Exploration and implementation of computerized adaptative testing methods

Details

Supervisors

Mens, Kim

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences informatiques, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

enEvery student's life is punctuated by tests. Written, practical or oral examinations, formative tests or oral presentations are all ways of assessing a student's level. In the written tests, a large similar set of questions is asked to all students without taking their individual level into account. In these students, there are students of all levels, yet they are all tested in the same manner. With a limited range of questions specific to each student, it would be possible to adjust the difficulty of the test to each student. This would allow their actual level to be determined more quickly and as accurately as if they had been asked all the questions. It would also allow a better assessment of their ability level. This method of testing already exists under the name "Adaptive Testing". This kind of tests offers a way to give question that adjusts to the answers that the student has previously given. The Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain) does not currently use this kind of tests. We considered it would be useful to implement a system that allows UCLouvain professors to perform their own adaptive tests on the INGInious platform. Once the system is implemented, each student will be able to test himself in a few questions. Adaptive testing, although still not widely used, offers an alternative with certain advantages over classical tests. We hope to give more visibility to this type of testing by implementing this system.