See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/265355956

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF ONLINE QUIZ USING THE OPEN SOURCE

SYSTEM

Article

CITATIONS READS

0 9,809

4 authors, including:

Sidek Aziz Aida Suraya

Universiti Putra Malaysia Universiti Putra Malaysia
144 PUBLICATIONS   1,488 CITATIONS    49 PUBLICATIONS   127 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Glass ceramic using food wastes View project

Transparent glass-ceramics derived from waste material for fiber optic industry View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Aida Suraya on 06 January 2016.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Prosiding Seminar Kebangsaan E-Komuniti 2005. UKM. 6 – 7 Disember 2005. Putrajaya 1

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF ONLINE QUIZ USING THE OPEN SOURCE SYSTEM

Sidek H.A. Aziz, C. F. Loong, Aida Suraya M.Y., Kamariah A.B. & Hamidah M.
Universiti Putra Malaysia

Introduction

Internet has proved to be the largest growing communication medium of the last decade and
have affected all aspects of everyday life. Internet has evolved into a user-friendly medium
capable of high speed, on demand information delivery, and proved as a useful tool for
research and learning. In education, the impact of IT has witnessed the birth of e-learning
instruction via the web, furthering the potentials for distance learning education. As e-learning
instruction becomes more accepted, the necessity to test and examine the student online has
exponentially grown in its need. The advent of e-testing has made evaluation and feedback of
results easier, quicker and more accurate due to less of human intervention. As computers
become more and more widespread, their ability to be used as a learning and assessment tool
has become invaluable, often entertaining the learner and reducing the workload of instructor
(Burguillo 2001; Crisp 2001)

Testing and assessment remain an integral part of instructional systems design for traditional
classroom based courses as well as web based training courses. The goal of testing is to
determine if learning objectives have been achieved. Formative evaluation using online testing
helps students assess their level of knowledge of course material. In addition it gives the
instructor a better idea of what students are understanding as well as the concepts that still
need clarification.

The current method of testing a students’ understanding of subject is to give question sheets
and hold tutorials. However this method can create problems, many of which are common
among classroom taught topics. It is more than likely that there will be diversity within the
group; some students may find the topic easier than others. This leads to problems when
tutorials are held; the students that find the topic easier are often the ones that answer the
lecturer’s questions.

Many of these problems can be overcome by introducing an online quiz system and are
emphasized by Schelin (2001). An online system can be used at any time, users can test
themselves when it suits them; they are not set a certain time when they must attend. An
online system also allows the users to pace themselves through the questions, allowing them to
gain a better understanding of the topic. It is often easier for a lecturer to reply 30 emails
rather than to entertain 30 students individually.

The online quiz system is proposed to be implemented at colleges or universities by lecturers,

on undergraduate students and other users. It is a web-based application quiz that is designed
to be taken online, where lecturers are able to add/edit questions via the Internet. An online
quiz system has been designed, developed and used by students of PHY4202 Semiconductor
Devices course at Universiti Putra Malaysia. The quiz tests the students on their understanding
of the semiconductor devices mainly in science and their technologies. Concurrently, this
project aims to explore the concepts and supporting technologies required for e-learning
systems.

Background

Dong (2001) stated that when a teacher speaks over the internet, it is with the finger, not with
the tongue. Facial expressions, gestures, body language, nuances that can only be conveyed by
intonation and the spoken word are all gone. Web based instruction (WBI) may not directly help

Pusat Kajian E-Komuniti, FSSK - UKM

Prosiding Seminar Kebangsaan E-Komuniti 2005. UKM. 6 – 7 Disember 2005. Putrajaya 2

the less-able students but it does enable the more capable students to continue at their own
pace with the work and take less of the lecturer’s time, thus the lecturer has more time for
the less-able.

Online quiz can be given using basic database and scripting technologies commonly available on
the internet. Both short essay answer and multiple choice quiz can be easily deployed in the
course website. Generally online quiz are clearly open book tests, as there is no way to monitor
the actions of the students as they take the online quiz. However, the online quiz can be a
useful tool as a means of verifying that students are indeed interacting with the course
material. Additionally, online quiz can be made available for specified time and place only
(Arnow and Barshay,1999).

