diff --git a/djangoapps/courseware/capa/capa_problem.py b/djangoapps/courseware/capa/capa_problem.py
index 0f9b5dacab..346a4842b3 100644
--- a/djangoapps/courseware/capa/capa_problem.py
+++ b/djangoapps/courseware/capa/capa_problem.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from mako.template import Template
 
 from util import contextualize_text
 import inputtypes
+
 from responsetypes import NumericalResponse, FormulaResponse, CustomResponse, SchematicResponse, MultipleChoiceResponse,  StudentInputError, TrueFalseResponse, ExternalResponse,ImageResponse,OptionResponse
 
 import calc
@@ -239,7 +240,7 @@ class LoncapaProblem(object):
         # used to be
         # if problemtree.tag in html_special_response:
         
-        if hasattr(inputtypes, problemtree.tag):
+        if problemtree.tag in inputtypes.SimpleInput.get_xml_tags():
             # status is currently the answer for the problem ID for the input element,
             # but it will turn into a dict containing both the answer and any associated message
             # for the problem ID for the input element.
@@ -266,9 +267,15 @@ class LoncapaProblem(object):
             #    print "[courseware.capa.capa_problem.extract_html] msg = ",msg
 
             # do the rendering
-            #render_function = html_special_response[problemtree.tag]
-            render_function = getattr(inputtypes, problemtree.tag)
-            return render_function(problemtree, value, status, msg) # render the special response (textline, schematic,...)
+            render_object = inputtypes.SimpleInput(system = self.system, 
+                                                   xml = problemtree,
+                                                   state = {'value':value, 
+                                                            'status': status, 
+                                                            'id':problemtree.get('id'), 
+                                                            'feedback':{'message':msg}
+                                                            },
+                                                   use = 'capa_input')
+            return render_object.get_html() #function(problemtree, value, status, msg) # render the special response (textline, schematic,...)
 
         tree=Element(problemtree.tag)
         for item in problemtree:
diff --git a/djangoapps/courseware/capa/inputtypes.py b/djangoapps/courseware/capa/inputtypes.py
index ae8809c066..39aeb1e81a 100644
--- a/djangoapps/courseware/capa/inputtypes.py
+++ b/djangoapps/courseware/capa/inputtypes.py
@@ -32,8 +32,15 @@ from lxml import etree
 
 from mitxmako.shortcuts import render_to_string
 
+def simpleinput(fn):
+    def wrapped():
+        print "XXXXXXXXXXXXX", fn
+        return fn
+    return wrapped
+
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+@simpleinput
 def optioninput(element, value, status, msg=''):
     '''
     Select option input type.
@@ -254,3 +261,61 @@ def imageinput(element, value, status, msg=''):
     html=render_to_string("imageinput.html", context)
     return etree.XML(html)
 
+
+
+class SimpleInput():# XModule
+    ''' Type for simple inputs
+    State is a dictionary with optional keys: 
+    * Value
+    * ID
+    * Status (answered, unanswered, unsubmitted)
+    * Feedback (dictionary containing keys for hints, errors, or other 
+      feedback from previous attempt)
+    '''
+
+    # We should populate this with a decorator on the specific types
+    simple_types = {'choicegroup':choicegroup,
+                    'imageinput':imageinput,
+                    'js_textline':js_textline,
+                    'math':math,
+                    'optioninput':optioninput,
+                    'schematic':schematic,
+                    'solution':solution,
+                    'textbox':textbox,
+                    'textline':textline}
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_xml_tags(c):
+        return c.simple_types.keys()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_uses(c):
+        return ['capa_input']
+
+    def get_html(self):
+        return self.simple_types[self.tag](self.xml, self.value, self.status, self.msg)
+
+    def __init__(self, system, xml, item_id = None, track_url=None, state=None, use = 'capa_input'):
+        self.xml = xml
+        self.tag = xml.tag
+        if not state:
+            state = {}
+        if item_id:
+            self.id = item_id
+        if xml.get('id'):
+            self.id = xml.get('id')
+        if 'id' in state:
+            self.id = state['id']
+        self.system = system
+
+        self.value = ''
+        if 'value' in state:
+            self.value = state['value']
+
+        self.msg = ''
+        if 'feedback' in state and 'message' in state['feedback']:
+            self.msg = state['feedback']['message']
+
+        self.status = 'unanswered'
+        if 'status' in state:
+            self.status = state['status']