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Start Here: This is an important video for new users.
This video explains the components of your online activity and shows you where you enter each in the OWL Test Builder.
(00:40) System Check (00:55) Directions (01:04) Sections (02:09) Finish Test (02:38) Elements in the OWL Test Builder
Test Building
Go to the Building Menu and select Tests.
Click the Create button to launch the OWL Test Builder.
NEVER put the SAME Section or Item (i.e., same tracking #) on a Test more than once.
If you need to ask the same question twice, make a copy of the item and place the original and copy on the test.
(00:19) Overall Builder Controls (00:55) Test Structure (01:19) Content Building Fields and Controls (02:19) Adding Sections/Items to a Test (02:51) Other Controls
Parts of an OWL Test
System Check (automatic) - created by OWL based on the content of the test.
Directions (required) - default will appear if nothing is provided
Section(s) (required) - every Test MUST have at least one Section.
Item(s) (required) - every Section MUST include at least one Item.
Finish Test (required) - default will appear if nothing is provided
Sections
Every OWL Test MUST have at least one Section.
How to add a Section to Your Test
Select the Properties control for the overall Test
At the Bottom of the Property Editor, select the Number of Sections
Click the New button
To add a Section you previously created click Existing and select the Section from the list.
Section List Page
Sections will appear in the Section List Page whether you create them individually or while you are building a Test.
Select Building >> Section
When the List Page appears, click the Create Button
If you need to Edit an existing section, click on the pencil
To view the section in tester, use the Preview control
To copy or delete Sections, select them with the checkbox(es), then click on the Copy or Delete button (2).
If a Section is locked, it has been used on a Test/Assignment that has been completed by examinee(s) and cannot be changed or deleted. If you need to make subsequent changes to the Section, make a copy of the Section and change the copied version.
Section Header
The OWL Section Header is displayed at the top of the screen above every item in a Section.
Display a text or image prompt that is the topic of the section
Include a reading passage for a reading section
Give instructions relevant to the items in the section
Include an audio prompt that the student may listen and replay as they proceed through the questions.
Enter content into the Section’s header using the Text prompts and Media Control for the Section.
How to Reorder Your Sections
For more details on using this control, see the section on Reordering, Grouping and Randomization.
To reorder the Section click on the Reorder control at the Test level.
Re-number the Sets or Sections in the desired order.
Items / Questions
Every Section MUST have at least one Item.
How to Add Items to your Test
Select the Properties control for the Section
At the Bottom of the Section Property Editor, select the Type of Item
and the Number
Click the New button
To add an Item you previously created click Existing and select the Item from the list.
How to change the order of your Items within a Section
For more details on using this control, see the section on Reordering, Grouping and Randomization.
To reorder the items within the section click on the Reorder control for the Section.
Re-number the Sets or Items in the desired order.
How to move an Item from one Section to Another
CAREFULLY FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
Remove the Item from the first section, using the [x] control to the right of the item.
Save the Test.
Add the Item to the desired section.
Save the Test again.
Bulk Property Updating
Edit your exams faster by using the Bulk Properties Updater.
Randomizing, Grouping, Reordering
Deliver a Unique Online Exam Experience with OWL Reordering Grouping and Randomizing
Create a unique test experience for each test taker and improve test security and integrity.
Deliver comparable forms of a test section or individual items at random.
Deliver your test in a set order or shuffled.
Shuffle the individual items or entire sections.
Shuffle all the elements within sets, or randomly pick a subset of items from the set.
This feature allows you to randomize the delivery of sections or items to your examinees.
It is also a way to deliver a subset of questions to each test taker.
1. No Randomization (00:10) How Sets Work in OWL (00:18) How to Reorder Items (01:03) 2. Shuffle All (01:34) 3. Shuffle within Sets (02:00) 4. Pick N from Sets (03:07)
OWL Sets Explained
The concept of an OWL "set" is important because it is the way OWL offers its users so much flexibility in the way they present their online activities. It appears in several places including points, randomization and reporting. Watch this quick video for an explanation.
Points
The Points Editor is used to define test scoring. It should be the LAST STEP in your test building.
Points are assigned to OWL activities at the overall Test level
The points control is NOT available in the Section or Item builder
Grouping and randomization settings determine how points will be distributed
Assigning points should be the LAST STEP in the Test Building process
If you make subsequent changes to your Test (i.e., adding/deleting/regrouping) revisit the points editor
Field Controls (00:35), Commands (01:05), Example 1 (01:46), Example 2 (02:02), Example 3 (02:15)
Score Aggregation
Scores can be aggregated at the Test or Section level using one of these 4 operations: SUM (default), AVG, MIN, or MAX.
The default behavior is for the Section score to be the sum of the Item points earned on that Section
The Test Score is by default the sum of the Section points earned.
To specify one of these operations, do the following:
Open the Properties Control editor for the Test or Section
In the Keywords Field enter the appropriate system keyword
Example 1: Section score = Average of all the item scores: Section Properties Control: \sys:item_score_aggregation=AVG\
Example 2: Test Score = Maximum score received on any of the Sections: Test Properties Control: \sys:section_score_aggregation=MAX\
Equipment Checks
Please leave your Equipment Check properties set to their defaults.
