docs(worksheets): add academic publication plan for 2D difficulty system

Add comprehensive publication strategy for the constrained 2D pedagogical space: **Target Venues:** - ACM Learning @ Scale (primary target, January 2026 WiP submission) - IJAIED (full paper with empirical study, 2027) - LAK Conference (with usage analytics) - ETS Journal (backup venue) **Publication Paths:** 1. Quick Impact (6 months): Blog post + WiP paper 2. Full Research (12-18 months): Teacher study + full paper 3. Open Source (immediate): Community engagement + feedback **What's Included:** - Complete timeline with milestones - Paper structure and writing schedule - Blog post outline and distribution strategy - Success metrics (short/medium/long-term) - Resource requirements (time, cost, skills) - Next steps checklist **Key Features:** - 3 testable hypotheses about constrained progression - Theoretical foundation (ZPD, cognitive load, scaffolding fading) - Novel contribution: 2D difficulty with pedagogical constraints - Working implementation ready for evaluation **Files:** - PUBLICATION_PLAN.md: Complete strategy document (460 lines) - SMART_DIFFICULTY_SPEC.md: Added link to publication plan Linked to implementation (difficultyProfiles.ts, ConfigPanel.tsx) and live demo (https://abaci.one/create/worksheets/addition) for easy context regeneration. This provides a clear path from current implementation to peer-reviewed research publication, with options for different effort levels and timelines. 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
2025-11-07 06:42:27 -06:00
parent 057ff013e3
commit ca8d774370
2 changed files with 509 additions and 0 deletions
--- a/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/addition/PUBLICATION_PLAN.md
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/addition/PUBLICATION_PLAN.md
@@ -0,0 +1,507 @@
+# Publication Plan: Constrained 2D Pedagogical Difficulty System
+
+**Status**: Planning Stage
+**Created**: November 2025
+**Last Updated**: November 2025
+
+## Related Files
+
+- **Implementation**: [difficultyProfiles.ts](./difficultyProfiles.ts) - Core constraint system
+- **UI**: [ConfigPanel.tsx](./components/ConfigPanel.tsx) - Split button interface + debug graph
+- **Specification**: [SMART_DIFFICULTY_SPEC.md](./SMART_DIFFICULTY_SPEC.md) - Complete technical spec
+- **Verification**: [scripts/traceDifficultyPath.ts](../../../../../scripts/traceDifficultyPath.ts) - Path visualization
+- **Live Demo**: https://abaci.one/create/worksheets/addition
+
+## The Innovation
+
+### What We Built
+
+A **constrained 2D pedagogical space** for addition worksheet difficulty that treats difficulty as two independent-but-constrained dimensions:
+
+1. **Challenge Axis** (Regrouping): Problem complexity (0-18 levels)
+2. **Support Axis** (Scaffolding): Visual aids and guidance (0-12 levels)
+3. **Constraint Band**: Diagonal zone of valid (Challenge, Support) pairs
+
+**Key Insight**: Higher challenge requires lower support (and vice versa), encoding pedagogical principles directly into the difficulty space.
+
+### Why This Matters
+
+**Problem with traditional 1D difficulty**:
+
+- Conflates problem complexity with instructional support
+- Can't differentiate "ready for harder problems but still needs visual aids" from "struggling with current level"
+- Forces teachers into one-size-fits-all progression
+
+**Our 2D approach enables**:
+
+- Dimension-specific adjustments (challenge-only, support-only, or both)
+- Pedagogically-valid combinations only (no "hard problems + max scaffolding" or "easy problems + zero support")
+- Precise differentiation for individual student needs
+
+### Theoretical Foundation
+
+- **Zone of Proximal Development** (Vygotsky): Constraint band represents learnable space
+- **Cognitive Load Theory** (Sweller): Balance intrinsic load (challenge) vs extraneous load (from poor scaffolding)
+- **Scaffolding Fading** (Wood, Bruner, Ross): Support should decrease as mastery develops
+
+## Publication Venues (Ranked by Fit)
+
+### 1. ACM Learning @ Scale (L@S) - **BEST FIT**
+
+**Why**: Novel systems for scalable personalized learning
+**Format**:
+
+- Full paper: 10 pages
+- Work-in-Progress: 4 pages (easier entry point)
+
+**Timeline**:
+
+- Conference: June annually
+- Submission: ~January
+- Reviews: March
+- Camera-ready: April
+
+**What they want**:
+
+- Novel educational technology systems
+- Learning theory grounding
+- Evidence of impact (can be preliminary for WiP)
