BrainZone


Michael Scott and Anthony Coates Educational Multimedia Services [HREF1], The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. Phone: +61 7 3365 6459 Fax: +61 7 3365 7599.


Keywords

World Wide Web, BrainZone, Assessment, Flexible, Engine, Survey


Abstract

Universities are entering a period where methods of teaching and learning are fast evolving. Brainzone is an assessment engine that has been designed to meet these changes. It provides a powerful yet easy to use method of delivering your assessment over the World Wide Web.


Introduction

This poster describes the introduction of an assessment engine for World Wide Web.

Background

The universities in Australia are looking to convert existing materials to flexible modes of delivery. At the forefront of discussion is the question of how to develop and implement assessment mechanisms to accommodate this shift. How do you deliver a more cost effective, equitable means of assessment across disciplines? How do you service distance education more effectively? How do you begin to change perceptions of teaching and assessment methods to a more flexible model?

BrainZone

What is it?

Brainzone is an engine for conducting assessment over the World Wide Web. At the heart of the package is a web server and associated software. Administrators can quickly and easily create their own tests on the Web, without requiring a programming background. All results are stored in a secure database.

How can it help me?

It will give you instant assessment, and instant results anywhere in the world. It will provide you with the flexibility of delivering different types of assessment. You will be able to change or update the assessment readily without penalising students. You be able to decrease the turnabout time for feedback to students. You will be able to assess external students readily and more effectively.

How does it help the students?

It will provide students the opportunity to practice tests prior to important exams and to find out how much they know. (Self-assessment is important for effective learning.) It will allow students to complete their formal assessment in a relaxed, non-threatening environment and provide them with more prompt feedback.

What sort of Questions can I create and deliver?

Multiple Choice, where the user chooses one answer from several.
Drag and Drop, where the user selects and drags from a list of text options into drop-spots answer locations.
Text Questions, where the user answers by typing in a response, a number, word, phrase or a several line answer.
Selection Questions, where the user answers by choosing from a list of answers for several statements.
The engine can be used to generate surveys and questionnaires, and to ask students' attitudes on course and assessment procedures.

Conclusion

BrainZone is a powerful tool which allows the teacher and pupil to effectively use the World Wide Web for both learning and assessment.


References

The University of Queensland (1992) "Guide to Examiners" Internal Document.

Crooks, Terence J (1988) "Assessing Student Performance" in HERDSA Green Guide No 8. Campbelltown, NSW: HERDSA

Gipps, Caroline (1994) "Developments in Educational Assessment: What Makes a Good Test?" in Assessment in Education 1(3): 283-291.


Hypertext Reference

HREF1- http://www.ems.uq.edu.au


Copyright

The University of Queensland © 1997. The authors assigns to Southern Cross University and other educational and non-profit institutions a non-exclusive licence to use this document for personal use and in courses of instruction provided that the article is used in full and this copyright statement is reproduced. The authors also grants a non-exclusive licence to Southern Cross University to publish this document in full on the World Wide Web and on CD-ROM and in printed form with the conference papers, and for the document to be published on mirrors on the World Wide Web. Any other usage is prohibited without the express permission of the authors.


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AusWeb97 Third Australian World Wide Web Conference, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore NSW 2480, Australia Email: "AusWeb97@scu.edu.au"