 |
 |
> there are gains for those of us who like to > work in a more open way too. what do you mean Andy? what can be more generic or 'open' than plain text? mySQL is free and open source, so is PHP, to use data from a database simply point your script to fields in the tables, tainting the data with XML tags is a step backwards, > It will be a shameful > loss if your ideas are not usable by others within their > own system you can import and export data at your heart's content , you could use this data on any system because it's plain text, if you want to add tags than that's up to you, who's stopping you? > If we all re-invent wheels then > we are wasting valuable effort. Who's re-inventing wheels? I don't really understand what you're getting at, can you explain ? stored data is best left as simple text alone, regards, Martin Schranz [log in to unmask] Dublin, Ireland www.mcqs.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Andy Heath <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 7:19 PM Subject: Re: XML, resource discovery and MCQ sharing > This is interesting stuff Martin, but isn't the point of the > IMS QTI standard (and other IMS specs come to that) to enable > us to stand on each others' shoulders and therefore achieve > more ? > > It strikes me that for several of the facilities you have > implemented there are IMS specifications that have been > implemented by some vendors. > > The point here is to be able to interoperate, share > representations (at least for import/export) and make > it worth building systems that are too expensive > otherwise. If we all re-invent wheels then > we are wasting valuable effort. It will be a shameful > loss if your ideas bare not usable by others within their > own system > > Naturally there are many business agenda's in there > but there are gains for those of us who like to > work in a more open way too. > > andy > [log in to unmask] > > > David, I think you're doing this the wrong way round, > > > > Why use XML at the 'raw' stage? Why not use plain text in a database and > > query data directly from your script? > > > > I've done this on http://www.mcqs.com/mysql/ > > > > feel free to query this database using your own scripts, > > you can create your own combinations by querying different tables, in this > > way you may create an infinite number of questions, > > > > I've put the components of each MCQ into tables in a mySQL database and > > query it using PHP (you may use PERL if you want, contact me for details), > > you could add your XML/HTML/WML tags at your end if you want, make sure you > > strip or replace any tags before doing this, > > > > here's how I've done it (to see it in action go to http://www.mcqs.com and > > log into the PLAB COURSE using plabcourse as username and password ) > > > > I've created the following tables > > > > table sets3 - this stores several strings each of which are 60 characters > > long, each character corresponds to a 'combination' > > > > table combinations3 - this stores fields that contain the data of each > > complete question > > > > question -> stores question number, ten option numbers , the correct answer > > , the > > explanation number, > > > > table question3 - contains the actual text corresponding to each question > > number > > > > table options3 - contains the actual text corresponding to each question > > number > > > > table explanations3 - contains the actual text corresponding to each > > explanation number > > > > table mrcp_members - contains the returned email, answer string and date of > > each attempted quiz > > > > In other words, > > > > the student logs in using his email as username, > > he is assigned a random set number, > > this set number is used to retrieve a 60 field array of numbers from table > > sets3, > > this array is read sequentially, each field corresponds to a particular row > > from table combinations3, > > each row is retrieved from table combinations3 and the corresponding > > question, options, answer and explanations are read > > these numbers are used to retrieve specific text from tables questions3, > > options3, explanations3 > > these are written to the page , > > the students' answers are recorded in a session and stored in a 60 character > > long string and he is graded on the spot, > > the set number, answer string, student email and date are written to table > > called mrcp_members and the student is returned to the home page, > > I've also built a 'profile' page where each student may log in > > and retrieve his past performances from table "mrcp_members" , > > > > the script should builds a list of past performances for that particular > > student, including bar charts etc , comparing his performance to the average > > performance etc. > > > > I have also built an adminstrator interface so that tutors would easily > > insert questions, options and answers from a user friendly form, at the > > moment I am personally entering data manually using phpmyAdmin on > > http://www.mcqs.com/mysql/ > > > > using this system tutors are able to create new combinations and new sets > > by simply > > matching data already on the database and are search options so > > that the tutor would be able to retrieve specific > > questions/options/explanations > > > > regards, > > > > Martin Schranz > > [log in to unmask] > > Dublin, Ireland > > www.mcqs.com > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: David Davies <[log in to unmask]> > > To: <[log in to unmask]> > > Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 5:39 PM > > Subject: XML, resource discovery and MCQ sharing > > > > > OK, it's Friday afternoon, here's one of those end of week kind of things. > > > > > > In my previous post, I asked about using XML to share resources such as > > > MCQs, including the possibilities of using resource discovery as a means > > to > > > facilitate that. > > > > > > Here's a URL to start the discussion: > > > > > > http://medweb2.bham.ac.uk/xml.mcqs.fcgi?heart%20conduction%20system > > > > > > The result is an XML RSS file, the kind of data file that syndication > > sites > > > such as My Netscape and My yahoo use. It's not IMS compliant. > > > > > > What it does do however is indicate which MCQs on a public database I'm > > > running match your query term. The RSS file is by definition not an > > > interchange format, merely a route whereby you might discover a resource, > > > MCQ in this case, that matches your requirements. You can put anything > > after > > > the ? in the URL so long as it's URL encoded e.g. spaces become %20. > > > However, in this demo, you won't find many questions! Stick with the heart > > > conduction system link. If you insist, try 'respiratory'. > > > > > > Issues I think this raises: > > > > > > 1. You can use XML in more ways than merely interchange. > > > > > > 2. The URL contains a query 'heart conduction system' that is actually > > part > > > of a well defined biomedical meta data name space, Medical Sub-Headings > > > (MeSh). Such meta data can facilitate resource discovery. > > > > > > 3. 'Ownership' of the resource remains with the originator i.e. the RSS > > file > > > in this case merely links to the question on my server. In no way have I > > > 'given' you my resource. You can however use the link to embed this MCQ > > into > > > a page you are creating. This has interesting implications for resource > > > sharing, perhaps? > > > > > > So OK, I've started the discussion. What are other's views on this? Let's > > > have some debate on these lists rather than just notices. > > > > > > Cheers, > > > > > > David > > > > > > > > -- > ------------------------------------------------------------ > Andy Heath Home:+44 (0)114 2885738 [log in to unmask] > Sheffield Hallam University participating in > Centre for Educational Technology Interoperability Standards > >