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I am in need of information on using programs such Web Course in a Box
and/or/or Lotus Learning Space to deliver courses to pharmacists/nurses. I
am most interested in how exams are given, proctored, etc. Thank you. Gary
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[db - A few replies]
Date: Tue, 04 Aug 1998 22:11:19 +0100
From: Roy Sinclair
Reply-To: roy.sinclair.at.virgin.net
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: PharmMM.at.pharm.cpb.ouhsc.edu
Subject: Re: Testing on the Web
Dear gary,
Thank you for your mail. Unfortunately I do not use and am not familiar
with either of these programs.
TWhat I am now doing is writing training programs using HTML pages in
such a way that they can be compiled in a modular way as standalone
packages or be run in their entirity across a network.
Godd luck
Regards
Roy Sinclair, Pr. Pharmacist I.T. St. Georges Hospital, Tooting, London
(e-mail roy.sinclair.at.virgin.net)
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X-Sender: richard.at.pharmacy.uq.edu.au
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 07:45:06 +1000
To: PharmMM.at.pharm.cpb.ouhsc.edu
From: Richard Prankerd
Subject: Re: Testing on the Web
Listreaders:
I too would be interested in the issues mentioned by Gary.
Richard Prankerd
Richard J. Prankerd, PhD
Senior Lecturer Phone: INT + (617) 3365-3179
School of Pharmacy Fax: INT + (617) 3365-1688
University of Queensland richard.at.uqpharmacy.pharmacy.uq.edu.au
St Lucia QLD 4072 http://www.uq.edu.au/pharmacy/academic.html
AUSTRALIA
"QUEENSLAND -- THE STATE THAT'S TWICE AS BIG AS TEXAS"
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Date: Wed, 05 Aug 1998 18:09:05 -0400
From: Carey Rohan
Reply-To: mrohan.at.erols.com
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: PharmMM.at.pharm.cpb.ouhsc.edu
CC: mrohan.at.erols.com
Subject: Re: Testing on the Web
Interesting question! however, Web course used as supplement to
classroom with good results..
Cecelia
---
From:
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 20:52:03 EDT
To: PharmMM.at.pharm.cpb.ouhsc.edu
Mime-Version: 1.0
Subject: Re: Testing on the Web
Hi,
My name is Maggie. I am not sure how exactly I got on this e-mail. But I am
a pharmacist currently working on my masters in business administration thru
an internet based programs.
There have only been a few exams invollved in the program. Most of which have
been open book exams. There have been a few exams that have been proctored.
To accomplish the proctoring, there is a form that the person I choose to
proctor the exam for me. Once approved, the test is sent to them and they
administer the exam using the stiplulations the university sets.
Hopefully this information helps you.
If you need any more information please feel free to drop me a line.
Maggie
MaggieMayM.at.aol.com
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X-Sender: mepitterle.ppd.sop.at.sop.pharmacy.wisc.edu
Date: Wed, 05 Aug 1998 22:28:44 -0500
To: PharmMM.at.pharm.cpb.ouhsc.edu
From: Michael Pitterle
Subject: Re: Testing on the Web
Mime-Version: 1.0
There currently is not an inexpensive way to verify who is taking the web
based exam. The student could have a friend complete the web based exam.
We use written exams with proctors for our distant education courses.
But, you can use the testing of the web products for evaluating students
understanding of the information or a student quiz with feedback to allow
them to assess their knowledge of the information presented.
At the University of Wisconsin we have had limited success with Lotus
Learning Space. I am not using it, but reports from others using it, have
not been positive. They had to develop ways to work around some of the
short comings of the software.
==============
Michael Pitterle
mepitterle.at.pharmacy.wisc.edu
School of Pharmacy Phone (608) 262-9477
University of Wisconsin - Madison FAX (608) 265-5421
425 N Charter St Madison, WI 53706-1515
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From: "Anthony Birchall"
To:
Subject: Re: Testing on the Web
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 12:07:15 +0100
MIME-Version: 1.0
X-Priority: 3
Gary,
Macromedia sells a program called Authorware for generating online
courseware. They also sell Pathmaker which embeds this courseware into a
typical learning environment and includes additional functionality such as
assessments and instructor contact. They can be reached at
www.macromedia.com .
Another application worth looking at is Topclass, this system is designed
specifically for the web and also allows one to embed interective plugin
material. Information on this can be veiwed from www.wbtsystems.com .
All of these programs have demo versions which will give you a good
introduction to the area of online learning.
Hope this helps a little,
Anthony.
------------------
** anthony birchall
** compupharma ltd.
** developers of interactive pharmaceutical training courses
** http://www.compupharma.net
** ph: +353 1 4042 128
** fax: +353 1 4042 404
---
[db - I have an online course (http://gaps.cpb.ouhsc.edu/) that has been
used for distance learning. I've sent exams to proctors for the students to
complete under supervision. I feel strongly that a proctor needs to be at
the student end during exams...I believe the Naplex exam (and other such
exams) are administered at distributed exam centers.
I have no experience with Web Course in a Box and Lotus Learning Space but
have recently explored JavaScript to provide quiz questions with answers
and online grading. Seems to do a nice job.]