In recent years, the use of electronic online quiz systems has become quite popular due to
pressures of increasing class sizes (Dalziel 2000; White 2000; Peat, Franklin et al. 2001; Pain
and Heron 2003), and the need for more efficient methods of assessing distances students
(Sheard and Carbone 2000; Hay and Nance 2002). One of the main benefit from using multiple
choice questions (MCQ) with online quiz systems is automated marking (Arnow and Barshay
1999). However, to help address the problems of cheating and allow students the opportunity
to redo quiz tests, it is necessary to develop a large number of MCQ items ensuring each quiz
taken is sufficiently different. To develop good quality MCQ takes considerable time (Lister
2000). Therefore, what is saved in marking is lost in development of quality MCQs (Pathak,
2000).

To offset this overhead, a method can be used whereby certain elements of the question are
parameterised, in which randomly selected option(s) can be inserted to alter the details of the
question, yet still testing the same content area (Hubler and Assad 1995; Kashy, Thoennessen
et al. 1997; Merat and Chung 1997; Woolf, Day et al. 1999; Lundquist 2001; Ashton and Beevers
2002; Pathak and Brusilovsky 2002). Thus, creating 1 parameterised quiz can result in a large
or infinite number of different quiz questions (Pathak, 2000).

There are many custom built quiz test systems that have been developed (Hubler and Assad
1995; Merat and Chung 1997; Anzai, Hirahara et al. 1999; Arnow and Barshay 1999; Matsuno,
Tsutsumi et al. 1999; Muldner and Currie 1999; Woolf, Day et al. 1999; MacKay 2000; Mackenzie
2000; Sheard and Carbone 2000; Burguillo, Benlloch et al. 2001; Crisp 2001; Lister and Jerram
2001; Ashton and Beevers 2002; Farah 2002; Hay and Nance 2002; Pathak and Brusilovsky 2002;
Li 2003; Ratna, Raymonth et al. 2003), which has resulted in poor or no interoperability
meaning questions developed for one system that cannot be re-used in another (Burguillo,
Benlloch et al. 2001).

Open Source Technologies

The Online Quiz (OQ), a web-based application, has been developed by using the open sources
of scripting languages of PHP and backend with the MySQL database. JavaScript has been
included for better dynamic interaction and performance. Following are brief descriptions
about the web technologies used for developing the online quiz system.

HTML, or HyperText Markup Language is employed to specify the logical organization

of a document, with important hypertext extensions. This choice was made because
many different “browsers” with very different abilities, may view the same HTML
document. The detailed rules for HTML (the names of the tags/elements, how they can
be used) are defined using another language known as the standard generalized markup
language, or SGML (Applewood, 2000).

PHP (recursive acronym for "PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor") is a widely used Open
Source general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for Web

Pusat Kajian E-Komuniti, FSSK - UKM

Prosiding Seminar Kebangsaan E-Komuniti 2005. UKM. 6 – 7 Disember 2005. Putrajaya 3

development and can be embedded into HTML. PHP is also a Server-Side Scripting
Language, which means that Internet users are unable to view the source code on the
Client-Side because the code is executed on the server. PHP can be used on all major
operating systems, including Linux, Unix and also Microsoft environments (Castagnetto,
et al. 1999; Cenverse and Park, 2000; Blank, 2000),

JavaScript is a platform-independent, useful for adding interactivity to the World Wide

Web because scripts can be embedded in HTML files. All modern browsers are
JavaScript enabled. In practice, JavaScript is a fairly universal extension to HTML that
can enhance the user experience through event handling and client-side execution,
while extending a web developer's control over the client's browser (Moncur, 1999;
Wyke, 1999)

MySQL, the most popular Open Source SQL database, is freely distributed. It is widely
supported and can be integrated into different platform application due to numerous
Application Programming Interfaces (API). MySQL is a relational database management
system that stores data in separate tables rather than putting all the data in one big
storeroom. MySQL is also Open Source Software that is possible for anyone to use and
modify. MySQL is very fast, reliable, and easy to use, consisting of a multi-threaded
SQL server that supports different backends, several different client programs and
libraries, administrative tools, and several programming interfaces (Kofler, 2003).

Software Development Approach

From the view of software engineering (Pressman, 2001), Online Quiz System is categorised as
a web-based software because the web pages retrieved by a web browser is the software that
incorporates executable instructions (HTML, PHP,) and data (e.g., hypertext and a variety of
visual and audio formats). Online Quiz System is also refered to as a real-time software
because software that monitors/analyzes/ controls real-world events as they occur is called
real-time. Elements of real-time software include data gathering component that collects and
formats information from an external environment, an analysis component that transforms
information as required by the application, a control/output component that respond to the
external environment, and a monitoring component that coordinates all other components so
that real-time responses can be maintained.

