Test administration system using the internet

• US 6,681,098 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2001
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Performance Assessment Network, Inc. (PSI Services LLC)
• Original Assignee: Performance Assessment Network, Inc. (PSI Services LLC)
• Inventors: Pfenninger, David T., Hester, Chris J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hughes, S. Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, CHANDA L
• Application Number:
  US09/757,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20010031457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 434/350, 434/118, 434/362, 434/322, 434/323, 434/336, 705/26
• US Class Current: 434/362
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F

Abstract

A test administration system comprises a central computer and associated database containing a plurality of tests that may be distributed to a test taker. The central computer provides a website to be accessed by the test administrator and the test taker at remote personal computers when using the test administration system. The website includes an administrator workspace for use by the test administrator and a testing workspace for use by the test taker. The administrator workspace provides the test administrator with the ability to order any number of the tests contained in the database. After ordering a number of tests, the test administrator uses the system to generate test identification codes for a chosen set of ordered tests. The system automatically provides the test identification codes to those test subjects taking a test, and provides the test subject with access information and instructions for using the system to take the test. The test administrator workspace also provides the test administrator with valuable test status information concerning the tests ordered by the administrator.

Claims

1. A test administration system providing communications between a test administrator and at least one test taker, the test administration system linking a plurality of remote computers and comprising:

a. at least one database containing a plurality of tests that may be distributed to the at least one test taker; and

b. a central computer communicating with the at least one database, the central computer providing an administrator workspace accessible by the test administrator at one of the plurality of remote computers, the administrator workspace operable to

(i) provide the test administrator with access to a product catalog showing the plurality of tests in the at least one database and a price associated with each of the plurality of tests;

(ii) provide the test administrator with the ability to order at least one of the plurality of tests shown in the product catalog;

(iii) provide the test administrator with access information for delivery to the at least one test taker, the access information providing the at least one test taker with the ability to access one of the plurality of tests using one of the plurality of remote computers and take the one of the plurality of tests using one of the plurality of remote computers;

(iv) provide the test administrator with test status information, the test status information including information about the number of tests ordered by the test administrator and the number of tests that have been completed by the at least one test taker using one of the plurality of remote computers.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the one of the plurality of remote computers used by the at least one test taker is the same one of the plurality of computers providing the administrator workspace.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the one of the plurality of remote computers used by the at least one test taker is a different one of the plurality of computers providing the administrator workspace.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the test status information further includes information about the number of tests assigned to the at least one test taker.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the test status information further includes information about the number of expired tests.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the test status information further includes information about the number of tests in progress by the at least one test taker at one of the plurality of remote computers.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein administrator'"'"'s qualifications are stored in the at least one database and the test administrator'"'"'s ability to order one of the plurality of tests contained in the at least one database is dependent upon the test administrator'"'"'s qualifications.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the product catalog provides the administrator with a description of each of the plurality of tests.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of tests shown in the product catalog are different types of tests.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the administrator workspace is further operable to generate a test identification code for the at least one of the plurality of tests and allow the administrator to match the test identification code with the at least one test taker.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the administrator workspace provides the administrator with an option to automatically send an electronic message to the at least one test taker once the test identification code is matched with the at least one test taker, the message providing the at least one test taker with the test identification code.

12. A test administration system providing communications between a test administrator and at least one test taker, the test administration system comprising:

a. at least one database containing a plurality of tests that may be distributed to the at least one test taker, the database further containing qualifications for the test administrator, the qualifications for the test administrator being distinct from a username or password;

b. a central computer communicating with the at least one database, the central computer providing an administrator workspace and a testing workspace;

c. a test taker interface communicating with the central computer such that the test taker interface is operable to access a testing environment, wherein the testing environment is operable to access one of the plurality of tests, distribute the one of the plurality of tests to the at least one test taker, and record answers provided by the at least one test taker for the one of the plurality of tests; and

d. a test administrator interface communicating with the central computer such that the test administrator interface is operable to access the administrator workspace, wherein the administrator workspace is operable to;

(i) provide the test administrator with the ability to order the plurality of tests contained in the at least one database, wherein the test administrator'"'"'s ability to order at least one of the plurality of tests is dependent upon the qualifications of the test administrator contained in the at least one database;

(ii) provide the test administrator with access information for delivery to the at least one test taker, the access information providing the at least one test taker with the ability to access one of the plurality of tests using the test taker interface;

(iii) provide the test administrator with test status information, the test status information including information about the number of tests in progress by the at least one test taker.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a test scoring machine communicating with the central computer, the test scoring machine operable to obtain the answers provided by the at least one test taker, score the answers, and provide a test report to the central computer.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the administrator workspace is further operable to provide the test administrator with the test report.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the test status information includes information about the number of tests ordered by the test administrator.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the administrator workspace is operable to provide the administrator with a product catalog showing the plurality of tests contained in the at least one database.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the qualifications for the test administrator provide a clearance for the test administrator to order certain license controlled tests.

18. A method of providing a test administrator with the ability to administer tests to at least one test taker using remote computers connected over a network, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least one database containing a plurality of tests for distribution to the at least one test taker, the at least one database further containing qualifications for the test administrator, the qualifications for the test administrator being distinct from a username or password;

b. providing a central computer in communication with the at least one database, the central computer also in communication with one of the plurality of remote computers over the network;

c. providing the test administrator with a product catalog using one of the plurality of remote computers, the product catalog listing the plurality of tests contained in the at least one database and a price for each of the plurality of tests;

d. providing the test administrator with the ability to order the plurality of tests contained in the at least one database using one of the plurality of remote computers, wherein the test administrator'"'"'s ability to order at least one of the plurality of tests is dependent upon the qualifications of the test administrator contained in the at least one database;

e. delivering test access information to the at least one test taker, the test access information providing the at least one test taker with the ability to access one of the plurality of tests using one of the plurality of remote computers;

f. distributing one of the plurality of tests to the at least one test taker at one of the plurality of remote computers after the test taker has utilized the test access information to access one of the plurality of tests;

g. recording test answers provided by the at least one test taker in the at least one database; and

h. providing the test administrator with test status information at one of the plurality of remote computers, the test status information including information about the number of tests ordered by the test administrator and the number of tests that have been completed by the at least one test taker.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of providing a test scoring machine operable to obtain the test answers provided by the at least one test taker and provide a test report accessible by the test administrator at one of the plurality of remote computers.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the test status information includes information about the number of tests in progress by the at least one test taker at one of the plurality of remote computers.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the qualifications for the test administrator provide a clearance for the test administrator to order certain license controlled tests.