Abstract: The methodology of the present invention is implemented by a system which defines concepts about which a respondent is required to demonstrate knowledge of a relationship. The concepts are represented by respondent-manipulable devices that are uniquely associated with the concepts, and the respondent is able to manipulate attributes of the devices to create an arrangement of the devices representative of the respondent's understanding of the relationship of the concepts with which the devices are associated. The attributes of the manipulated devices are recorded and converted into a response pattern based on the cognitive relationships of the devices as manipulated by the respondent. One or more predefined rubric patterns are associated with the constructed response item and define possible cognitive patterns of the concepts as represented by the devices. The response pattern is compared to the rubric pattern to identify matches between the response pattern and the rubric pattern.

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.

Abstract: The methodology of the present invention is implemented by a system which defines concepts about which a respondent is required to demonstrate knowledge of a relationship. The concepts are represented by respondent- manipulable devices that are uniquely associated with the concepts, and the respondent is able to manipulate attributes of the devices to create an arrangement of the devices representative of the respondent's understanding of the relationship of the concepts with which the devices are associated. The attributes of the manipulated devices are recorded and converted into a response pattern based on the cognitive relationships of the devices as manipulated by the respondent. One or more predefined rubric patterns are associated with the constructed response item and define possible cognitive patterns of the concepts as represented by the devices. The response pattern is compared to the rubric pattern to identify matches between the response pattern and the rubric pattern.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and methodology for overcoming the shortcomings of traditional pen and paper assessment administration while taking advantage of the benefits offered by computer technology in a manner that is fair to all respondents, regardless of their individual computer proficiencies. Hand written item responses are made by a writing instrument that creates a digital electronic record of the hand written response. The digital electronic record can then be stored, transmitted electronically, and evaluated.

Abstract: A system and method for administering adaptive tests employs computer technology for item storage, response storage and scoring, and item selection, but permits examinees to write item responses on paper response sheets. The handwritten responses are electronically captured so as to create electronic data corresponding to the response. The electronic data can thereafter be electronically processed, e.g., stored, sorted, transmitted, displayed, scored, etc.

Abstract: The current invention discloses methods to expedite and simplify a range finding process with resulting savings in time and cost. The invention utilizes digitized representations of respondent answers instead of documents containing the student responses. The invention uses methods of using performance indicators other than the response itself to identify a targeted subset of individual student responses within the sample which are likely to be exemplars of any given score point. In the preferred implementation of this invention, scanned images or other digitized representations of the student responses, and electronically recorded performance indicators are used so that a computer system can quickly and efficiently identify and present the targeted subset to the expert readers of a range finding team. The invention allows expanding the sample of responses available to range finding, up to the entire test administration.