Thesis_Chapter_2

Item Management System The Item Management System (IMSm) is a collaborative project led by the medical faculties of the Charité (Berlin), Heidelberg University, and the University of Munich. Standardization and quality assurance of exam content, networking of established exam systems and platforms, and the subsequent reduction of costs are the key objectives of the project. With IMSm, it is possible to save exam content in the form of long - or multiple menu questions, OSCE-, M2- and key feature items using a web interface to design and save information. By building an internal faculty and interdisciplinary exam compilation in the form of an item pool and a review network (Pre-review), the quality of the content and resources saved can be optimized. The questions can be stored in PDF format, by XML in an electronic verification system, or an exported scanners system. The exam results can then be evaluated with the help of the integrated test statistics (post review). The Heidelberg University Hospital is implementing multiple computer rooms for the exams. There are 75 computers in the largest room. This allows for tests with up to 140 students in 2 rotations. To prevent academic dishonesty during an exam, sight prevention walls have been installed. The merging of several computer rooms allows for the examination of larger cohorts of students. This system not only offers the possibility of simple multiple-choice questions, but a more extensive examination of the students via use of complex question or audit types (long menu, key feature, etc.). The analysis is completely automated after the students submit their answers. The subsequent statistical evaluation of the data provides long-term quality assurance of the exam content. Their services in this area include: Advice concerning the selection of questions or exam types, training of teachers, support for the input of exam content, support for introducing students to the examination system, implementation of the exam, automated identification of results, and statistical analysis test. Online Examination System in PHP and MySQL with Trends Graph for a Maritime Academy The Online Examination System is a web based application developed in MySQL and PHP. This customized software has been developed for a leading Maritime Academy located in Goa, India for all the courses conducted by them. The examination consists of different types of multiple choice questions. The questions are selected at random keeping the proper weight for the various topics. The answers are evaluated and the marks obtained for each along with the answer given by the student are stored in the database. The examiner can get the results immediately in various forms -- the general mark list, the detailed general mark list where the marks obtained by the student in each topic of the subject is shown (red underline for below passing marks) as well as the answer sheet of each student. The trends graph show the graph of how many students have passed in each topic of a particular subject (Topic wise comparison graph) as well as how many students have passed in each subject (Subject wise comparison graph). There is also the provision for a Trends graph of comparing how many students have passed topic wise in each subject at the midterm as well as final exams if there are two exams for the subject. The software maintains the details for each student as well as provides a facility for editing the student details if required. There is Password based access for Individual Answer Sheet, General Mark Lists and Trends Graphs. Authentication is provided Via Sessions and the password is stored in encrypted form (MD5 hash) in the database. This Online Examination System in PHP and MySQL can be modified and customized to suit the need of any Educational Institutions, Primary and Secondary Schools, Colleges, Professional and Vocational Institutes, Universities or Training Academies. This software is particularly suited to conduct competitive exams like recruitment exams and Common Entrance Tests (CET) of various states as it will save valuable time spent on assessing the answer books and the results can be obtained immediately. Computer-Based Tests Computer-Based Tests includes the following features: * The single-item presentation is not restricted to text, is easy to read, and allows combining with pictures, voice, image, and animation. * CBTs shorten testing time, give instantaneous results, and increase test security. The online testing format of an exam can be configured to enable instantaneous feedback to the student, and can be more easily scheduled and administered than PPTs (Gretes & Green, 2000; Bugbee, 1996). * The test requires no paper, eliminating the battle for the copy machine. The option of printing the test is always available. * The student can take the test when and where appropriate. Even taking the test at home is an option if the student has Internet access at home. Students can wait until they think they have mastered the material before being tested on it. * The test is a valuable teaching tool. CBTs provide immediate feedback, requiring the student to get the correct answer before moving on. * CBTs save 100% of the time taken to distribute the test to test-takers (a CBT never has to be handed out). * CBTs save 100% of the time taken to create different versions of the same test (re-sequencing questions to prevent an examinee from cheating by looking at the test of the person next to him). However, CBTs have some disadvantages: * The test format is normally limited to true/false and MC. Computer-based automatic grading cannot easily judge the accuracy of constructed-response questions such as short-answer, problem-solving exercises, and essay questions. * When holding an onsite test, instructors must prepare many computers for examinees, and be prepared for the difficulties caused by computer crashes. * The computer display is not suitable for question items composed of numerous words, since the resolution might make the text difficult to read (Mazzeo & Harvey, 1988). * Most items in mathematics and chemistry testing need manual calculation. The need to write down and calculate answers on draft paper might decrease the answering speed.