoring component is useful. In general, our prototype shows the promise in helping users to understand geometrical concepts and master algebraic procedures under the problem solving.