OWL Media Menu Help Page

 
Use the Media Controls to add images to your OWL Test.

Use the Media Controls to add images to your OWL Test.

 

Uploading Media Files

Use the Media Controls to add images to your test items.

Adding Individual Files

  • OWL Test Directions can include: 1 Image OR 1 Video, AND 1 Audio Prompt

  • Each OWL Section or Item may display: 1 Image OR 1 Video, AND up to 2 Audio Prompts

  • Each Multiple Choice Option may include: 1 Image

ATTENTION:


Images cannot be uploaded from any form of cloud storage
(iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, AWS OneDrive, etc. )

If this is the way you store your media files, you will need to:
1) download files to a local drive
2) upload files to OWL. TMS

Bulk Uploading Media Files

 

Images

Images can be placed on Test Directions, Section headers, Items, or Multiple Choice Options

  • .png files are preferred, other file types are accepted such as: jpg, jpeg, bmp, gif, tif, svg

  • Any image should scale correctly if its aspect ratio is 4:3

  • Digital Camera Images are generally too large to be uploaded directly to web pages

  • We recommend using a photo editing program to scale and compress your files before uploading them to OWL.

  • Smaller files that do not have to be resized will improve the browser efficiency of your OWL Test for your examinees.

  • The maximum file upload size is 25 megabytes (MB)

  • It may occasionally take an extra moment to process a file. If your file is not immediately available to preview, please wait a minute and try again.

  • Please use the Media Editor to add images to your test items. OWL Tester will work most efficiently if images are uploaded using the media prompt field. While it is not strictly prohibited, it is NOT RECOMMENDED that test builders place images in the text prompt field.

Recommended Image Size

 

  • Test Directions (500 w X 375 h)

  • Section Directions (267 w X 200 h)

  • Oral Response Item (400 w X 300 h)

  • Cloze Item (400 w X 300 h)

  • Essay Item (400 w X 300 h)

  • Multiple Choice Item (267 w X 200 h)

  • Multiple Choice Option (120 w X 120 h)

  • Short Answer Item (400 w X 300 h)

Image Popup

owl-image-popout.png

Test takers can enlarge image prompts by opening them in a new window.

This can apply to Directions, Section Headers, and/or Item Image Prompts.

Ideal for detailed images such as correspondence or maps.

Cannot be applied to multiple choice selection options.

 

  1. Open the Properties Editor of the desired target (Test, Section, Item)

    • Test - All Images on the Test Directions, Section Headers, and All Items

    • Section - Targeted Section Headers, and All Items in that Section

    • Item - Targeted Items Only

  2. OWL v. 7.0 - Set Test Properties Control Image Popup = “Yes”

    OR Before OWL v. 7.0 - In the Keywords Field enter: \sys:image_popup=yes\

  3. Override the above settings to exclude a specific image by applying the following keywords:

    • Section - set Image Popup = “No” on specific Section(s)
      OR use Keyword \sys:section_image_popup=no\

    • Item - set Image Popup = “No” on specific Item(s)

    • OR use Keyword \sys:section_image_popup=no\\sys:item_image_popup=no\

Screen Wide Images

Images can be set to be the entire width of the given screen.

Using the expanded image feature may make the image expand off the screen vertically.

The examinee may be required to use the scroll bars.

 

  1. Open the Properties Editor of the Item

  2. In the Keywords Field enter: \sys:image_width_100\

Custom Image Scaling

If you choose to use this option, please be sure to carefully preview your test.

The new image size WILL change the layout of your items in OWL Tester.

 

  1. Click on the property control of an Item.

  2. In the Keywords Field enter: \sys:media_dimensions=wwwpx*hhhpx\
    Where "www" is the desired width dimension and "hhh" is the height dimension

 

Some Tips:

  • The image will be scaled and adjusted with letter-boxing or pillar-boxing according to the image's limiting dimension.

  • You will have better results if you avoid image sizes that are extremely large or extremely small.

  • It is not recommended that the image dimensions be set in excess of the screen size. If they are, the image will be displayed with scroll bars.

