WO2007088521A2

WO2007088521A2 - Processing of education evaluation information

Info

Publication number: WO2007088521A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/050352
Authority: WO
Inventors: Merle Werbeloff; Daryth Crawford; David John Muller
Original assignee: Merle Werbeloff; Daryth Crawford; David John Muller
Priority date: 2006-02-03
Filing date: 2007-02-02
Publication date: 2007-08-09
Also published as: WO2007088521A3

Abstract

A method of organizing and presenting education evaluation information, which method includes receiving raw education evaluation information, converting the raw education evaluation information to conform with a prescribed education evaluation portfolio and presenting the education evaluation portfolio in a format which conforms with the prescribed education evaluation portfolio and a computer apparatus for performing the method.

Description

PROCESSING OF EDUCATION EVALUATION INFORMATION

THIS INVENTION relates to processing of education evaluation information. In particular, the invention relates to a method of organizing and presenting education evaluation information, a computer apparatus for arranging education evaluation information, a processing system and a data carrier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Educational institutions, such as primary-, secondary- and tertiary institutions, evaluate students by subjecting them to a number of tasks, the contents of which often relate to a prescribed or predetermined education evaluation system. As an example, a governing educational board, such as a governmental department of education may prescribe for each subject or learning area presented by the educational institution in question, a number of tasks or activities to which a student is to be subjected, and a weighting system on which the student performance level for each task in each subject or learning area is evaluated by an educator or teacher. In certain educational systems, the governing education body may grant the educator or teacher some degree of freedom pertaining to the number of tasks and the weighting system employed, in which case the teacher tediously organizes and processes these tasks and their respective allocated weights, thereby to present an education evaluation portfolio of the relevant student in a prescribed format to the governing educational board.

The Applicant is aware of educators which employ a computer system to capture raw education evaluation portfolio information of students, but who are desirous of processing the raw education evaluation portfolio information thereby to organize and present the captured information in accordance with the prescribed or predetermined educational evaluation system of the governing body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a method of organizing and presenting education evaluation information, which method includes receiving raw education evaluation information; converting the raw education evaluation information to conform with a prescribed education evaluation portfolio; and presenting the education evaluation portfolio in a format which conforms with the prescribed education evaluation portfolio.

The method may include the prior step of setting up and configuring a student evaluation database which includes at least one student evaluation record.

Each student evaluation record may include a student identity record which is associated with a student who undergoes education based on the prescribed evaluation system and at least one subject or learning area record associated with a subject or learning area for which the student is enrolled.

Each subject or learning area record may include at least one component record which is associated with a prescribed component of the subject or learning area which is to be evaluated under the prescribed evaluation system.

Each component record may include a plurality of task records, each task record including a task identification field for receiving a task identifier and an evaluation field for receiving a mark which is allocated to the associated task, which mark is an indication of a student's performance in the associated task.

Each component record may include component configuration fields for receiving component configurations, which includes any one or more of: parameters specifying a maximum- and minimum number of tasks to be completed by the student, an actual number of tasks completed by the student, and a number of best performance tasks to be chosen from all of the completed tasks performed by the student.

Receiving raw education evaluation information may include prompting a user to enter information associated with the student evaluation record. For example, a user may be prompted by means of a computer apparatus to enter the information associated with the student evaluation record.

The method may thus include associating the received raw education evaluation information with the identity record of a student undergoing education based on the prescribed education evaluation portfolio, and storing the raw education evaluation information and the identity record of the student in the student evaluation record on the student evaluation database, which student evaluation database may be subsequently accessible for retrieval and editing of the raw student evaluation information.

Converting the raw education evaluation information may include retrieving the received raw education evaluation information from the student evaluation record, and automatically performing a conversion procedure on the retrieved raw education evaluation information.

Retrieving the raw evaluation information may include retrieving a prescribed number of tasks from the component record as specified in the minimum number of tasks field and the best number of tasks fields.

Performing a conversion procedure may include moderating a student evaluation record to a prescribed format.

Presenting the education evaluation portfolio in a prescribed format may include determining a prescribed format conforming to the prescribed education evaluation system, and compiling a student evaluation report in accordance with the prescribed format.

Presenting the education evaluation portfolio in a prescribed format may include any one of presenting a student evaluation report on a display screen, presenting a student evaluation report on a printing device and presenting a student evaluation report in an electronic data format.