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[A few more replies - db]
From: "Pat Farmer"
Organization: Dalhousie University
To: PharmMM.at.pharm.cpb.ouhsc.edu
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 16:46:01 AST
Subject: Re: Testing on the Web
Priority: normal
The University of British Columbia has developed a web course
authoring tool called WebCT ("World Wide Web Course Tools"). Course
materials are authored in HTML or on a word processor to be converted
to HTML. It supports assignments and tests (MCQs, matching, or
fill-in-the-blank) that can be marked on-line if so desired.
Immediate on-line feedback is supported. I have only just been
introduced to it, but it IS user friendly.
Here's what they have to say about their product:
"WebCT not only produces courses for the WWW, but also uses
WWW browsers as the interface for the course-building environment.
Aside from facilitating the organization of course material on the
web, WebCT also provides a wide variety of tools and features that
can be added to a course. Examples of tools include a conferencing
system, on-line chat, student progress tracking, group project
organization, student self-evaluation, grade maintenance and
distribution, access control, navigation tools, auto-marked quizzes,
electronic mail, automatic index generation, course calendar, student
homepages, course content searches and much more."
http://homebrew.cs.ubc.ca/webct/
Pat Farmer
College of Pharmacy
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
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From: "Whelan, Julia S."
To: "'PharmMM.at.pharm.cpb.ouhsc.edu'"
Subject: RE: Testing on the Web
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 13:42:14 -0400
MIME-Version: 1.0
Dear Gary,
We are developing course material and accompanying tests using
Authorware which is made by Macromedia. It seems particularly suited to
developing quizzes, tracking student results, etc. The end product can
be delivered either over an internal network, on CD-ROM or over the Web
using another Macromedia product, Shockwave.
Julie Whelan
Reference and Instruction Librarian
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Allied Health Sciences
Boston, MA 02115
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X-Sender: rmccurdy.at.postoffice.onu.edu
Date: Thu, 06 Aug 1998 13:58:33 -0400
To: PharmMM.at.pharm.cpb.ouhsc.edu
From: "McCurdy, Robert"
Subject: Re: Testing on the Web
Mime-Version: 1.0
We use "WebCT" software for our non-traditional Doctor of Pharmacy program.
Within that licensed software are several testing features that we use. We
do not CURRENTLY use proctored paper and pencil testing.
***********************************************************
"One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a
good thing to do and always a clever thing to say."
Will Durant (1885-1981)
***********************************************************
Bob McCurdy,R.Ph.
Assistant to the Dean
Director of Student Services
Raabe College of Pharmacy
Ohio Northern University
Ada,Ohio 45810 419-772-2659 FAX 419-772-2720
1030 Beech Street Ada,OH 45810-1692 419-634-8242
---
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 22:42:40 -0500 (CDT)
From: Phillip James Vuchetich
To: PharmMM.at.pharm.cpb.ouhsc.edu
Subject: Re: Testing on the Web
MIME-Version: 1.0
I am a student and have looked at ways educational materials could be
delivered/tested electronically. What I have seen or read about is at
least this much:
Course content delivery:
This is very commonly done, and fairly easy to adapt handouts from paper
to electronic media. As has been mentioned, animation, video, and sound
can be added.
Interaction:
This wasn't mentioned much in previous notes. Of course there is email
between instructor and students, but there are also web-based discussion
groups in which students can interact - usually they are message-reply
(like newsgroups or email), but some make be live, like an IRC "Chat"
group.
Testing:
Options that have taken place, or could-
1. Paper test (locally, mailed to proctor or student, or delivered by
email).
2. Electronic test - static or dynamic (NAPLEX exams, to my understanding,
are now at Sylvan centers with proctors; the test is a computerized
adaptive test, which selectes the next question based on the answer to the
previous questions). This level of test development is probably beyond
the scope of a CE questionnaire or an exam for a single class becuase of
the time involved in developing the question set and structure.
3. Web-based test. One could develop a response form linked to a database
which evaluates the answer and generates the scoring for the exam. Or,
several courseware software packages offer different testing packages.
These courware packages are in the early generations of development, and
seem to have a considerable way to go before meeting most people's needs.
However, they do provide a structure in which material can be presented
and tested; if an institution does offer many web-based courses, this
consistency helps students get to the material faster and spend less time
trying to figure out how to get the information. It also helps
instrusture reformat their information for web presentation without
starting from scratch.
I have not seen a review of the several commercial courseware products
available - perhaps someone knows of a thorough review somewhere?
-phil
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Ohio Northern University has been using WebCT for our Non-traditional PharmD
program since late '97. We would concur that it is a very useful and
friendly package for our faculty, students, and technical support. Inquiries
about our experiences could be addressed to our program's webmaster: Jeff
Rieman at
Bob McCurdy,R.Ph.
Assistant to the Dean
Director of Student Services
Raabe College of Pharmacy
Ohio Northern University
Ada,Ohio 45810 419-772-2659 FAX 419-772-2720
1030 Beech Street Ada,OH 45810-1692 419-634-8242
PharmMM Discussion List Archive Index page
David Bourne (david@boomer.org)