UKCDR
Encyclopedia
The United Kingdom Collaboration for a Digital Repository (UKCDR) was a software design project.
and define functional requirements
for a tool to support storage, exchange
and analysis of high-stakes assessment
items. UKCDR set out to scope a tool suitable for use in UK
further education
and higher education
.
from the JISC applicable for the two year period from 1 June 2005 to 31 May 2007.
used a methodology
designed to ensure maximum generalisability of outcomes across UK
FE
and HE
. The project
team
used UML
as a starting point, gathering use cases to define raw requirements. Use cases can be used to develop discrete functional requirements
which can be scrutinised via activity diagrams which allow software developers to look at various user interaction
s with a proposed system. The product of these undertakings is often a series of test cases. Test cases are a useful way of determining objectively whether a system covers the desired functionality. UKCDR went through several drafts of test cases before a working version was arrived at. This version was used to examine the functional coverage of a range of item banking solutions.
UKCDR's requirements gathering was condensed into a series of core processes
.
Item development
Item authoring
Item administration
Addition of media
Attribute authorship
Quality assurance
Fullquality assurance
audit trail
Flexible stages of review
Item storage and selection
Metadata tagging
Incorporation of items into examinations
Exam delivery
Output
to paper
or electronic
format examination
Adherence to standards
Import
and export
of numerical results data
and metadata
Results analysis
Flexible basic statistical analysis
Interface
with existing statistical packages for complex results analysis
has produced a range of documents including UML
and functional requirements
information. The project has met with members of the technical
and educational communities to validate and refine these prior to releasing a final version. UKCDR has produced an online tool for anyone looking for an item banking solution. Users can go to the UKCDR website
and click on 'Needs calculator' where users can select which of the UKCDR requirements they feel are important to find out which of the solutions appraised by UKCDR offers a best fit.
included higher education
partners at University of Central Lancashire
, University of Leeds
, University of Liverpool
, University of Manchester
, University of Newcastle and University of Sheffield
and further education
partners at Stockton Riverside College
and West Cheshire College
. The project
also learned from the combined experience of the UMAP
nation
al assessment item banking project
for undergraduate medicine
which incorporates five of the aforementioned universities as well as University of Birmingham
, University of East Anglia
, Hull York Medical School
, University of Keele, University of Leicester
, Peninsula Medical School, University of Southampton
, University of St Andrews
and University of Warwick
.
Aims
To researchResearch
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
and define functional requirements
Functional requirements
In software engineering, a functional requirement defines a function of a software system or its component. A function is described as a set of inputs, the behavior, and outputs ....
for a tool to support storage, exchange
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
and analysis of high-stakes assessment
High-stakes testing
A high-stakes test is a test with important consequences for the test taker. Passing has important benefits, such as a high school diploma, a scholarship, or a license to practice a profession...
items. UKCDR set out to scope a tool suitable for use in UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
and higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
.
Funding
UKCDR was funded by a grantGrant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
from the JISC applicable for the two year period from 1 June 2005 to 31 May 2007.
Process
The UKCDR projectProject
A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...
used a methodology
Methodology
Methodology is generally a guideline for solving a problem, with specificcomponents such as phases, tasks, methods, techniques and tools . It can be defined also as follows:...
designed to ensure maximum generalisability of outcomes across UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
FE
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
and HE
He
He is a third-person, singular personal pronoun in Modern English, as well as being a personal pronoun in Middle English.-Animals:...
. The project
Project
A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...
team
Team
A team comprises a group of people or animals linked in a common purpose. Teams are especially appropriate for conducting tasks that are high in complexity and have many interdependent subtasks.A group in itself does not necessarily constitute a team...
used UML
Unified Modeling Language
Unified Modeling Language is a standardized general-purpose modeling language in the field of object-oriented software engineering. The standard is managed, and was created, by the Object Management Group...
as a starting point, gathering use cases to define raw requirements. Use cases can be used to develop discrete functional requirements
Functional requirements
In software engineering, a functional requirement defines a function of a software system or its component. A function is described as a set of inputs, the behavior, and outputs ....
which can be scrutinised via activity diagrams which allow software developers to look at various user interaction
Interaction
Interaction is a kind of action that occurs as two or more objects have an effect upon one another. The idea of a two-way effect is essential in the concept of interaction, as opposed to a one-way causal effect...
s with a proposed system. The product of these undertakings is often a series of test cases. Test cases are a useful way of determining objectively whether a system covers the desired functionality. UKCDR went through several drafts of test cases before a working version was arrived at. This version was used to examine the functional coverage of a range of item banking solutions.
Core processes
Business process
A business process or business method is a collection of related, structured activities or tasks that produce a specific service or product for a particular customer or customers...