  • If the images size is extremely small, the text area on certain items may be negatively affected. If the text area seems too small (compressed with scroll bars) you will want to use this text height keyword along with the image size keyword.
    \sys:text_height=hhhpx !important\

Videos

Tips for using Videos in your OWL Test

  • Videos can be used on Test Directions, Section headers, or individual Items

  • For OWL Directions Items and OWL Oral Response Items, when there is no Text Prompt entered, the Video Prompt will be resized to be full screen.

  • Video files are processed when they are uploaded so that they may work in the OWL TMS.

  • The most current/popular video file formats work well: .mp4, .m4v, .mov, .avi, .flv

  • The maximum file upload size is 50 megabytes (MB)

  • It may take extra time to process a video file. If your file is not immediately available to preview, please wait a few minutes and try again.

  • The tester automatically adjusts by adding 'letterboxing' or 'pillarboxing' to the display area.

Audio

Tips for Uploading Audio

  • Most common audio file types are accepted

  • Uploaded audio files are processed through FFmpeg to ensure proper browser function

  • If your file is not immediately available to preview, please wait a minute and try again, it may still be processing.

  • The maximum file upload size is 50 megabytes (MB)

  • Good naming of your source files, will help you manage them within the OWL TMS

Audio Replay Settings

 

Total Replays on the Entire Test - use the Test Properties Control (1)

  • Limits the number of times the audio may be replayed during a testing session

  • Does NOT include Test Directions or Individual Direction Items

  • Does NOT override the limits set on the Section/Item Audio
    (e.g., you can set the Total Replays on Test, and still limit the replays on an item to 0/1 times.)

Section Header Replays - use the Section Properties Control (2)

  • Applies ONLY to the audio that is placed on the specific Section header

  • Does NOT control the Items within the Section

Individual Item Replays - use the Item Properties Control (3)

  • Applies only to the audio that is placed on the individual Items

 
owl-properties-control.png

Possible Values:

Total Test Replays (1)

Unlimited*

Limited = 0

Limited = user defined

Section Replays (2)

Unlimited

Limited = 0*

Limited = user defined

Item Replays (3)

Unlimited

Limited = 0*

Limited = user defined

* default settings

Examples:

click on image to expand

click on image to expand

Audio Player Behavior

 

FIRST: User Audio File Plays (if present)

  • Only one User Audio Prompt can be attached to an OWL Item.

  • The User Language Audio will play regardless of the audio file's assigned language.

SECOND: Target Audio File Plays (if present)

  • If there is only one Target Audio, it will play regardless of the assigned language.

  • If there is more than one Target Audio, the prompt that matches the Assignment language will play.

  • If there is more than one Target Audio, and none matches the Assignment's language, nothing will play.

 

You can find more detailed descriptions here. [view]

PLEASE NOTE:

The Audio player functions differently depending on what combination of the following settings you use:

  • Auto Play

  • Replays

  • Timers

  • Strict Mode \sys:audio_replay_strict_mode=yes\

Target Audio Feature

Great for SOPI-like assessments (simulated oral proficiency interview)

OWL users build their online test(s) once;

Create assignment with target language prompts in a variety of languages;

Then use that single test to evaluate all their World language students.

 
 

  1. From the Test, Section or Item Builder, click on the Media Control

  2. Upload or Drag and Drop the audio file from your computer

  3. A popup box will appear, choose the language for the audio file and click OK

  4. When creating the OWL Assignment, set the Target Language for the file you wish to play

Audio Player Interaction with Timers

Test Audio Prompts

  • Test level (directions tab) audio can never be auto played

  • Can always be replayed

  • Test timers will not start until the Start Test button is clicked

  • Test timers are never paused regardless of audio player behavior on Sections or Items

Auto Play Media = Yes

  • Section Timer will not begin or be displayed until the audio prompt has played for the first time

  • Section and Item timer will pause during Section audio replays

  • Section and Item timers will pause during Item audio replays

  • Test timers do not pause

 

Auto Play Media = No

  • Test, Section, and Item timers all display and begin immediately upon Start Test

  • Section and Item timer will pause during Section and Item audio initial play

  • Section and Item timer will pause during Section and Item audio replays

  • Test timers do not pause