Questionmark Perception
What is it?
Questionmark Perception is a dedicated system for delivering and managing diagnostic, formative and summative online assessments. It is widely used in the academic and commercial sector in the UK. Questionmark was introduced at the University of Bristol in 2006 and piloted for two years before becoming a centrally supported service in 2008.
Licensed users are provided with a login account to access the user area and, good practice guides and to learn more about the use of Perception in different contexts as well as the development of the system and its functionality.
The system has three main components:
- Authoring Manager: desktop client authoring tool used to develop questions and assessments
- Enterprise Manager: web based management system used to manage participants (students), set up tests and run results
- Questionmark delivery platform: a secure platform for UoB authenticated users, an open platform for delivery of open tests and surveys and a guest access platform for non UoB users.
The Questionmark server offers a wide range of options for students to retrieve feedback on past assessment such as total score of detailed feedback on how they have answered the questions. Students access tests via a web browser either synchronously (e.g. in a computer lab) or from any networked computer they wish, depending on how the test has been designed.
The University is currently using Version 5.2 of Questionmark Perception.
Why use it?
- Robust and reliable commercial product with a range of secure delivery options
- Broad range of questions
- Multiple authoring functionality
- Flexible scoring options including negative marking
- Detailed statistics on questions and tests
- Enables adaptive testing
- Powerful reporting engine
- Customisable email broadcasting and notifications features
For further information on the benefits for staff and students on online assessment see the relevant pages.
What does online assessment look like?
This example test has been made open so anyone can view it as as many times as desired. It is used here to illustrate many of the types of question available in Questionmark. Note however that there are a variety of other ways the test and feedback could have been presented and the test scored.
How do I start using Questionmark Perception?
We would advise the first step to be to make contact with us on
e-learning@bristol.ac.uk and ask for a consultation. This is required to ensure that the assessment process is implemented in accordance with the e-assessment guidelines and that the academic lead is supported throughout the process by central and local support before engaging in an activity that requires a considerable front loaded work when it is implemented for the first time.
What support is available?
The Education Support Unit provides advice and support on the following areas;
- advice on how to implement online assessment
- advice on writing effective objective questions including questions design and question types supported by Questionmark.
- one to one or small group training session on authoring questions and developing tests (Authoring Manager) and managing users and reporting (Enterprise Manager)
- Dedicated 'How to's' and troubleshooting for academic users