QAEd
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Type of application / System Requirements
Desktop application.
The tool is multiplatform. Binaries are available for Windows and Linux. The source code is available and since it is based on Java can easily be compiled for other platforms.
Purpose
QAed (Questions & Assessments Editor) is a tool for creating and managing repositories of assessments and it's based on the IMS QTI-Lite specification.
What it does
QAEd is an easy-to-use tool for writing assessment questions and tests according to the IMS QTI Lite specification. This specification is a small subset of IMS QTI, mainly focused on multi-choice questions.
QAEd enables the teacher to create a structured repository of questions (items). The tool offers a set of services related to the management of the repository, including classification of items and search. It also offers other functionalities related to the authoring of a specific test by combining items from the repository following the basket cart metaphor. The tool also enables an HTML preview.
An important added value is content reusability, which is achieved through import and export of both tests and questions in XML files. It enables the interoperability with others systems, like players using the IMS QTILite standard as exchange format [1]
This is a summary of the main features:
- Creation of assessment contents following the structure of the QTI-Lite specification.
- Uses the QAR file-format for storing questions and assessments repositories.
- The repositories can be user protected.
- Easy user interface designed by UI expert engineers that hides the QTI-Lite specification to the user.
- XML import and export.
- HTML export and preview with configurable style.
- ZIP export: packaging of the XML file, the XML Schema and all the dependent files (for example images).
- Search engine in multiple files.
- "Basket" of questions and assessments.
[1] Sayago, S. Martinez, J. Garcia, R. Blat, J. Griffiths, D. and Casado, F (2004) Design and evaluation of a simple eLearning authoring tool, in Navarro, R. and Lors, J. eds. HCI related papers of Interaccin 2004. Springer, 2006, pp: 81-89.
How can it be used for creation of OERs
It provides a simple solution for the edition of assessment tests. Despite its easiness of use, it provides useful functionalities for managing banks of questions that can be thematically organized.
How can it be used for consumption of OERs
Not applicable
How can it be used for reuse of OERs
The tool follows an approach based on a repository of questions that enables the teacher to reuse questions in differents tests. Questions can be organized according to theme or difficulty. The tool exports and imports questions and tests according to the IMS QTILite specification. This enables users to run tests in compliant players as well as to exchange questions created through other tools.
License support
The tool is licensed under the GNU General Public License.
More details can be found in the "License.txt" file in the source code.
Standards / Compatibility
The tool generates files compatible with the IMS QTILite specification.
HOW TO USE IT
A detailed step-by-step user manual can be found at http://www.tecn.upf.es/%7Essayag/QAed10_User_Manual.pdf
Any doubt or comment can be addressed to the email address leteos <at> upf <dot> es
Links / examples / Who is using it
Some screenshots:
Sandbox
QAEd can be downloaded from http://gti.upf.edu/leteos/newnavs/qaed.html
Windows users have just to download the executable file and double click on it. This will install the tool and will create a group menu in the start menu and a desktop icon.
Comments / Discussion
A new version of the editor covering IMS QTI 2.0 and 2.1 is planned. The new editor will be web-based instead of a desktop application, but as QAEd will be based on a repository of questions with classification and search services.
In this line, an engine to run tests compliant to IMS QTI 2.0 and 2.1 has already been developed and is available at SourceFourge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/newapis . This engine is described in depth in [2].
[2] Josep Blat, Toni Navarrete, Ayman Moghnieh, Helena Batlle Delgado. A QTI Management System for Service Oriented Architectures. TENCompetence Open Workshop on Service Oriented Approaches and Lifelong Competence Development Infrastructures. Manchester, 11-12 January 2007
