Psychometric and Evidentiary Approaches to Simulation Assessment in Packet Tracer Software

Packet Tracer is a comprehensive instructional software application for teaching skills and concepts associated with computer networking. In addition to a wide range of simulation, visualization, and micro-world authoring features to support student-centered exploration, explanation and experimentation, Packet Tracer includes features for assessment task authoring with automated scoring and reporting. This paper provides a theoretical explanation for these features following the approach of evidence centered design (ECD) and discusses implications for future extension. It is argued that the four process model for assessment delivery provides a number of valuable features that allow for conceptual and computational extension into improved simulation-based assessment, as well as gaming and tutoring.