SEPTEMBER 2006
Paper Dinosaurs
By Quinn Sutton - Editor
I like paper. Paper, with texture, with patterns with embedded fragments of nature. I even like specialized "ORIGAMI" paper produced in Japan for the ancient art form of paper folding. My children especially enjoy the dinosaurs I recently learned to create. But as much as I may like paper for certain uses, I cannot bring myself to confess my admiration for it when it is applied to testing. I think its time for progress and innovation.
We at KRYTERION, are continuing in our efforts to advance the testing industry. We recently updated our flagship testing system, Webassessor(TM), laying the foundation for truly revolutionary advances in testing technologies. We created a new brand for our testing network, which supports the expansion of the Test Taker's experience and where they are able to test. This new brand underscores our belief that High-stakes Online Secured Testing can be delivered anytime, anywhere. Our psychometricians are embracing technology to streamline test development. We are creating new rules, challenging assumptions and instead of asking "why" we find ourselves asking more and more often, "why not?"
Although the vision of a paperless society is a long way off - the reality of High-stakes, paperless testing is upon us. If you have not made the move to a more advanced method of testing perhaps that should cause a moment of reflection. The reasons why you may have chosen to conduct your testing program in a time-honored but hopelessly out-of-date way have likely changed over the past few years. Isn't it time to take an honest self-evaluation and ask, "How can I create, deliver and/or manage my tests better?" Don't despair, if it turns out that your program is a paper dinosaur it doesn't have to face extinction - it's an opportunity for evolution.
Some say it's impossible - we call it progress.
Making Progress with Item Writing:
Innovative Item Writing Techniques That Save Time and Money
By Leslie Thomas, Ph.D. and Cyndy Fitzgerald, Ph.D.
How much time does it take for you to create a new item pool? How much money are you spending on flying your item writers in for a workshop? The answer to both of these questions is too much!
For many years, a three or four day, face-to-face meeting was the only way to conduct an item writing workshop. I remember, in a previous life, the standing joke was that we would lock the item writers in a room, feed them, and not let them out until their items were written. Unfortunately, that wasn't too far from the truth. Worse yet, our "item banking" system consisted of using word processing software like Microsoft Word. Eventually people started using item banking systems that incorporated databases. Although the database system was a step above managing multiple word processing documents, it left much to be desired, as these database systems lacked formatting tools and other useful features available with word processors.
Well, luckily for everyone involved, those days are part of item development history. The advent of online item writing technologies has dramatically changed the way we write and maintain items. Now we can do all of the work remotely from the comfort of our homes or offices. In fact, many of our clients opt for virtual item writing workshops because it's much easier to recruit subject matter experts (SMEs) and they are significantly less expensive since travel is not required. In addition, virtual workshops are broken down into multiple, two-four hour blocks of time and are less taxing on the SMEs.
Another innovative approach enabled by online technologies is pairing a professional item writer with a SME. The professional item writer works one-on-one with the SME to transform the SME's expertise into a well-written item. Using online item writing technologies, the SMEs can view the items in real time as they are being created and revised to ensure that the items accurately measure their expertise. This approach greatly simplifies the process for the SMEs and optimizes the use of their time because they don't need to know how to write items.
Using tools like Webassessor, (KRYTERION's online, secured test delivery system), anyone with access to the Internet and the proper administrative rights can write, review, edit, move, copy, spell check, sort and search for items based on keywords, author, and numerous other fields. Regardless of your initial item writing approach, using online item writing and banking technologies makes your life much easier and greatly expedites the item development process.
Now that's progress!
Newsletter Archive
New Channel Brand to Align with Strategic Direction
Last week we announced a new brand for our existing network of testing locations previously known as Drake Authorized Testing Centers. The new brand, KRYTERION High-stakes Online Secured Testing (HOST) Location will be used to distinguish test locations that are capable of delivering a High-stakes online test in a secured format delivered via KRTYERION's Webassessor test delivery system. Read the full release
Technology Spotlight
Q. I'm using Webassessor to deliver my assessments. What happens if I find an error in one of my test items after the test has gone live and is being delivered to my Test Takers?
A. Fortunately with Webassessor this is something you can quickly address. As an Administrator you have two options to correct the item.
First Option
You can login to Webassessor, find the item in your item bank and make the correction. The item is automatically updated in real time on all test forms it appears. No further action is necessary.
Second Option
However, if you are making a substantial change to an item, you may choose to remove or replace the item. Simply take a copy of your existing test form, delete the item from the test form copy, replace with another item from your item bank and publish your test form. Then update your catalog with the new test. This will ensure that any new Test Takers or Test Takers already registered for the test will take the new version. Finally, contact your Technical Account Management Team to publish the test to the HOST Network and your test is ready for your Test Takers.
Cost
Absolutely free!
Want to learn more?
Webassessor clients can learn more about publishing test forms by contacting the Technical Account Management Team or contact one of our Business Development Managers for a personal demo at info@kryteriononline.com.
That's taking control. That's Webasssessor.
Wanted: Your Ideas
Thank you to everyone who attended our last webinar. We're now looking for suggestions for future webinar topics. Please send your ideas to pr@kryteriononline.com and we'll try to incorporate it into our webinar series.
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Comments?
Please send us your questions, comments or editorial ideas to Quinn Sutton at pr@kryteriononline.com.
Press ContactQuinn Sutton |