Presenting the education evaluation portfolio in a prescribed format may further include establishing a data connection between a student evaluation database and a remote terminal, thereby to permit a user of the remote terminal electronically to access the education evaluation portfolio. For example, the user of the remote terminal may access the education evaluation portfolio via the Internet. Presenting the information may include compiling the information in a document such as a mail-merged document. Presenting the information may include presenting information for at least one prescribed subject or learning area, or preferably for each of the subjects for which the student is enrolled.

The invention extends to a computer apparatus for organizing and sharing education evaluation information, which includes an input arrangement operable to receive raw education evaluation information; a processing arrangement operable to access a prescribed education evaluation portfolio format and to convert the raw education evaluation information to conform with the prescribed education evaluation portfolio format; and an output arrangement operable to present the education evaluation portfolio in a format which conforms with the prescribed education evaluation portfolio.

The input arrangement may include a keyboard.

The processing arrangement may include a student evaluation database in which is defined at least one student evaluation record.

The student evaluation record may include a student identity record which is associated with a student who undergoes education based on the prescribed evaluation system and at least one subject or learning area record associated with a or learning area subject or learning area record for which the student is enrolled.

The input arrangement may include a set of configuration instructions which, when executed, prompts a user with a subject or learning area setup screen for setting up or updating the required fields and records of the education portfolio database The input arrangement may be operable to prompt a user with a subject or learning area setup screen containing data fields for setting up the student evaluation database for a newly activated subject or learning area to form a customized raw education evaluation information input screen.

The subject or learning area setup screen may be in the form of a wizard prompting a user to enter required information in the data fields.

Some of the fields of the subject or learning area setup screen may be locked against user tampering, whereas some fields, which is to be completed by a user may be indicated visually as input cells so that the user may be prompted that such fields require completion. The input fields may be visually indicated by displaying these fields on the screen in a unique fill colour when the field requires information, and in a different fill colour when the fields has been completed.

A number of the data fields of the subject or learning area setup screen may be associated with a subject or learning area definition data record in accordance with the prescribed education evaluation portfolio for that specific subject or learning area .

The information in the subject or learning area definition data record may define a raw education evaluation information input screen. The raw education evaluation information input screen may comprise a number of data fields for surnames of students enrolled for the subject or learning area, first names of the students, student identity numbers, moderated/not- moderated indicators, for each task of each component, arranged in component order and in task order, the data fields of the tasks being for receiving the unconverted marks scored by the student.

The data fields in the subject or learning area setup screen may be developed in a language known as Delphi and may use ActiveX controls which is compatible with a spreadsheet arrangement.

The subject or learning area definition data record may define for a particular subject or learning area any one or more of a subject or learning area name, a level of education, an education grade, descriptions of the prescribed subject or learning area components, notes relevant to the components, component parameters such as the prescribed minimum number tasks for that component, a prescribed maximum number of tasks, an actual number of tasks performed, the number of best performance tasks to be selected for preparation of the prescribed evaluation report, task labels of tasks to be performed by the student for each component, task descriptions, short descriptions of tasks, descriptions of completion dates of the tasks, the maximum unconverted mark which is achievable by a student for that specific task and the prescribed or converted maximum mark achievable by a student for that task.

The output arrangement may present at various levels of specificity - at the individual learner level, at the class level or at the overall grade level.

The output arrangement may include any one of a printer, a print preview screen and a display screen.

The computer apparatus may include a data interface operable to establish a data connection between the student evaluation database and a remote terminal, thereby to permit a user of the remote terminal electronically to access the student evaluation database.

The computer apparatus may include an activation module operable to receive an activation code from a user, the activation code being associated with a prescribed education evaluation portfolio format for a particular education subject or learning area or learning area.

The activation code is encrypted in the form of a string of numbers. The code may comprise the component configuration fields and a set of configuration instructions for the specific subject or learning area which includes any one or more of: detailed notes and instructions for each component and tasks thereof, parameters specifying a maximum- and minimum number of tasks to be completed by the student, a number of best performance tasks to be chosen from all of the completed tasks performed by the student, the maximum prescribed or converted maximum mark achievable by a student for that task. Each of the aforementioned are customised as per relevant educational authority for each subject or learning area in every grade.

In operation, the activation code may permit a user to download the software from a remote server to which the computer apparatus is connectable via a data connection. In another embodiment, the activation code may permit a user to access the prescribed education evaluation portfolio requirements for a particular education subject or learning area.

In cases where the prescribed education evaluation portfolio requirements for a particular education subject or learning area stipulate fixed maximum prescribed or converted maximum mark achievable by a student for a task, these converted maximum marks are in the form of data fields which may be locked for editing.

