Abstract: The current invention is designed to improve the certainty of test-taker classifications in testing programs utilizing open-ended items. The current invention discloses methods to improve certainty in estimates of test-taker performance for all test-takers while using a minimum of scoring resources. The invention selectively allocates resources to scoring by ceasing to allocate scoring resources to test-takers whose performance has been determined with sufficient certainty, and by having an additional reader or readers score responses from test-takers whose scores are close to cutoff levels. The invention further increases precision of scores for test-takers near a cutoff by selectively allocating more reliable and accurate readers to score responses most likely to influence a test-taker's performance classification. Other scoring resources are also shown.

Abstract: A system and method for automated assessment of constrained constructed responses provides for automatic, e.g., programmatic, assessing of a test subject response to a constrained constructed response item or question. In one embodiment, paper test materials with test subject markings thereon are converted to electronic form. Test subject markings are further isolated, for example, by registration, sizing and removal of markings other than a graphic response. The subject markings are further compared with a baseline response, correctness deviation criteria and incorrectness deviation criteria (e.g., correctness, incorrectness, substantial correctness, substantial incorrectness, and so on) from which one or more of a score, further learning or other assessment results may be determined. Cluster analysis or other post-evaluation or post-assessment processing may also be conducted, or re-evaluation or re-assessment may also be conducted.

Abstract: A method and system to link an article such as a publication to supplemental content through the use of an RFID tag embedded or attached to the article. Based on the electronic data within the RFID tag, a computer system or other network enabled device obtains specific and appropriate supplemental content for the publication or for a specific copy of a the publication. While the primary application of the invention deals with printed publications, connecting to a server as the source of the supplemental content via a network or the internet, and displaying supplemental content through a standard browser, the system and method can be advantageously used to obtain supplemental content for a variety of documents or objects and the content can be obtained from a variety of sources.

Abstract: In a method and system to extract data from handwritten information when the information is captured as sequences of strokes, vectors, or marks, temporal data is stored within the color or gray-scale encoding of pixel values within a bitmapped image. A bitmapped image is used to create a derived image suitable for data extraction and a method of analyzing the image, including the encoded temporal data, to yield an adjusted image that better reflects the intent of the person who created the handwriting. While the primary application of the invention is in processing handwritten responses to assessment items, the system and method can be advantageously used to extract data from or to improve the presentation of information from an electronic representation of temporal human marks in many applications. Additionally, the system and method can be advantageously used to store and process other types of data within a bitmapped image.