3.2 Qualitative System Characteristics

Security and Privacy

Security and privacy are of the utmost importance in our Test Tool.  It is very apparent when considering that the students' grades from the taken tests must be kept secure so that only the instructor and the respective student may view them.  Also, the tests themselves must be secure.  In this case, students must not be able to access the test before it is time for the test to be taken, as to help fight against cheating.  Instructors should only be able to see tests that they have created and graded, other instructors should not be given rights to see tests that do not belong to them.  There is also issues when considering the submission and collection of the tests with the servers, keeping the information secure and private.  This is present both with the take home tests from the students' personal computers and from the classroom computers in the proctored test setting.

Simplicity versus Power

Overall the Test Tool is geared towards simplicity.  Even though it is being developed with the Cal Poly Computer Science department's use in mind, in which the users of the software would be very knowledgeable, the Test Tool itself has a very user-friendly interface and features.  There are a few instances in which some advanced techniques and knowledge are required, such as grading with scripts, importing some special html tags into questions when creating a test, and such.  But much of this is not required, just optional content for those that would take advantage of it.  The main core of the program could be used by a much less sophisticated user.  There are certain aspects that are more geared toward power-users, but overall the Test Tool is geared more towards simplicity than power.