An Example Web Application - quizCGI

The quizCGI testing engine works with the WebStar HTTP server to respond to submissions from students over the network. Instructors use the MTX question format to develop quizzes and examinations for use with quizCGI.

How It Works

1. The mtx2html conversion tool creates an HTML quiz form (quizdemo.html) and answer key (quizdemo.key) from the original MTX file (quizdemo.mtx, purple arrows). The HTML and key files are then placed in appropriate places on the server.
2. The student accesses the quiz using Netscape or a similar browser (yellow arrows). When the form is complete it is submitted to WebStar, which in turn calls quizCGI to process the data (red arrows).
3. quizCGI uses the key file to grade the quiz and records the results in a data file (quizdemo.dat) for later statistical analysis (blue arrows). If an optional student list (students.lst) was specified by the instructor, the quiz is "closed" and submissions will only be allowed if the student entered a valid name and ID code. A log entry is generated every time quizCGI is called (quizcgi.log).
4. FInally, quizCGI passes a confirmation HTML page back to the student (green arrows). Several levels of feedback are available, including links to review materials, at the instructor's discretion.

Accuracy and Security

The quizCGI system has several built-in mechanisms to ensure accuracy and security:

• Submissions are rejected if the form is incomplete or if too many answers have been selected.
• Submissions are rejected if the answer key or student list are missing.
• The quiz form and answer key contain a numeric "stamp" assigned by mtx2html when the files were generated. quizCGI will reject submissions when these numbers do not match.
• Full names and ID codes are used for student authentication.
• For high stakes testing, the quiz forms can be left on the hard disk of the testing machine(s) so there is no possibility of unauthorized student access via the Web.

quizCGI is Copyright 1996 by the University of Florida.