Conversely, in cases where the prescribed education evaluation portfolio requirements for a particular education subject or learning area do not stipulate a maximum prescribed or converted maximum mark achievable by a student for a task or component, these converted maximum marks are in the form of data fields which are unlocked and therefore editable, with the provision that the converted maximum marks of all the tasks and/or components sum to the prescribed overall portfolio total mark. Thus the computer apparatus may contain arithmetic summation checks to ensure that unlocked converted task and/or component totals sum to stipulated overall converted totals of the portfolio.

The data fields in the completed subject or learning area setup screen may be stored in a subject or learning area setup record on the database, for creating a raw education evaluation profile information input screen.

The raw education evaluation profile information input screen may include data fields in which can be defined any one or more of a surname of a student enrolled for a subject or learning area, first names of a student, a student identification numbers, moderated or not- moderated indicators, and a mark field for each task of each component.

The computer apparatus may include a statistical analysis arrangement for performing statistical analysis on the student identity records. For example, the statistical analysis arrangement may include a method to determine a statistical average of marks scored by all the students who completed a particular task.

The processing arrangement may be configured to retrieve an unconverted mark from the mark field of a task, and to convert this unconverted mark to a converted mark according to a prescribed formula.

The computer apparatus may include several backup and safety facilities which may include any one or more of the following: the data entered for a class may be exported to another location and re-imported at a later point in time; details of another class for the same subject or learning area may be imported (or copied across from another class) for consistency across classes; both the unconverted and the converted marks may be exported in text file format; and class marks which have been previously deleted may be restored.

The output arrangement may include a report compiling arrangement operable to compile a report in a prescribed format of the prescribed education evaluation portfolio. For example, the prescribed education evaluation portfolio may be mail-merged into a student's evaluation portfolio.

A set of reports may be presentable in the prescribed education evaluation portfolio format for a particular subject or learning area presented in an educational institution by producing a physical or electronic copy of the set of reports.

The set of reports may include a number of documents, for reporting an education evaluation portfolio for a student and/or educator, and for reporting an education evaluation portfolio for all the students in a class who are enrolled for a subject or learning area, and for all students in a grade who are enrolled for a subject or learning area.

The invention extends to a processing system, which includes at least one computer apparatus as described; and a remote terminal operable to permit a user of the remote terminal electronically to access the student evaluation database.

The invention extends further to a data carrier including a set of computer readable instructions, which when executed by a computer, performs a method as described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a schematic drawing of a system, in accordance with the invention, for facilitating the organization and presentation of education evaluation profile information;

Figure 2 shows a schematic functional block diagram of a computer apparatus, in accordance with the invention, for organizing and presenting education evaluation portfolio information, which computer apparatus forms part of the system in Figure 1 ;

Figures 3 to 12 show display screens of a computer apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 13 shows a functional flow diagram of a method, in accordance with the invention, for organizing and presenting education evaluation portfolio information, at a computer apparatus side of the system in Figure 1 ; Figure 14 shows a functional flow diagram of a method, in accordance with the invention, for facilitating the organization and presentation of education evaluation portfolio information, at a server computer side of the system of Figure 1 ; and

Figures 15 to 34 show output documents forming part of an education evaluation portfolio report which is outputted from the computer apparatus in Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a system, in accordance with the invention, for facilitating the organization and presentation of education evaluation profile information. The term education evaluation profile information is meant to include information contained in a profile of a student which is educated by an educator in a subject or learning area, which information is indicative of a level of knowledge or skill which was determined by the educator by an evaluation process conducted on the student. The evaluation process typically includes subjecting the student to any one or more of a number of tasks which is selected to test or evaluate the student's relevant skills or knowledge as it pertains to the certain subject or learning area.

The applicant is aware of a weighting system which is employed to indicate the level of knowledge or skill with which a student executes a selected task. The weighting system generally includes allocating to a student any number of points up to a maximum number of points (marks) which the student can achieve. The maximum number of points achievable in a task by a student is often dependent on factors, such as the nature of the task and/or the amount of subject matter which is needed to be evaluated with the task.

A governing educational board of an educational institution where a student is enrolled typically prescribes to an educator of the educational institution certain evaluation components which the educator needs to use for evaluation of the student by subjecting the student to a prescribed minimum number of tasks allocated to each evaluation component. Moreover, the governing board typically prescribes a maximum points or marks which a student can achieve in any task. This prescribed maximum mark for a task often differs from the maximum mark which the educator uses in evaluation of the performance of the specific task, and therefore the educator converts the actual marks scored in the task by the student to converted marks scored which would have been scored by the student if, instead, the prescribed maximum number of points were achievable during execution of the task by the student. Further, the governing educational board sometimes requests an educator to submit an evaluation portfolio report of any one or more of the students at the relevant educational institution, which report is requested for representation in a prescribed evaluation report format.