+- Scalability considerations
+
+**URL**: https://learningatscale.acm.org/
+
+**Strategy**: Submit WiP paper January 2026, full paper 2027 (with evaluation data)
+
+### 2. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education (IJAIED)
+
+**Why**: AI-driven adaptive learning systems
+**Format**: Full article (25-40 pages typical)
+**Timeline**: Rolling submissions, 3-6 month review
+**URL**: https://link.springer.com/journal/40593
+
+**What they want**:
+
+- Computational/algorithmic contributions
+- Strong theoretical framework
+- Empirical validation required
+
+**Strategy**: Target after teacher study (2026-2027)
+
+### 3. Learning Analytics & Knowledge (LAK) Conference
+
+**Why**: Data-driven educational design
+**Format**: Full paper (8-10 pages) or short (4 pages)
+**Timeline**: Annual (March), submission ~October
+**URL**: https://www.solaresearch.org/events/lak/
+
+**What they want**:
+
+- Use of learning analytics in design
+- Evidence from usage data
+- Insights from student/teacher behavior
+
+**Strategy**: After collecting usage logs and learning outcome data
+
+### 4. Journal of Educational Technology & Society (ETS)
+
+**Why**: Educational technology innovations
+**Format**: ~20 pages, open access
+**Timeline**: Rolling submissions
+**URL**: https://www.j-ets.net/
+
+**Strategy**: Backup venue if conference submissions don't work
+
+## What We Have vs. What We Need
+
+### ✅ Already Have
+
+1. **Working Implementation**
+   - Core constraint system ([difficultyProfiles.ts](./difficultyProfiles.ts))
+   - Teacher-facing UI with split buttons ([ConfigPanel.tsx](./components/ConfigPanel.tsx))
+   - Debug tools (clickable graph, trace script)
+   - Live at https://abaci.one/create/worksheets/addition
+
+2. **Technical Documentation**
+   - Complete specification ([SMART_DIFFICULTY_SPEC.md](./SMART_DIFFICULTY_SPEC.md))
+   - Algorithm descriptions
+   - Architecture rationale
+
+3. **Theoretical Framework**
+   - ZPD mapping
+   - Cognitive load theory connections
+   - Scaffolding fading principles
+
+### ⏳ Need for Publications
+
+#### For Work-in-Progress Paper (4 pages, Jan 2026):
+
+1. **Design Rationale** (1-2 pages)
+   - Why 2D vs 1D?
+   - How did we derive the constraint band?
+   - What design alternatives did we consider?
+
+2. **Related Work** (1 page)
+   - Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ALEKS, ASSISTments, etc.)
+   - Khan Academy's mastery learning
+   - Adaptive difficulty systems
+   - How is our approach different/better?
+
+3. **Usage Scenarios** (0.5 pages)
+   - Example teacher workflows
+   - Screenshots showing the interface
+   - How teachers would use dimension-specific adjustments
+
+4. **Preliminary Evaluation** (0.5 pages)
+   - Your own testing
+   - Initial teacher feedback (if we can get some)
+   - Identified limitations
+
+#### For Full Research Paper (10 pages, 2027):
+
+1. **Teacher Study** (Required)
+   - 10-15 teachers using the system
+   - Interview data: How did they use it? Was 2D helpful?
+   - Usage logs: Which modes did they use? Navigation patterns?
+   - Comparison group: Teachers using 1D slider version
+
+2. **Student Learning Outcomes** (Ideal)
+   - 40-60 students
+   - Pre/post assessments
+   - Compare: 2D constrained vs 1D slider vs fixed difficulty
+   - Track learning trajectories over 6-8 weeks
+
+3. **Quantitative Analysis**
+   - Statistical significance of learning gains
+   - Teacher satisfaction surveys
+   - Student engagement metrics
+
+## Publication Paths (3 Options)
+
+### Path 1: Quick Impact (6 months) - **RECOMMENDED TO START**
+
+**Timeline**:
+
+- **Now - Dec 2025**: Write blog post + gather initial feedback
+- **Dec 2025 - Jan 2026**: Write 4-page WiP paper
+- **Jan 2026**: Submit to ACM L@S WiP track
+- **Mar 2026**: Reviews back
+- **Jun 2026**: Present at L@S (if accepted)
+
+**Deliverables**:
+
+1. Blog post explaining the system (for teachers/educators)
+2. 4-page WiP paper (academic audience)
+3. Presentation at L@S
+
+**Effort**: ~40 hours writing + travel to conference
+
+**Outcome**:
+
+- Get idea into academic discourse
+- Receive feedback from learning science researchers
+- Build credibility for follow-up work
+
+### Path 2: Full Research Study (12-18 months)
+
+**Timeline**:
+
+- **Nov 2025 - Jan 2026**: IRB approval (if university-affiliated)
+- **Jan - Mar 2026**: Recruit teachers (10-15)
+- **Mar - May 2026**: Teacher study
