Development of resources for computer-based testing in campus-wide IT systems

Abstract

The aim of this work is to give a brief account of an ongoing project at the University of Porto which aims to connect two different fields of teaching and learning: e-learning and computer-based assessment. Although these are contiguous areas, related to each other, there are some issues that rise from the use of computers to engage assessment activities. The University of Porto started a vigorous project of e-learning and development of e-content in 2003. The main results already achieved are the following: each e-learning course is coupled with the administrative and academic information system; international high quality platforms are available for teachers to publish their e-learning courseware; the quality and the amount of e-learning activity has been increasing exponentially; a new dynamic in e-learning has developed from the "middle out" proposal of the special interest group, which is now recommending complementary work in related fields such as e-portfolios, repositories of digital resources, and computer based assessment with a strong interest towards computer adaptive testing - CAT. This paper describes the strategies of implementing computer-based activities throughout the University.