SUBJECT: Important - May Update for TestPilot-using Faculty at Lane

Hello TestPilot instructors,

This is the third e-mail communication I am sending to all TestPilot instructors. An archive of all of these communications and other information can be found at the following web site:

http://teach.lanecc.edu/testpilot

As you already know, Lane is moving to Moodle as it's software for online testing.  Without even considering your TestPilot tests, you are aware that you will need to learn how to use Moodle.  Please take advantage of the opportunities available to you with Faculty Webmaster Training Workshops on Moodle, advertised on http://teach.lanecc.edu , on the Lane Events Calendar, and even by private appointment (email request to online@lanecc.edu).

Now, concerning TestPilot conversions, I have good news.  I have created two conversion scripts that will do much of the work necessary for you to make the transition from TestPilot to Moodle testing next Fall Term.  I will tell you about your 3 options in this email below.  (I have also made a movie for you, with the link at the end of this email)

Option #1  EASIEST
===================

If you will be using new test banks, supplied by your publisher, you have very little work to do, and certainly no tedious file formatting work.  (If this does not apply to you, skip to Option #2.)

Moodle will directly import CD-ROM supplied question banks from textbook publishers, in many formats, such as:
GIFT format
Aiken format
Blackboard
WebCT
Course Test Manager
Embedded answers (Cloze)
Moodle XML format

If you are in this category for your online testing and have the CD-ROM, be sure to schedule an appointment with me.


Option #2  ALSO THE EASIEST
=============================

If you still have the text files that you created for import directly into TestPilot, what I refer to as the "asterisk formatted" files.  Then you are in luck.  The files look like this, with the asterisk denoting the correct answer:

Scientific data suggest that the age of the Earth is about
 100 million years.
 650 million years.
 3.5 billion years.
 *4.6 billion years.

I have written a conversion script that will reformat these files into the AIKEN format, which will import directly into Moodle.  All you have to do is to gather ALL of these files, zip them up, and send them to me.  I'll run them through the script and send them back to you.

Option #3  MORE WORK, BUT STILL EASY
=========================================

If your test exists ONLY in TestPilot, then this is what you do.

Login to your TestPilot site and choose a test.
Click the PREVIEW link on the "gray bar" owner options page.
When your exam appears, as it does to students, choose SAVE AS from the file menu and save the file as an .html file.
Do this for each TestPilot test you need to have converted to Moodle (AIKEN) format.
Gather all of those files, zip them up, and send them to me.  I have written a conversion script that will do all of the formatting.  I will send the converted files back to you.

The only thing that remains for you to do is to provide the "answer key".  The files I give you will look like this:
Approximately how long was the interval between the discovery of agriculture and the appearance of the first permanent urban settlements in the Middle East?   

A. 50 years   
B. 300 years   
C. 1000 years   
D. 7000 years   
E. 20,000 years   
ANSWER: 

Notice that there is no letter of the correct answer.  You simply ADD that letter to each question (see "D" added below), save, then the file will import directly into Moodle.

Approximately how long was the interval between the discovery of agriculture and the appearance of the first permanent urban settlements in the Middle East?   
A. 50 years   
B. 300 years   
C. 1000 years   
D. 7000 years   
E. 20,000 years   
ANSWER: D


CONCLUSION
=============

Therefore, two very important tasks await you.

#1

If you plan to offer computerized tests to your students, you will need to establish a Moodle account, learn the software, and convert your tests to a format which Moodle can automatically import.  This process is not difficult, as explained above, but will take some time.

#2

If you plan to archive any of your TestPilot data, this must be done by the start of Fall classes as well.  This includes extracting tests, saving past student scores, test item analyses, etc.  These can easily be saved as web pages from any browser.



If you want to "see" these 3 options of the conversion process, see the movie at:

http://teach.lanecc.edu/testpilot/TestPilot_to_Moodle.mov


Feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions.

Joe Escobar
TestPilot Server Administrator 