Accordingly, the system 10 includes a computer apparatus/personal computer, generally indicated by reference numeral 12, for organizing and presenting education evaluation portfolio information.

In this embodiment of the invention, the educational institution is a secondary school in the Republic of South Africa in any province, which secondary school is governed by an educational governing body, such as the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) in Gauteng, and other provincial education authorities as part of the National Department of Education or the

Independent Examination Board (IEB).

The system 10 also includes a terminal unit 14 which is in the form of a server computer for hosting a service provider interface for providing facilitation of the organization and presentation of education evaluation profile information, the function of which is explained in more detail below.

The personal computer 12 and the server computer 14 are both connected in data communication with each other via the Internet 16 by way of their respective network interfacing modules. The server computer 14 in this embodiment of the invention is configured to include a website hosting server which is capable of executing and hosting a webpage which are developed in any one of the scripting or programming languages commercially in use.

An educator or user can use the personal computer 12 to purchase a software application from the service provider 14 by performing a purchasing transaction on-line over the Internet 16. The personal computer 12 executes a set of instructions embedded in the software program to perform functions in accordance with the methodology of the invention. It is to be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the purchasing of the software application on-line, but can also include installing the software from a computer readable media.

In accordance with the invention, a user or educator can employ the invention, by purchasing the software application and executing it on the personal computer 12, thereby to permit the educator to capture the points scored by a student of the secondary school for the respective tasks performed by the student. Moreover, the educator can, with the personal computer 12, convert the points scored by the student based on the educator's maximum mark to points scored by the student in relation to the prescribed maximum points for that specific subject or learning area, prepare the education evaluation report for outputting the education evaluation report in the prescribed report format, and send the prepared report to a terminal unit or server computer 18 which is linked to the governing educational board, such as the GDE in Gauteng province or IEB 18 for a particular subject or learning area.

Referring to Figure 2, the computer apparatus 12 includes a micro-processing unit and a program- and data memory module 22, the program memory being for storing the set of instructions 21 in which is embedded the software application 15 (see Figure 1 ). The computer apparatus 12 further includes a network interfacing module 24 for connecting the computer apparatus 12 in data communication with the server computer 14 and the terminal unit 18. A user interfacing arrangement 26 also forms part of the computer apparatus 12 which includes a display screen unit for permitting display of information to the user, such as the educator and hereinafter referred to as such, and to permit inputting of information by the user.

Further, the computer apparatus 12 includes an inputting arrangement 28 for receiving raw educational evaluation information from the educator and for converting it into a form which the computer apparatus 12 handles. The computer apparatus 12 further includes a converting arrangement 30 for receiving the raw educational evaluation information from the inputting arrangement 28 and for processing the raw educational evaluation information to form converted education evaluation information in accordance with the prescribed education system of the governing educational board, such as the GDE in Gauteng province and IEB. The computer apparatus 12 further includes an output arrangement 32 for preparing an education evaluation report based on the converted education evaluation profile information and for outputting the education evaluation report in a format which corresponds to that of a format prescribed and requested by the governing educational board.

The computer apparatus 12 includes also a database store 34 which includes a student evaluation profile database, the working of which is explained in more detail below.

The network interfacing module 24 is in the form of a modem or digital interface for establishing a data connection over the Internet 16 with the server computer 14 and/or the terminal unit 18, the latter two being computers which are connectable to the Internet 16.

It may be possible to install the computer apparatus either locally on an individual computer or on multiple individual computers, or on the server of a network of computers. The user interfacing arrangement 26 includes a display screen for displaying a graphical user interface and an alphanumeric keyboard permitting a user to enter data into the personal computer. 12.

The inputting arrangement 28 further includes an activation module which is associated with a set of instructions embodied in the software 15, which set of instructions when executed by the computer apparatus 12, performs a function for prompting a user on the display screen to input with the keyboard an activation code which is issued to the educator in relation to a particular education subject or learning area on purchase of the software 15, the activation code being for activating the personal computer 12 to perform the method, in accordance with the invention, in respect of the education subject(s) or learning area(s) for which the educator purchased the software 15.

The activation code is encrypted in the form of a string of numbers. The code may comprise the component configuration fields and a set of configuration instructions for the specific subject or learning area which includes any one or more of: detailed notes and instructions for each component and tasks thereof, parameters specifying a maximum- and minimum number of tasks to be completed by the student, a number (subset) of best performance tasks to be chosen from all of the completed tasks performed by the student, the maximum prescribed or converted maximum mark achievable by a student for that task.

