Abstract:
A method for performing online test, scoring and raking test result in an interactive instructional system is provided. An online test is proceeded with a teaching portable information-processing device and several learning portable information-processing devices through a network. The test information is transmitted from the teaching apparatus, and the answering information is replied from the learning portable information processing apparatus to the teaching apparatus. The teaching apparatus scores the test results, then transmits the information of sores and rank to the learning apparatus for display. The teaching portable information processing apparatus are personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones or the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention generally relates to a method for an information-processing apparatus of an interactive instructional system, and particularly relates to a method for online ranking of test result in an interactive instructional system having a plurality of portable data processing and communication devices.  
           [0003]    2. Related Art  
           [0004]    Conventional tests for study are performed by teachers who provide test sheets for students, and check and score the answers after collecting the answer sheets. This process costs much time and becomes a burden of the teacher. Following computer developing, computerized answer-checking methods are also used in order to save some efforts of teachers.  
           [0005]    Computerized answer-checking methods are performed by computers with image-recognition to the test answers. The students have to answer the test with specific marking methods that comply with the image-recognition requirements of the computer. Therefore, the answer sheets are processed through computer after testing, and the results can be obtained immediately. Therefore, the computerized answer-checking methods are commonly applied to general tests.  
           [0006]    However, in common educational environments, teachers still have to spend a lot of time for tests and scorings. There is a demand for teachers to get easier methods for testing and scoring. As portable information and communication devices, such as personal digital assistant (PDA) , are more and more popular, it is desirable to apply the devices for an interactive and real-time test and scoring process.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The object of the invention is to provide a method for performing online test, scoring and ranking of instructional achievement tests through information processing apparatus joining in a wireless network.  
           [0008]    A method for scoring and ranking of instructional achievement test through information processing apparatus according to the invention applies a plurality of portable electronic data processing and communication devices, which includes an teaching portable data processing/communication device and several learning portable data processing/communication devices. The method includes the following steps. First, establishing a local-area network of teaching and learning data processing and communication devices. Then, inputting a test command by the teaching apparatus and setting the teaching and learning apparatus into test mode. Further, transmitting test information from the teaching apparatus to the learning apparatus, counting for a time period T at the teaching apparatus, and transmitting a time out command from the teaching apparatus to the learning apparatus after the time period T. Then, replying answering information from each learning apparatus to the teaching apparatus when receiving the tome out command. Further, scoring and ranking the test results of each learning apparatus by the teaching apparatus. And finally, transmitting the scores and rank of the learning apparatus from the teaching apparatus to the learning apparatus.  
           [0009]    In the aforesaid method. the process of the teaching apparatus includes following steps. Firstly, inputting a test command. Secondly, selecting test information. Thirdly, transmitting test information to the learning apparatus. Fourthly, counting a time period T. Fifthly, transmitting a time-out command to the learning apparatus after the time period T. Sixthly, receiving answering information coming from the learning apparatus. Seventhly, calculating testing score and ranking result of each learning apparatus according to the answering information. Finally, transmitting the scores and rank of test result to the learning apparatus. The time period T is a time interval preset by the teaching apparatus as a time limit for answering the test.  
           [0010]    In each learning apparatus, after the process of receiving test information, a step of keying a finish-answering key and transmitting answering information is included. There is also a step of setting the finish-answering key for the learning apparatus.  
           [0011]    The aforesaid data processing/communication apparatus can be personal digital assistant (PDA), notebook computers, palm computers or desktop computers. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow. However, this description is for purposes of illustration only, and thus is not limitation of the invention, wherein:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an interactive instructional system of the invention that includes a plurality of PDA;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a descriptive view of an interactive instructional system of the invention that includes a plurality of PDA joining a local-area network;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a main flowchart of a method for scoring and ranking an online test according to the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is an operational flowchart of a teaching PDA of the invention; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is an operational flowchart of a learning PDA of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    The invention provides a method for performing an online test, scoring and ranking the test result in an interactive instructional system. The interactive instructional system applies portable electronic data processing and communication devices, such as PDAs, mobile communication devices, or portable computers. A teaching (teacher) portable data processing device and several learning (student) portable data processing devices join a wireless local-area network (LAN). The local-area network covers a limited space, such as a classroom. The following descriptions are taking PDAs as embodiments. Through the network, the teaching and learning PDAs perform an online instructional achievement test, and score and rank the test result.  