+  - Give access to system
+  - Weekly check-ins
+  - Usage log collection
+  - End-of-study interviews
+- **Jun - Aug 2026**: Analysis + paper writing
+- **Sep 2026**: Submit to IJAIED or LAK 2027
+- **2027**: Publication
+
+**Deliverables**:
+
+1. IRB protocol + approval
+2. Teacher recruitment materials
+3. Interview protocol
+4. Usage log analysis pipeline
+5. 25-40 page research paper
+
+**Effort**: ~200-300 hours + IRB overhead
+
+**Outcome**:
+
+- Peer-reviewed empirical research paper
+- Strong evidence for effectiveness claims
+- Foundation for future grant proposals
+
+### Path 3: Open Source + Community (Immediate) - **ALSO RECOMMENDED**
+
+**Timeline**:
+
+- **This week**: Write comprehensive blog post
+- **Ongoing**: Share on HN, Teacher Twitter, EdTech Reddit
+- **Ongoing**: Respond to feedback, track usage
+
+**Deliverables**:
+
+1. Blog post (~2000 words)
+   - Problem statement
+   - System design
+   - How to use it
+   - Theoretical grounding
+2. Social media campaign
+3. Outreach to homeschool/teacher communities
+
+**Effort**: ~20 hours initial + ongoing engagement
+
+**Outcome**:
+
+- Organic user base
+- Real-world feedback
+- Potential citations/adoption
+- Informal peer review
+
+## Recommended Strategy
+
+**Do Paths 1 + 3 in parallel**:
+
+1. **This Week** (Path 3):
+   - Write blog post explaining the system
+   - Share widely to get feedback
+   - Start tracking usage/interest
+
+2. **December 2025** (Path 1):
+   - Draft 4-page WiP paper
+   - Include preliminary feedback from blog responses
+   - Submit to L@S in January
+
+3. **Spring 2026** (Path 1):
+   - Present at L@S (if accepted)
+   - Get feedback from researchers
+   - Build network in learning sciences
+
+4. **Summer 2026** (Evaluate):
+   - If system gains users → Path 2 (research study)
+   - If limited adoption → Iterate on design
+   - If strong conference feedback → Target full paper
+
+## How to Execute: WiP Paper (January 2026)
+
+### Paper Structure (4 pages)
+
+**1. Introduction (0.75 pages)**
+
+- Problem: 1D difficulty conflates challenge and support
+- Our solution: Constrained 2D space
+- Contribution: Novel UI paradigm + theoretical framework
+
+**2. Related Work (0.75 pages)**
+
+- Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ALEKS, Carnegie Learning)
+- Adaptive learning platforms (Khan Academy, Duolingo)
+- Difficulty calibration research (IRT, Elo rating)
+- Gap: No systems separate challenge from scaffolding
+
+**3. System Design (1.5 pages)**
+
+- Hybrid discrete/continuous architecture
+- Constraint band derivation
+- Movement modes (both/challenge/support)
+- Split button UI design
+- Screenshot of interface
+
+**4. Theoretical Framework (0.5 pages)**
+
+- ZPD mapping to constraint band
+- Cognitive load theory justification
+- Scaffolding fading principles
+
+**5. Preliminary Evaluation (0.3 pages)**
+
+- Your testing experience
+- Initial teacher feedback (if available)
+- Identified use cases
+
+**6. Discussion & Future Work (0.2 pages)**
+
+- Planned teacher study
+- Potential for other domains
+- Limitations and next steps
+
+### Writing Timeline
+
+**Week 1 (Dec 2-8)**:
+
+- Draft sections 1-2 (intro + related work)
+- Literature search for related systems
+
+**Week 2 (Dec 9-15)**:
+
+- Draft section 3 (system design)
+- Create figures/screenshots
+
+**Week 3 (Dec 16-22)**:
+
+- Draft sections 4-6
+- Get feedback from educator friends
+
+**Week 4 (Dec 23-Jan 5)**:
+
+- Revise based on feedback
+- Polish writing
+- Format for L@S template
+
+**Jan 6-10, 2026**:
+
+- Final read-through
+- Submit to L@S WiP track
+
+## How to Execute: Blog Post (This Week)
+
+### Blog Structure (~2000 words)
+
+**Title**: "Beyond Easy and Hard: A 2D Approach to Worksheet Difficulty"
+
+**1. The Problem** (400 words)
+
+- Teachers need to differentiate instruction
+- Current tools: "easy/medium/hard" or 1-5 sliders
+- Real teaching scenario: Student ready for harder problems but still needs visual aids
+- Can't express this with 1D slider
+
+**2. Our Solution** (600 words)
+
+- Two dimensions: Challenge (problem complexity) vs Support (scaffolding)
+- Constraint band: Not all combinations are pedagogically valid
+- Split button interface: Default (both) or dimension-specific
+- Screenshots showing the UI
+
+**3. Theoretical Grounding** (400 words)
+
+- Why this maps to learning theory (ZPD, cognitive load)
+- How constraints encode teaching expertise
+- Connection to scaffolding fading
