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Please read the Guidelines
for hosted users for more information
Hosted assessments
Why are you offering
a hosted service when TOIA can be installed locally?
We are piloting this hosted service to enable teachers that can't
install TOIA locally to offer formative assessments to their students.
There may be many reasons why they don't have access to a local
copy of TOIA, including:
- A dedicated server is not yet available for them to install
TOIA on.
- They do not have the technical background to be able install
and manage the software tools.
- Their institution is not familiar with administering the underlying
technologies used by TOIA, i.e. SQL Server and IIS.
- They wish to gain familiarity with delivering online assessments
before commiting to a particular CAA system.
If there is sufficient demand for this hosted service, we intend
to approach JISC for funding to continue supporting the service
beyond the project's end date of 31st July 2005. Top
How much does the
hosted service cost?
It is free until August 2005. Top
What are the benefits
of signing up with this service?
- No need to maintain a local copy of TOIA.
- TOIA administration is managed by the project team.
- Access to the latest version of the software is always available.
- Possibility of easily sharing questions with other users
Top
Hosted assessments
What happens if
I have scheduled a test but the students can't log in - or the service
is down?
The availability of the service cannot be guaranteed. Once the problem
has been reported to us, we recommend that paper versions of the
test be handed out to students to continue the test. Teachers should
print off paper versions beforehand by "previewing" the
assessment and printing off a suitable number of copies which can
then be hand-marked. Top
What happens if
one student's computer fails at the start of the test?
Spare PCs should always be present to cover this possibility. The
student should move to another PC and be allowed to re-attempt the
test. As a guide, we recommend having 10% spare PCs available. Top
What if the system
fails half-way through the test?
TOIA can be set to save student's answers to the system as they
go along. We recommend this setting be switched on for each assessment.
To set it, go to "Assessment preferences" and check the
box which states: "Save response at the end of each page".
When the system is restored the students can login and continue
from where they left. Top
Will the system
be able to cope with 30 or more students starting a test at the
same time?
Yes, but to avoid the risk of the tests starting very slowly, if
the web server is inundated with requests, we recommend that the
test starts be staggered to, say, ten students at a time.
Top
How can I reduce
the chances of my students cheating?
By creating random assessments, where questions are chosen randomly
when the test starts, each student will be presented with a different
set of questions which should reduce the chances of them cheating.
It is imperative that each student signs in so you have a record
of their attendence. Top
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