When the instructor first presses the Test Generation button, the first screen that comes up is the first step of the process. This step generates a completely random exam with the number of questions specified. Figure 1 shows the first screen:
Figure 2.3.1.1: First step in Test Generation
Explanation of Inputs
This step requires the fewest inputs required to generate a full test:
- The first required input is the Test Name
- The second required input is the Class Name. The professor will specify the identifying suffix and number of the class. The generator will use this as a parameter in its search for questions in the Question Database. You can search through questions for multiple classes by seperating each class with a comma, as seen in figure 2.3.1.2
- The third required input is the number of Questions on the test. This number must be an integer. The generator will use this as one of the parameters in its search for questions in the Question Database.
- The fourth required input allows the Instructor to specify a range for the total time this test should take. Thses numbers must be integers and are assumed to indicate minutes. The generator will use this range as one of the parameters in its search for questions in the Question database. Should the instructor want to specify an exact time limit, he can leave the second box blank.
The figure below shows the first screen with inputs filled out:
Figure 2.3.1.2: First step filled out in Test Generation
Rules For Test Generation Step 1
The rules concerning the selection of Questions from the database at this stage are as follows:
- The Generator will take the Instructor's inputs and attempt to find the specified number of questions whose estimated time will total between the range of times specified. If this is not possible, the Generator will always err on the side less than the the Total Time Range.
- The Generator will only include valid questions that also have the correct class name(s) that were specified.
- If there are not enough Questions in the Database to fulfill the Total Questions constraint, the Generator will return a test that includes that includes the possible valid questions given that the Time Range constraint is not violated.
- The Generator will attempt to include the most variety of question types. If there are enough questions in the database, the Generator will choose question types it has not already chosen until all question types have been chosen at least once, there are no valid questions of a specific type, or the specified number of questions for this test will not permit inclusion of one question of each type.
Remember:
- At any time, the instructor can go to an overview of the test generated so far in the process by pressing the button: "TEST PREVIEW"
- To move on to the next step, the instructor will press the button: "NEXT"
- If the instructor wants to abort the process and go back to the home page, he can press the button: "BACK"
NOTE: This will cause all progress on this particular test to be discarded.