         [0019]    As shown in FIG. 1, an interactive instructional system where the method of the invention applies to includes several PDAs. A teaching PDA  10  and several learning PDAs  20  join a wireless local-area network. The teaching PDA  10  includes an input unit  11 , a wireless transceiver  12 , a central processing unit  13 , a memory unit  14  and a display unit  15 . Each of the learning PDAs  20  also includes a wireless transceiver  21 , an input unit  22 , a central processing unit  23 , a memory unit  24  and a display unit  25 . The input units  11 ,  21  are used for inputs of instructional commands and related information. The wireless transceivers  12 ,  22  are used to transmit and receive information in the local-area network. The memory units  14 ,  24  store the test information, questions, answers and test results in the teaching PDA  10  or the learning PDA  20 . The display units  15 ,  25  display the related information, including test information and results. The central processing units  13 ,  23  execute the test commands and perform the scoring and ranking processes.  
         [0020]    As shown in FIG. 2, an interactive instructional system in which the invention applies includes a plurality of PDAs joining a local-area network. It includes a teaching PDA  10  and several learning PDAs  30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60  and so on. The PDAs  10  and  30 ,  40 , etc. joint a wireless local-area network so that an online test, scoring and ranking can be achieved. The test information is stored in the teaching PDA  10  or a separated databank  70  and accessible through wireless communication.  
         [0021]    A method for performing an online test, scoring and ranking of test result according to the invention will be described with an embodiment illustrated with FIGS. 3, 4 and  5 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a main flowchart of the invention. It includes the following steps. First, connecting among learning PDAs and teaching PDA (step  310 ). Then, inputting a test command to the teaching PDA for setting the learning and teaching PDAs into a test mode (step  320 ). The setting is performed by a teacher who operates a TEST key. The TEST key starts a test program stored in the teaching PDA. Correspondent programs are stored in the learning PDAs so as to execute the online test. The programs on the teaching PDA and the learning PDA are not the same, but work together.  
         [0023]    A further process is transmitting test information from the teaching PDA to the learning PDAs (step  330 ). The test information is selected by the teacher from a databank stored in the teaching PDA or other sources. Then, transmitting answering information by the learning PDA to the teaching PDA (step  340 ). The transmission is done in two manners. The first is by time limit that a time period T for the test is set and counted by the teaching PDA, then a time-out command is transmitted to the learning PDAs for acquiring the answering information. Each learning PDA will transmit the answer information upon receiving the time-out command. The second manner is by active answering of the learning PDA. When the learning finishes answering, a finish-answering key is pressed to transmit the answering information to the teaching PDA. The finish-answering key is preset by the learner. The next process is calculating testing scores and ranking result by teaching PDA (step  350 ). The scoring and ranking can be expressed with a table or list in a preset format. Finally, transmitting the scores and rank from the teaching PDA to the learning PDAs and displaying on the learning PDAs. (step  360 ). Therefore, the learners can obtain the test scores and rank in real time.  
         [0024]    The method of scoring and ranking online test according to the invention is composed of processes at the teaching PDA and the learning PDA. The flowcharts of the processes in the teaching PDA and the learning PDA are illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively. In FIG. 4, the operational process in the teaching PDA includes the following steps. First, the teaching PDA inputs a test command after establishing the local-area network (step  410 ). The test command is inputted by the teacher for starting test programs installed on the teaching PDA and the learning PDA. Then, the teaching PDA selects test information (step  420 ). The test information is chosen by the teacher, and ascertained by a preset key. Then, the teaching PDA transmits the test information to the learning PDAs (step  430 ). Meanwhile, it counts a time period T (step  440 ) which is set by the teacher by consideration of the number or difficulty of the test items. During the time period T, the learner can actively reply with answering information to the teaching PDA. Therefore, the teaching PDA monitors if there is active answering information received during the time period T (step  450 ). When the time period T reaches, the teaching PDA transmits a time-out command to the learning apparatus to acquire the answering information. Namely, finishing counting and acquiring answering information (step  460 ). Then, the teaching PDA receives answering information coming from the learning apparatus; calculating testing scores and ranking result (step  470 ) according to the answering information. Finally, the teaching PDA transmits the scores and rank of test result to the learning apparatus (step  480 ).  
         [0025]    The aforesaid steps finish an online test, scoring and ranking procedure. When a further test is needed, another procedure can be started from beginning of the steps.  
         [0026]    In FIG. 5, the operational process in each learning PDA includes the following steps. First, the learning PDA receives the test command and starts a test program after joining the local-area network (step  510 ). Then, the learning PDA waits to receive test information (step  520 ). The learner starts to answer the test after receiving the test information. Therefore, the learning PDA waits the learner for transmission of the answering information (step  530 ). The transmission is ensured by the learner who presses a finish-answering key. The finish-answering key is preset by the learning. Otherwise, the learning PDA transmits the answering information after receiving the time-out command of time period T from the teaching PDA (step  540 ). Then, the learning PDA waits for receiving the test scores and rank, and displays (step  550 ) after receiving the test result from the teaching PDA.  
         [0027]    The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.