.
Item development
Item authoring
Authoring
Authoring may refer to:* Writing, as by an author* Authoring systems, computer based systems that allow the creation of content for intelligent tutoring systems...
Item administration
Addition of media
Attribute authorship
Quality assurance
Fullquality assurance
Quality Assurance
Quality assurance, or QA for short, is the systematic monitoring and evaluation of the various aspects of a project, service or facility to maximize the probability that minimum standards of quality are being attained by the production process...
audit trail
Audit trail
Audit trail is a sequence of steps supported by proof documenting the real processing of a transaction flow through an organization, a process or a system.....
Flexible stages of review
Item storage and selection
Metadata tagging
Tag (metadata)
In online computer systems terminology, a tag is a non-hierarchical keyword or term assigned to a piece of information . This kind of metadata helps describe an item and allows it to be found again by browsing or searching...
Incorporation of items into examinations
Exam delivery
Output
Output
Output is the term denoting either an exit or changes which exit a system and which activate/modify a process. It is an abstract concept, used in the modeling, system design and system exploitation.-In control theory:...
to paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
or electronic
Computer file
A computer file is a block of arbitrary information, or resource for storing information, which is available to a computer program and is usually based on some kind of durable storage. A file is durable in the sense that it remains available for programs to use after the current program has finished...
format examination
Adherence to standards
Import
Import
The term import is derived from the conceptual meaning as to bring in the goods and services into the port of a country. The buyer of such goods and services is referred to an "importer" who is based in the country of import whereas the overseas based seller is referred to as an "exporter". Thus...
and export
Export
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
of numerical results data
Data
The term data refers to qualitative or quantitative attributes of a variable or set of variables. Data are typically the results of measurements and can be the basis of graphs, images, or observations of a set of variables. Data are often viewed as the lowest level of abstraction from which...
and metadata
Metadata
The term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at...
Results analysis
Flexible basic statistical analysis
Interface
Interface (computer science)
In the field of computer science, an interface is a tool and concept that refers to a point of interaction between components, and is applicable at the level of both hardware and software...
with existing statistical packages for complex results analysis
Project outputs
The projectProject
A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...
has produced a range of documents including UML
Unified Modeling Language
Unified Modeling Language is a standardized general-purpose modeling language in the field of object-oriented software engineering. The standard is managed, and was created, by the Object Management Group...
and functional requirements
Functional requirements
In software engineering, a functional requirement defines a function of a software system or its component. A function is described as a set of inputs, the behavior, and outputs ....
information. The project has met with members of the technical
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
and educational communities to validate and refine these prior to releasing a final version. UKCDR has produced an online tool for anyone looking for an item banking solution. Users can go to the UKCDR website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
and click on 'Needs calculator' where users can select which of the UKCDR requirements they feel are important to find out which of the solutions appraised by UKCDR offers a best fit.
Project partners
The projectProject
A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...
included higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
partners at University of Central Lancashire
University of Central Lancashire
The University of Central Lancashire is a university based in Preston, Lancashire, England.The university has its roots in The Institution For The Diffusion Of Useful Knowledge which was founded in 1828. In 1992 it was granted University status by the Privy Council...
, University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, University of Newcastle and University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
and further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
partners at Stockton Riverside College
Stockton Riverside College
Stockton Riverside College is a further education college located in Stockton-on-Tees in North East England.The college offers a range of courses for students from Stockton-on-Tees and the surrounding area. These courses include Diplomas, NVQs, BTECs and ESOL programmes...
and West Cheshire College
West Cheshire College
West Cheshire College is a vocational college in the North West of England. It delivers learning to over 20,000 people at its two main campuses in Ellesmere Port and Chester as well as in workplaces and community venues.-Courses:...
. The project
Project
A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...
also learned from the combined experience of the UMAP
UMAP
UMAP may refer to:*Military Units to Aid Production*Universities medical assessment partnership*University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific...
nation
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
al assessment item banking project
Project
A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...
for undergraduate medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
which incorporates five of the aforementioned universities as well as University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
, Hull York Medical School
Hull York Medical School
The Hull York Medical School , is a medical school in England which took its first intake of students in 2003. The school was opened as a part of the British Government's attempts to train more doctors, which also saw Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Peninsula Medical School and University of...
, University of Keele, University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
, Peninsula Medical School, University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
, University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
and University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
.
External links
- http://www.umap.org.uk - The UMAPUMAPUMAP may refer to:*Military Units to Aid Production*Universities medical assessment partnership*University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific...
project - http://www.manchester.ac.uk/ukcdr - The UKCDR project
- http://www.jisc.ac.uk/ - JISC