Systems and methods of a test taker virtual waiting room

• US 9,230,445 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. (Private Equity))
• 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): CAO, DIEM K
• Application Number:
  US11/853,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20080104618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,038 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

Event driven/service oriented online testing facilitates the configuration, 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. Event driven/service oriented online testing may include a module for an online testing platform that may include an installation protocol to configure a computing facility and prevent other applications from executing during an exam, 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 method comprising:

logging a test taker into an online testing platform prior to beginning an online test;

placing the test taker in a virtual waiting room following the login;

presenting the test taker with electronic materials for activity by the test taker while in the virtual waiting room, wherein the test taker material is a drawing program; and

exiting the test taker from the virtual waiting room upon a test proctor indicating the online test is to begin.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a notification to the test proctor that the test taker is now active or logged in.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the test taker material is a practice test question.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the test taker is represented on a proctor screen by an interactive icon.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the test taker is represented in a pane on a proctor screen by an interactive icon.