Test+Makers

toc ﻿This group is looking at test makers. This is the technology that allows users to create a multi-choice test, which others can then fill out by clicking on the answer of their choice Group: Jo, Hilary, Donna =__Test Maker sites __= I'll get the ball rolling by introducing the website: [|www.easytestmaker.com]. This website allows you to create tests using various formats, and select the correct answers at this time. It is easy to change your test, add/remove questions or generate further questions. It appears that the tests need to be printed, not taken online, so this is not really a web 2.0 technology! Oh well, moving on...

I agree with Jo about this website - it is easy to use with clear instructions, however the tests are stark as I wasn't able to find how to insert images - so disappointed with that aspect. However for older students it is perfect for creating a test to then put in portfolios etc.

I've had a chance to look at []

This uses technology similar to easytestmaker. It is eaier to navigate with the tabs across the top and gives us customised test formats to choose from, such as polls, personality tests etc.

A testmaker site that is designed specifically for teachers is []. Here you can create quizzes, crosswords, word games etc which students can complete online. It is very easy to manage students' accounts from a teacher login, create student groups and decide who can see what. In fact, this website seems to have a lot in common with Moodle, in that an administrator sets tasks and controls access. []

[|KwikSurvey] An attractively laid out site which has the benefits of offering a variety of answer types other than mulit choice. It can be sent to a web site or emailed and you are informed of the results by email. You can control who edits and also how many times people take the survey. I didn't see any way to imbed own pictures or music which could be quite good as part of a question if people wanted to test out a new song or creation

http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/signup/education/ Proprofs Quiz Maker is a user pays $2.97 US per month. It has many recommendations from educationalists (one even referring to Moodle). In this test maker you are actually notified when someone has taken one of the tests. This would be perfect for homework etc. Another plus is you are able to have pictures and videos in your tests to jazz them up.

http://www.igneon.com/index.php Igneon Software is another user pays test maker. At each level of payment the price increases. Once you have purchased there is a 30 day free trial period. There is also 1 year free technical support! Again there is a range of options for test type - single/multiple choice, essay to ordered answer. I am wondering if the quality is worth the payment over some of the other test makers such as EasyTestMaker. As we are fully in the user pays world one would have to assume yes....

I downloaded hot potato - I think the reason people had avoided this was the start up required more commitment ( download rather than trial or just use ) before you could see what the product was like - it has regular downloadable updates and is now all free ware. The six applications it offers are: It is quite easy to follow and download time isn't long - it is able to be embedded or linked or exported and is quite easy to follow with a little experimentation as it does not offer much in the way of instructions for the user
 * Interactive multi choice
 * Short answer questions
 * Jumbled sentences
 * cross words
 * matching and ordering
 * and 'cloze' comprehension - ie fill the gap in the sentence

=The Technology = The navigation and use of testmaker sites, while varying slightly between different websites, is much the same. It involves choosing a template or format from a selection, then setting your own questions. At this point you set the correct answers.

=Advantages =  Test maker sites allow a teacher/lecturer/employer to easily design and create a custom built quiz, poll or test. It can be made available to all those that require access, but blocked from others. Being able to complete the test online makes it ideal for distance students, homeschoolers or employees who work from home. It also allows the teacher to grade students' work without needing to be at school or have paperwork in front of them. Another advantage of online tests is the reduction of photocopying! With many schools using tools of assessment such as asTTle, paper is practically being wasted. With online tests/quizzes/polls results are all there for the teacher and in easy to print format if required.

=Disadvantages = Some disadvantages that come to mind with online testing of children (for me) is the lack of a computer for each child. I know some of my students would tell others the answers or try to put them off. However, even in paper tests this is a problem... Unlike asTTle, these tests cannot be created with passages of text for children to read or tables to interpret.

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