On verification of the activation code, the software 15 may be used for that particular subject or learning area from the server computer 14 over the Internet 16 or a from readable data medium, which encrypted activation code includes the sets of computer readable instructions configured in respect of the prescribed education subject or learning area.

Instead, the software 15 can be fully functional for a number of education subjects or learning areas for a period of one year expiring on 15^th February of the following year, in which case, an unlocking activation code is issued in respect of any one or more of the education subjects or learning areas, which unlocking activation code, when entered into the computer apparatus 12, includes the sets of computer readable instructions configured in respect of the prescribed education subjects or learning areas and unlocks the full functionality of the subject(s) in respect of which the user bought permission to use from the service provider.

The inputting arrangement 28 further includes a set of configuration instructions which, when executed, prompts a user with setup screens for setting up or updating the required fields and records of the education portfolio database 34, see Figures 3 to 1 1. Figure 3 shows a top level screen which provides options to select classes (for each subject or learning area) to enter. Figure 4 shows a summary screen showing a summary of tasks and components, customised for a particular subject or learning area. Figure 5 shows a top level subject or learning area setup screen which selects the centre number (institution identification) and the number of students in a class.

In this embodiment of the invention, the set of instructions embodied in the software 15 is configured to cooperate with and employ functions from Borland Delphi's active X spreadsheet controls.

The subject or learning area setup screens (see Figures 7 to 1 1 ) are generally indicated by reference numeral 36.1 to 36.5, and are in the form of data fields in a database including a plurality of data fields, into which information regarding the evaluation portfolio is to be entered.

The data fields include the number of tasks 77 per component, and may include the ability to select the best subset of tasks 78 and the number of tasks in the selected best subset

77.1. The data fields to be completed by the user include task names 80, task descriptions 82, the date on which the task is to be completed 84, and an unconverted maximum mark for the tasks 86.

All details which are pre-defined for the user in the subject or learning area setup screens 36.1 to 36.5 are sourced from the activation code. These details pertain to the particular subject or learning area as specified by the governing educational board, such as the subject or learning area name 70, component configuration fields and a detailed set of configuration instructions for the specific subject or learning area which includes any one or more of: component and task notes, parameters specifying a maximum- and minimum number of tasks to be completed by the student, a number of best performance tasks to be chosen from all of the completed tasks performed by the student, and the maximum prescribed or converted maximum mark achievable by a student for that task.

Where the governing educational board does not allow the maximum prescribed or converted maximum mark achievable by a student for that task to be changed, the fields 88 are locked against user tampering and are merely used to present information to the educator. Conversely, in cases where the prescribed education evaluation portfolio requirements for a particular education subject or learning area do not stipulate a maximum prescribed or converted maximum mark achievable by a student for a task or component, these converted maximum marks are in the form of data fields which are unlocked and therefore editable, with the provision that the converted maximum marks of all the components sum to the prescribed overall portfolio total mark. Thus the computer apparatus may contain arithmetic summation checks to ensure that unlocked converted task and/or component totals sum to stipulated overall converted totals.

The subject or learning area setup screens (Figures 7 to 1 1 ) are in the form of

Wizards, leading the educator through the setup steps with the aid of notes 74 on the side of each setup screen. These notes are derived from the portfolio requirements of the educational boards for that specific subject or learning area .

The information completed in Figures 7 to 1 1 is stored in a subject or learning area setup record on the database 34.

In Figure 6, the input screen 40 comprises an array of data fields comprising details of learners or students in the class of the particular teacher or educator. The screen 40 has columns consecutively for surnames of students 90 enrolled for the subject or learning area, first names of the students 92, candidate identification numbers of the students 94 and moderated/not-moderated indicators 96 to 99.

The computer apparatus 12 further includes a conversion arrangement 30 which comprises a set of instructions embedded in the software 15 which, when executed by the computer 14, retrieves the unconverted points of each student from the raw evaluation profile information input record, converts these unconverted points to converted points 88 according to the prescribed converted maximum number of points, and saving these converted points to a converted points data record which holds these information in an associated spreadsheet, the record configuration of which matches that of the raw evaluation profile information input record, except for the unconverted points scored being replaced with the converted points scored.

The conversion arrangement 30 also includes a set of instructions embedded in the software 15, which when executed by the computer 14, retrieves information from the raw evolution profile information input record, filtering out with a filtering arrangement those completed tasks which does not form part of the specified best number of tasks for that component, and for saving these information as an unconverted best points scored record, which record configuration matches that of the raw evaluation profile information input record, except for the elimination of the filtered information.

