e-Xamina: An Experimental Multi-user Assessment Platform for Computer Adaptive Testing

Most recent e-learning platforms include testing modules and Computer Based Assessment (CBA) is currently one of the most pressing issues in Learning Management Systems (LMS). Traditional testing techniques aren´t fully adequate to examination administration in higher education contexts, as they generally require choosing the answer just in a narrow set of options. Adaptive testing permits an evaluation more suitable for the examinee but it is affected by limits related to the uniformity of the exams, to the range/width of the subjects and to the large amount of items to be inserted in the question databases. e-Xamina is a prototype of assessment platform aimed at combining the features of these two main kinds of CBA. e-Xamina model suggests a new performance based exam pattern and a score criterion based on standard examination practice. Finally, e-Xamina multi-user feature allows the teachers to cooperate in managing course database, with many different levels of competence and rights.