Systems and methods for indicating a test taker status with an interactive test taker icon

• US 9,396,665 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HMH Education Company
• Original Assignee: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. (Private Equity))
• Inventors: Rogers, Timothy A., Bosko, John, O'Brien, Corey S., Mutum, Raghubir S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frisby, Kesha
• Application Number:
  US12/470,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20090233264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,615 Days
• Field of Search: 434/322, 434/350
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/205 Education administration or guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/06 of the multiple-choice answer-type, i.e. where a given question is provided with a series of answers and a choice has to be made from the answers

Abstract

An aspect of the present invention relates to an online test platform adapted to facilitate the development, delivery, and management of educational tests with interactive participation by students, teachers, proctors, and administrators even when some or all of them are remotely located. The platform may include administrator interfaces, test proctor interfaces, and test taker (e.g. student) interfaces to allow each participant to view, navigate, and interact with aspects of the online test platform that are intended to meet their needs.

Claims

1. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable code that, when executing on one or more computing devices, performs the steps of:

representing a test taker as a test taker icon that includes text visible on the test taker icon to indicate a status of the test taker;

presenting the test taker icon within an online test proctoring interface of a display; and

polling a device used by a test taker to determine a status of the test taker.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the test taker icon is interactive.

3. The computer program product of claim 2, wherein the test taker icon comprises a button.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein indicating a test taker status comprises determining a test taker status by polling a testing interface.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the status is waiting to take an exam.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the status is currently taking an exam.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the status is finished taking an exam.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the status is needs assistance.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the status is a special need or waiting for a special need.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the status is an accommodation or waiting for an accommodation.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the status is a summary of test questions answered.

12. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the status is a summary of test questions not answered.

13. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the status is time left for a test taker to complete a test.

14. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the status is elapsed time during a test.

15. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the status is further indicated by a color of the test taker icon.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein yellow indicates waiting.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein green indicates currently testing.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein red indicates a request for help by a test taker during a test.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein gray indicates a test taker has completed a test.

20. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable code that, when executing on one or more computing devices, performs the steps of:

representing a test taker as a test taker icon within a test status panel that includes text visible on the test taker icon to indicate a status of the test taker;

presenting the test taker icon within an online test proctoring interface of a display; and

polling a device used by a test taker to determine a status of the test taker.