Issue No. 18 ------ October 2000 ------ Question Mark Computing ================================================ Quod Vide - the education users' newsletter ================================================ Question Mark Computing - http://www.qmark.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editor: Martin Belton - martin.belton@qmark.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONTENTS 1. Perception for Windows debuts 2. Windows test examples 3. Registration System added 4. Sign up for a free roadshow 5. U.S. offers auto essay marking 6. New training courses offered 7. More information 8. Unsubscribe ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. PERCEPTION FOR WINDOWS DEBUTS Question Mark Perception for Windows, the latest version of Perception, has now been released. The new software retains the existing online solution's authoring applications. To these, it adds a new Presenter tool to enable tests to be delivered in static environments. There is also a new easy-to-use reporting tool. Explained Question Mark's UK Sales Manager Philippa Bean: "Perception for Windows extends the number of ways that users can deliver tests, without having to change the structure of their questions. Educationalists now have a new tool to conduct self-paced learning or diagnostic testing over a network, via email, CD or over a Windows network. It also provides an ideal summative testing tool for invigilated environments where many candidates are simultaneously opening the same test." For more information go to: http://www.qmark.com/perception/forwindows.html or call Philippa Bean, tel: (020) 7263 7575, email: philippa.bean@qmark.co.uk. ______________________________________________ 2. WINDOWS TESTS SAMPLES With the introduction of Perception for Windows, users can now download examples of Perception assessments that can be delivered via CD-ROM, a network or on a stand alone PC. These include samples of biology and chemistry tests. To download the exmples go to: http://www.qmark.com/perception/windows_examples.html _______________________________ 3. REGISTRATION SYSTEM ADDED Question Mark has also introduced a new Registration System that enables Perception for Web users to gather demographic details from an audience and set them tests conditionally on the information they supply. All this is achieved without the user having to learn how to create complex web forms or HTML coding. With the Registration module, instructors no longer need to enter the names and details of people taking a secure test in to the system database prior to scheduling the session. The test takers access the self-registration process using a group name and password supplied by their instructor. If they forget this password, t can be automatically e-mailed to them. Once a person taking the test has logged in, they can see a list of sessions scheduled for the group. For more information about the Registration System, go to: http://www.qmark.com/perception/registration.html or call Philippa Bean, tel: (020) 7263 7575, email: philippa.bean@qmark.co.uk. _________________________________ 4. SIGN UP FOR A FREE ROADSHOW Question Mark Computing is looking for further dates for its Roadshow. The free presentations enable lecturers to discover how the web or intranet can be used to create a complete online education system. If you would like to book a Roadshow to visit your college or university, call Che Osborne, tel: (020) 7263 7575 or email: che.osborne@qmark.co.uk _____________________________________ 5. U.S. OFFERS AUTO ESSAY MARKING Question Mark's US subsidiary, Question Mark Corporation has entered into a strategic partnership with ETS Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Educational Testing Service to provide a new service called Criterion Online Writing Evaluation. Web-based, Criterion allows students to get instant feedback on writing samples they submit. It has been designed to supplement writing instruction by giving learners the opportunity to practice writing and receive reliable feedback based on widely accepted standards. Visitors to the ETS web site at http://www.ets.org/criterion can write essays on topics that are linked to established standards and receive a score with descriptive information within about 30 seconds. For more information go to: http://www.questionmark.com/news/pressreleases/ETS_09112000.htm ________________________________ 6. NEW TRAINING COURSES OFFERED There are now two training courses running throughout October and November. The author's training course is a basic introduction to authoring questions in Perception. Trainees create a test assessment following step-by-step instruction. The basic features of Session Manager, the concept of publishing and an introduction to layout are also be covered. Scheduled dates for the author's training course are 10, 30 October and 7, 21 November. The Server training course explains the main features of Security Manager and Enterprise Reporter to enable users to manage and publish sessions, address security issues, and list the seven types of report.. Scheduled dates for the server course are 17, 31 October and 14, 28 November. For more information go to: http://www.qmark.com/training/ or call Philippa Bean on 020 7263 7575 email: philippa.bean@qmark.co.uk. ____________________________________ 7. MORE INFORMATION For more information about the Question Mark Perception range of products, go to Question Mark's web site at: http://www.qmark.com/products/index.html _________________ 8. UNSUBSCRIBE If you do not wish to receive further issues of Quod Vide, send an email to: info@qmark.co.uk with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. _______________________________________________ Quod Vide is published by Question Mark Computing for information purposes only. Text may be copied without modification from the Quod Vide, or Question Mark's web site. This document may not be distributed for profit. To speak to a human about any other issue: info@qmark.co.uk, or telephone Question Mark at 020 7263 7575