+
+**4. How to Use It** (400 words)
+
+- Walkthrough: Creating a worksheet
+- Examples of when to use challenge-only vs support-only
+- Clicking on the 2D graph (debug feature)
+
+**5. Try It Yourself** (200 words)
+
+- Link to live demo
+- Open source code
+- Invitation for feedback
+
+### Distribution Channels
+
+- **Your blog** (if you have one)
+- **Medium** (cross-post for reach)
+- **Hacker News** (Show HN: A 2D difficulty system for math worksheets)
+- **Reddit**: r/teachers, r/homeschool, r/education
+- **Twitter/X**: Thread with screenshots
+- **LinkedIn** (if you're active there)
+
+## Success Metrics
+
+### Short-term (3 months)
+
+- [ ] Blog post published and shared
+- [ ] 50+ teachers try the system
+- [ ] 5+ pieces of detailed feedback
+- [ ] WiP paper submitted to L@S
+
+### Medium-term (1 year)
+
+- [ ] WiP paper accepted and presented
+- [ ] 200+ teachers using the system
+- [ ] Teacher study conducted (if pursuing Path 2)
+- [ ] Full paper submitted to journal/conference
+
+### Long-term (2-3 years)
+
+- [ ] Peer-reviewed research publication
+- [ ] System adopted by curriculum companies
+- [ ] Citations from other researchers
+- [ ] Follow-up studies by other groups
+
+## Resources Needed
+
+### For WiP Paper
+
+- **Time**: ~40 hours writing
+- **Cost**: Conference registration (~$500-800) + travel (~$1000-2000)
+- **Skills**: Academic writing (you + me collaborating)
+
+### For Teacher Study
+
+- **Time**: ~200-300 hours over 6 months
+- **Cost**: Teacher incentives ($50/teacher × 15 = $750)
+- **Skills**: Qualitative research methods
+- **Optional**: IRB approval (if university-affiliated)
+
+### For Blog/Outreach
+
+- **Time**: ~20 hours initial
+- **Cost**: $0 (all free platforms)
+- **Skills**: Technical writing, social media engagement
+
+## Next Steps
+
+**Immediate (This Week)**:
+
+1. [ ] Draft blog post outline
+2. [ ] Take screenshots of the UI in action
+3. [ ] Create 2-3 usage scenarios with example teacher workflows
+
+**December 2025**:
+
+1. [ ] Publish blog post + share widely
+2. [ ] Start WiP paper draft
+3. [ ] Conduct literature review for related work
+
+**January 2026**:
+
+1. [ ] Complete WiP paper
+2. [ ] Submit to ACM L@S
+3. [ ] Evaluate user feedback from blog post
+
+## Questions to Consider
+
+1. **Do you have academic affiliation?**
+   - Needed for IRB approval (teacher study)
+   - Some conferences require institutional affiliation
+   - Can collaborate with university researchers if not
+
+2. **What's your bandwidth?**
+   - WiP paper: ~10 hours/week for 4 weeks
+   - Teacher study: ~10-15 hours/week for 6 months
+   - Blog post: ~10 hours total
+
+3. **What's your goal?**
+   - Academic credibility → Prioritize WiP paper
+   - Real-world impact → Prioritize blog + outreach
+   - Research career → Prioritize full study
+   - All of the above → Do Path 1 + 3, then evaluate
+
+4. **Do you want to recruit teachers now?**
+   - Could start informal study alongside blog post
+   - Interview 5-10 teachers who use the system
+   - Include in WiP paper as preliminary findings
+
+## Conclusion
+
+We have a genuinely novel contribution that combines:
+
+- **Theoretical rigor** (learning science foundations)
+- **Technical innovation** (constrained 2D space + hybrid architecture)
+- **Practical utility** (working system teachers can use today)
+
+This is publishable material. The question is timeline and effort:
+
+- **Lowest effort**: Blog post + social sharing (~20 hours)
+- **Medium effort**: Blog + WiP paper (~60 hours + travel)
+- **High effort**: Full research study (~300 hours over 18 months)
+
+**My recommendation**: Start with blog + WiP paper (Paths 1 + 3). This gets the idea into academic circulation with minimal risk, while building the foundation for a larger study if the system gains traction.
+
+Would you like help drafting the blog post or WiP paper outline?
--- a/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/addition/SMART_DIFFICULTY_SPEC.md
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/create/worksheets/addition/SMART_DIFFICULTY_SPEC.md
@@ -2197,6 +2197,8 @@ If validated, this could be publishable in:
 - International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education
 - Learning Analytics & Knowledge Conference

+**📄 For detailed publication strategy, timelines, and execution plan, see [PUBLICATION_PLAN.md](./PUBLICATION_PLAN.md)**
+
 ## Notes

 - Always test with both new and migrated configs