The outputting arrangement 32 includes a set of instructions, which when executed by the computer 14, retrieves information from the converted best points scored record, and compiles a set of reports which is presentable in a format corresponding to the prescribed reporting format as requested by the Provincial Educational Board or IEB. The set of reports is presented in the prescribed evaluation report format for the subject or learning area, by producing with the computer apparatus a plurality of documents by either, printing a hard copy of the document with a peripheral printing device, or to form and save soft copies (electronic viewable graphical images) of the plurality of reporting documents, in which case, the soft copies of the plurality of documents can be electronically sent to the Provincial Educational Board or IEB, e.g. by and electronic mailing service of the Internet 16 or by permitting downloading thereof by the terminal unit 18 of the GDE over the Internet 16 from the computer 14.

The plurality of reporting documents includes a plurality of subsets of documents, respectively for reporting an evaluation information portfolio via mail merges for each candidate, and for reporting an evaluation information portfolio for all the candidates which are enrolled for the subject or learning area, and the like.

Ideally, and in the case of all subjects or all learning areas for all the students in all classes and all grades is captured by employing the invention as described, the plurality of subsets of documents includes subsets of document for reporting an evaluation information portfolio for all the students in a grade for each subject or learning area, and for all students in a class per grade for each subject or learning area.

The outputting arrangement 32 also includes a statistical analysis arrangement for performing statistical analysis on the captured evaluation profile information for providing valuable educational information regarding the prescribed education system and its efficiency as employed under the educational governing body, such as the GDE in Gauteng province or

IEB.

Referring Figures 8 to 27, examples of output documents created by the software based on captured education evaluation profile information for students at a school is shown, the function of each document being evident from the illustration in the Figures. Figures 13 and 14 illustrate functional flow block diagrams respectively, in accordance with the methodologies of the invention, for the computer apparatus 12 and server computer 14, the functional flow diagrams being indicated by reference numerals 102 and 150. The functional flow diagrams is for illustrating selected functional steps performed by the computer apparatus 12 and the server computer 14, and is not intended in any way to limit the working of the invention.

Accordingly, in use, if an educator desires to organize and present education evaluation portfolio information by employing the system 10, then, in accordance with the methodology of the invention (see Figures 13 and 14), the educator establish a data connection, at block 104, with the computer apparatus 12 over the Internet 16 to visit the website of the service provider 14. The computer apparatus 12 and the service provider 14 includes an online purchasing arrangement for permitting the educator to purchase over the Internet 16 electronically the software 15 which is configured in respect of the specific subject or learning area in which the educator is interested to capture the education evaluation portfolio information of the students which is enrolled for the subject or learning area. A non-electronic system is also in place whereby the educator may receive the software, code and instructions via the post.

Accordingly, the methodology of the invention, includes, with the computer apparatus 12, requesting, the server computer 14 to display the website, consequent to which the server computer 14, in accordance with the invention, receives, at block 152, the request and prompts the educator, at block 154, to enter a usemame and password for gaining entrance to a members or subscription area of the website. The usemame and password is received, at block 104, from the educator by the computer 12, and sent, at block 106, to the server computer 14. If the usemame and password is verified and accepted, at block 156, then the server computer 14 grants permission to the computer 14 for downloading the software 15 and prompts, at block 162, the educator to input an activation code which is configured in respect of the subjects or learning areas and grades which the educator purchased from the service provider and which was issued to the educator during the purchase of the software 15. The computer 14 receives, at block 108, the activation code from the educator and sent, at block 108, the activation code to the server computer 14 which ether accepts or rejects, at block 162, the activation code. If the activation code is accepted, the server computer opens, at block 164, access to the software 15 for use, and updates a purchase history record of the educator. On successful download of the software, at block 169, the software 15 is time-coded for setting, at block 168, a target date after which an educator is not permitted to edit any of the already captured education evaluation portfolio information. Else, if the activation code is rejected, at block 162, then the server computer directs, at block 166 the educator to an associated webpage application which deals with the situation.

