Moving from OMR to CBA Optical Mark Recognition Computer-Based Assessment

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Benefits of moving from OMR to Computer-Based
Assessment
by Dr Simon Wilkinson and Heather Rai
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Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) Why Move?

• OMR does not scale well with increasing cohorts
• Time to print
• Time to scan
• Graphics costly/difficult to reproduce well on
  paper
• Interactive question types not available

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CBA Benefits 1 to Academics

• Realism incorporating multimedia

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CBA Benefits 1 to Academics

• Interactivity dynamic question types

Hotspot
Drag each label to its appropriate position
Click on the cochlea structure
Labelling
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CBA Benefits 2 to Students

• Easier to change answers
• Interface can be adapted for certain
  disabilities
• Dyslexia
• Colour-blindness

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CBA Benefits 3 to Administrators

• Reduced running costs
• Faster marking
• Easier to timetable
• No printing costs
• Increased Quality
• Item bank change auditing
• More accurate marking
• Check that externals have reviewed papers

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CBA Any Disadvantages?

• Inherently more risky than OMR
• Large up-front costs
• Server purchasing 15,000
• Server support experts
• System programmers
• Large computer labs required
• Changes the relationship of key stakeholders

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In-house developed system TouchStone 2.7
www.nottingham.ac.uk/nle/about/touchstone
any Questions?