[K12OSN] Re: Software to do X

[Frank Samuelson]

Terrell Prudé, Jr. wrote:

>>
>> 2) "Math-Type" -- I guess this is a program that creates tests for 
>> math teachers.  Are there any test-creation programs available that 
>> work well?  I'm talking printed-out tests, not online or computer 
>> based tests.  (To me, just using OpenOffice seemed to fit the bill, 
>> but apparently the teachers are used to some specialty program 
>> designed for such a thing)
>>
> 
> Yes, there is.  Have you ever considered using LaTeX for this purpose?  
> A friend of mine at the University of Washington converted the entire 
> Math Dept. there over to using LaTeX--remember, these are all ego-maniac 
> Ph. D. professors here--and not only did they convert to using LaTeX, 
> but they now swear by it and won't consider anything that isn't as 
> good.  They use it for everything--exams, worksheets, you name it--even 
> books (some of them have written their own mathematics books).  Before 
> that, they'd used Microsoft Office for this purpose, and their attitude 
> was, "I don't have time to learn any 'new technology'; I have to do my 
> research and teach!  I've got a *job* to do!"

This is very true.
LaTeX and TeX are what real type setters and
mathematicians use to typeset their documents.
It looks much better than anything out of a Microsoft
program.  It's also significantly faster than point'n'click
once you get good at it.  Like w/ all good open source
programs, if you don't know how to do something, the
web is littered w/ documentation.

For those who can't live w/o a GUI, there's lyx.