The Device Check requires the test taker to ensure their speakers are working if there are items on the test that require listening to audio or video prompts. If the test includes Oral Response Items, the test taker is also required to test their microphone.
The examinee will not be able to start their test until they have completed the appropriate device checks.
If the examinee “resumes” a test session, they will need to complete the device check again.
Requiring Additional Equipment Checks
Use the select the “Equipment Check Shown” test property to choose the type of check to be presented to the test taker.
Auto (default, recommended) - OWL will display the appropriate system check based on the test content.
Play Audio - For tests where the Test Taker is required to listen to audio prompts, but not record.
Record Audio - For tests that contain oral response items. Checks the microphone and speakers.
You can require your test taker to check additional equipment than the items on your test warrant, but not less.
(e.g., for a test with oral response items you cannot limit the equipment check to audio only)Use Case: Consider three OWL Tests linked together as shown in the chart below. Even though the first test does not require an equipment check, you would want to know that the test taker's speakers and microphone are working at the beginning of their first testing session.
Test Directions
The Test Directions is a way to present information to the examinee before the test timer starts.
The Test Directions page is used to provide general directions for the entire Test.
The page will be on the first tab of the Test.
Directions may consist of Text, Images and Audio prompts.
The controls for the test directions are located in the test area of the Test Builder - the topmost text prompt and media controls.
Finish Test Tab Feedback
OWL has many ways to provide your Test Takers with information on the Finish Test Tab. Use this decision tree and click the button to find out more about the best solution for you.
How to select Feedback
Will the Feedback be
Based on Test Taker Performance?
Do you want to Link to another OWL Assignment?
Do you want to
Customize the Message?
The Finish Test tab displays a message for your test taker at the end of their exam session.
Do you want to
Customize the Message?
System generated feedback provided on Finish Test tab.
All of your test takers will receive the same message on their Finish Test Tab.
This option can be used for Human Rated Tests OR Auto-scored Tests.
To use a static feedback message on an auto-scored test, do NOT set the Assignment to "Show Instant Test Results”.
If no changes are made, all examinees will receive the following default static feedback message:
OWL gives you the option to override the default message and create a customized message.
Click on the properties editor at the Test level
Enter your message in the Static Feedback field
Click on the HTML button if you wish to apply additional formatting to your message
Custom Static Feedback Message
System Generated
Static Feedback
System Generated Auto Scored Feedback
Each Test Taker receives an end of test message that is determined by their performance.
This feature is available for Auto-scored Tests ONLY.
If no changes are made, all examinees will receive the following default dynamic feedback message
Sharing Digital Content
Use OWL Sharing to Collaborate with Other OWL Users on Your Team
With OWL You Can Share the Following Types of Content
Entire Tests
Sections of Items
All OWL Questions
Media: Audio, Image, Video
Dynamic Feedback
Certificates
Rubrics
Sharing Your OWL Content
When you share something, you are giving other users permission to make a copy of your work.
You should remove the sharing permissions once the person has made their copy.
This tutorial will demonstrate how to share your OWL content with other members of your team. [Transcript]
If you make changes before the other user makes their copy, their copy will include those subsequent changes.
Accessing Shared Content
Go to Building menu >> Shared
Make a Copy of Shared Content
If another OWL user has shared something with you watch this tutorial. [Transcript]
FAQs
How do I put items on my Test/Section?
Go to the properties control on the Section.
At the bottom left of the properties editor, select the item type
Select how many you wish to build
Click New, then click Okay
Item building templates will be added to your Test/Section
How do I require answers for every item on my test?
Open the Properties Editor at the Test Level
Select Require Answers (Override) = "Yes"
Why can't I edit my content?
Once an activity has been launched (i.e, a test session has started) everything that comprises that activity will be locked by the system. You will see a locked icon (dark blue, closed padlock) in the appropriate list pages.
Test items cannot be changed by you, or any other user, while testing is in progress. This ensures testing integrity by presenting all students on a given assignment with an identical activity.
To change a locked element, copy the original item and make the desired revisions to the copied version.
Why can't I delete an unlocked instance from a list page?
Locked Content - Instances that have been used to deliver an online exam cannot be deleted from the system.
Unlocked Content - OWL protects your work by not allowing you to delete and element that is being used in another instance. For example, you cannot delete an Item that is being referenced by a Section. Likewise you cannot delete Tests that are being referenced by an Assignment.
The order of deletion is:
Delete the Assignment (if applicable)
- First remove any users from the assignments rosters- Also remove the assignment from any registrations
- Remove any Notifications
Delete the Test (if applicable)
Delete the Section (if applicable)
Delete the Items
Alternately, you can:
Remove the Section from the Test, or Remove the Items from the Section
Then delete the unwanted elements
Can I put the same question on a test twice?
Yes, but... ONLY IF YOU MAKE A COPY of the Item
NEVER, put the same Item (i.e., same OWL Tracking #) on a Test twice
This is also true of Sections
Can I Copy and Paste From Another Program?
When copying and pasting from another program you must PASTE AS PLAIN TEXT.
There are a few ways to accomplish this:
Using Ctrl + Shift + V
Right Click, then select Paste As Plain Text
Paste your text into a program such as Notepad to strip out the formatting, then copy and paste the text only into the OWL Editor.