Once the software is downloaded and installed, at block 108, on the computer 12, then the teacher is lead through a number of screens (see Figures 3 to 1 1 ). Subsequently the teacher enters his/her name to set up or continue to set up the spreadsheets for his/her classes using the subject or learning area setup screen which is displayed and completed, at block 1 10, as explained above. The customized raw education evaluation record and display screen is created, and the educator enters the unconverted points scored for each task by each student in the computer 14, also as explained above. If the students have completed all the tasks for all components, and all the unconverted points scored for completed tasks are entered in their respective blocks, then, on command from the user, the computer 12 prompts a user, at block 1 12, to either preview or create, at block 1 14, the evaluation portfolio report documents, as described above. If choosing to print, he/she is offered a range of documents, each of which is displayed in a preview window upon clicking the description of the corresponding document (see Figure 34).

The computer apparatus includes several backup and safety facilities including: the data entered for a class may be exported to another storage location and re-imported at a later point in time; details of another class for the same subject or learning area may be imported (or copied across from another class) for consistency in the mark reporting across classes; both the unconverted and the converted marks may be exported in text file format.; class marks which have been previously deleted by users may be restored.

A person ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate that standard online security and encryption technologies are employed to transfer secure data over the Internet 16 between the computer 12 and any one of the server computer 14 and the terminal unit 18.

The Applicant believes that, advantageously, the invention provides a convenient method to educators for organizing and presenting education evaluation profile information that may be customized for each subject or learning area and grade according to a prescribed educational system, and for reporting the education evaluation portfolio information in a format as prescribed and requested by the particular educational governing body.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of organizing and presenting education evaluation information, which method includes receiving raw education evaluation information; converting the raw education evaluation information to conform with a prescribed education evaluation portfolio; and presenting the education evaluation portfolio in a format which conforms with the prescribed education evaluation portfolio.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , which includes the prior step of setting up and configuring a student evaluation database which includes at least one student evaluation record.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which each student evaluation record includes a student identity record which is associated with a student who undergoes education based on the prescribed evaluation system and at least one subject or learning area record associated with a subject or learning area for which the student is enrolled.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, in which each subject or learning area record includes at least one component record which is associated with a prescribed component of the subject or learning area which is to be evaluated under the prescribed evaluation system.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, in which each component record includes a plurality of task records, each task record including a task identification field for receiving a task identifier and an evaluation field for receiving a mark which is allocated to the associated task, which mark is an indication of a student's performance in the associated task.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, in which each component record includes component configuration fields for receiving component configurations, which includes any one or more of: parameters specifying a maximum- and minimum number of tasks to be completed by the student, an actual number of tasks completed by the student, and a number of best performance tasks to be chosen from all of the completed tasks performed by the student.

7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, in which receiving raw education evaluation information includes prompting a user to enter information associated with the student evaluation record.

8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which converting the raw education evaluation information includes extracting the received raw student evaluation information from the student evaluation record, and automatically performing a conversion procedure on the extracted raw education evaluation information, customised according to the prescribed criteria of a particular subject or learning area.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 in which extracting the raw evaluation information includes extracting a prescribed number of tasks from the component record as specified in the minimum number of tasks field and the best number of tasks fields.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8 in which performing a conversion procedure includes moderating a student evaluation record to a prescribed format.

1 1. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 in which presenting the education evaluation portfolio in a prescribed format includes determining a prescribed format conforming to the prescribed education evaluation system, and compiling a student evaluation report in accordance with the prescribed format.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 1 , in which presenting the education evaluation portfolio in a prescribed format includes any one of presenting a student evaluation report on a display screen, presenting a student evaluation report on a printing device and presenting a student evaluation report in an electronic data format.

13. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 12 in which presenting the education evaluation portfolio in a prescribed format includes establishing a data connection between a student evaluation database and a remote terminal, thereby to permit a user of the remote terminal electronically to access the education evaluation portfolio.

14. A computer apparatus for organizing and sharing education evaluation information, which includes an input arrangement operable to receive raw education evaluation information; a processing arrangement operable to access a prescribed education evaluation portfolio format and to convert the raw education evaluation information to conform with the prescribed education evaluation portfolio format; and an output arrangement operable to present the education evaluation portfolio in a format which conforms with the prescribed education evaluation portfolio.

15. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the input arrangement includes a keyboard.

16. A computer apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 14 and 15, in which the processing arrangement includes a student evaluation database in which is defined at least one student evaluation record.

17. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 16, in which the student evaluation record includes a student identity record which is associated with a student who undergoes education based on the prescribed evaluation system and at least one subject or learning area record associated with a subject or learning area for which the student is enrolled.

18. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 17, in which each subject or learning area record includes at least one component record which is associated with a prescribed component of the subject or learning area which is to be evaluated under the prescribed evaluation system.

19. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 18, in which each component record includes a plurality of task records, each task record including a task identification field for receiving a task identifier and an evaluation field for receiving a mark which is allocated to the associated task, which mark is an indication of a student's performance in the associated task.

20. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 19, in which each component record includes component configuration fields for receiving component configurations, which includes any one or more of: parameters specifying a maximum- and minimum number of tasks to be completed by the student, an actual number of tasks completed by the student, and a number of best performance tasks to be chosen from all of the completed tasks performed by the student.

21. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 20 in which the input arrangement is operable to prompt a user with a subject or learning area setup screen containing data fields for setting up the student evaluation database.

22. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 21 in which the subject or learning area setup screen is in the form of a wizard prompting a user to enter required information in the data fields.

23. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 22 in which a number of the data fields of the subject or learning area setup screen are associated with a subject or learning area definition data record in accordance with the prescribed education evaluation portfolio for that specific subject or learning area.

24. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 23 in which the subject or learning area definition data record pre-defines for the user, on entering the programme for a particular subject or learning area and grade, any one or more of a subject or learning area name, a level of education, an education grade, descriptions of the prescribed subject or learning area components, notes relevant to the prescribed components of the specific subject or learning area, component parameters such as the prescribed minimum number tasks for that component, a prescribed maximum number of tasks, the number of best performance tasks to be selected for preparation of the prescribed evaluation report, task labels of tasks to be performed by the student for each component, task descriptions, and the prescribed or converted maximum mark achievable by a student for that task.

25. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 24 in which the subject or learning area definition data record contain any one or more of user-specified short descriptions of tasks, descriptions of completion dates of the tasks, and the maximum unconverted mark which is achievable by a student for that specific task

26. A computer apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 25, in which the output arrangement includes any one of a printer, print preview screen and a display screen.

27. A computer apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 26, which includes a data interface operable to establish a data connection between the student evaluation database and a remote terminal, thereby to permit a user of the remote terminal electronically to access the student evaluation database.

28. A computer apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 27, which includes an activation module operable to receive an activation code from a user, the activation code.

29. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 28 in which the activation code permits a user to download and use the software from a remote server to which the computer apparatus is connectable via a data connection.

30. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 28 in which the activation code permits a user to unlock the requirements of a prescribed education evaluation portfolio for a particular education subject or learning area as the code contains, in encrypted form, the detailed requirements of an evaluation portfolio for a particular education subject or learning area.

31. A computer apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 30, in which at least some of the data fields are locked for editing where the prescribed education evaluation portfolio requirements for a particular education subject or learning area stipulate a fixed maximum prescribed or converted maximum mark achievable by a student for a task., but unlocked and editable where there is no converted maximum mark stipulated, albeit bounded by the constraint that these unlocked converted task and/or component totals sum to the required overall converted totals.

32. A computer apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 31 , in which the data fields in the completed subject or learning area setup screen is stored in a subject or learning area setup record on the database, for creating a raw education evaluation profile information input screen.

33. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 32, in which the raw education evaluation profile information input screen includes data fields in which can be defined any one or more of a surname of a student enrolled for a subject or learning area, first names of a student, a student identification numbers, moderated or not-moderated indicators, and a mark field for each task of each component.

34. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 33 which includes a statistical analysis arrangement, for performing statistical analysis on the student identity records.

35. A computer apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 24 in which the processing arrangement is configured to retrieve an unconverted mark from the mark field of a task, and to convert this unconverted mark, according to a prescribed formula, to the converted mark prescribed for the particular subject or learning area according to the prescribed education evaluation portfolio..

36. A computer apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 35, in which the output arrangement includes a report compiling arrangement operable to compile a report in a prescribed format of the prescribed education evaluation portfolio for individual learners, as well as reports for all learners within a class, and for all learners within a grade.

37. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 36 in which a set of reports are presentable in the prescribed education evaluation portfolio format for a particular subject or learning area presented in an educational institution, by producing a physical or electronic copy of the set of reports.

38. A computer apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 37 which is operable to permit backup of data as the data entered for a class may be exported/imported to other file locations and in other data formats.

39. A processing system, which includes at least one computer apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 38; and a remote terminal operable to permit a user of the remote terminal electronically to access the student evaluation database.

40. A data carrier including a set of computer readable instructions, which when executed by a computer, performs a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13.

41. A method as claimed in claim 1 , substantially as herein described and illustrated.

42. A computer apparatus as claimed in claim 14, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

43. A processing system as claimed in claim 38 substantially as herein described and illustrated.

44. A data carrier as claimed in claim 40, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

45. A new method, substantially as herein described.

46. A new computer apparatus, a new processing system and a new data carrier substantially as herein described.