To develop a software application, a software process model should be proposed and

monitored at the beginning. A software process model for software engineering is chosen
based on the nature of the project and application, the methods and tools to be used, and the
controls and deliverables that are required. Among the many types of software process models,
the linear sequential model was chosen to develop the Online Quiz System. Sometimes linear
sequential model is also known as classic life model or waterfall model. Linear sequential
model was chosen because it suggests a systematic, sequential approach to software
development that begins at the system level and progress through analysis, design,
implementation (coding), and testing. Figure 1 illustrates the linear sequential model for
software engineering.

After a conventional engineering cycle, the linear sequential model encompasses the following
activities:
• System/Information Engineering And Modeling
Because software is always part of a larger system, work begins by establishing
requirements for all system elements and then allocating some subset of these
requirements to software. This system view is essential when software must interact
with other elements such as hardware, people, and databases. System engineering and
analysis includes requirement gathering at the system level with a small amount of top-
level design and analysis.

Pusat Kajian E-Komuniti, FSSK - UKM

Prosiding Seminar Kebangsaan E-Komuniti 2005. UKM. 6 – 7 Disember 2005. Putrajaya 4

• Software Requirement Analysis

The requirements gathering process is intensified and focused specifically on software.
To understand the nature of the program(s) to be built, the software engineer must
understand the information domain for the software, as well as required function,
behavior, performance, and interface. Requirement for both the system and the
software are documented for future review.

System/Information
Engineering

Analysis Design
Implementation Test

Figure 1: Linear Sequential Model

• Design

Software design is actually a multi-step process that focuses on four distinct attributes
of a program: data structure, software architecture, interface representations, and
procedural (algorithmic) detail. The design process translates requirements into a
representation of the software that can be assessed for quality before coding begins.
Like requirements, the design is documented and becomes part of the software
configuration.

• Implementation

The design must be translated into a machine-readable form. The implementation step
performs this task. If design is performed in a detailed manner, implementation
process can be accomplished mechanistically. Since Online Quiz System is a web-based
software, the designed scripts (PHP, HTML, JavaScript) are automatically translated
into machine-readable form and represent the user interfaces and page layouts with
the helps of web browser and web server. And so there is no need for a compiler in this
project to compile the scripts into machine-readable form.

• Testing

Once code has been generated, program testing begins. The testing process focuses on
the logical internals of the software, ensuring that all statements have been tested, as
well as the functional externals, that is, conducting tests to uncover errors, ensuring
that defined input produces actual results that agree with required results.

In this project, a few debugging steps have been taken in this testing phase to ensure
the whole web site and its applications are functioning properly:

Pusat Kajian E-Komuniti, FSSK - UKM

Prosiding Seminar Kebangsaan E-Komuniti 2005. UKM. 6 – 7 Disember 2005. Putrajaya 5

ƒ At least two different types of web browser (Internet Explorer and Netscape
Communicator) have been used to determine that every web site’s applications is
functioning properly and display the layout of every web pages in the best view.
ƒ The hyperlinks and buttons of every web pages have been tested to ensure that
every hyperlink or button is well functioning.
ƒ The databases are tested when saving data and also reading the data from
databases.

Data Flow Process

If a database exists in a system, then there will be one or more data flow process that exists on
that system, based on the types of data transaction (select, update, delete, and etc.). In this
project, many databases exist based on the course subject available in Online Quiz System. But
every database contains two tables (StudentResult and QnA). The table labelled StudentResult
is used to store student test result; while the table labelled QnA is used to store the chapter,
question, selections, and answers for that particular course subject.

Six data flow processes is demonstrated in the form of data flow diagram (DFD). DFD is applied
in this section (1) to provide an indication of how data are transformed as they move through
the system, (2) to depict the functions (and subfunctions) that transform the data flow and (3)
to understand the basis of the system. Furthermore, DFD provides additional information that is
used during the analysis of the information domain and serves as a basis for the modeling of
the function. Out of the six DFD diagrams that have been created, only View Student Results
process, however are depicted in Figure 2 in this paper.

data valid database name D Questions

Student
Registration
Page

P1
Validate Data
Type And
Database Name
questions

P2
E-Test Paper Random
submitted answer generated questions
Generating
Questions

P3
Calculate The D Student Results
Score
calculated data

Display Score
score Page

Figure 2: Level 0 DFD for View Student Results process

Pusat Kajian E-Komuniti, FSSK - UKM

Prosiding Seminar Kebangsaan E-Komuniti 2005. UKM. 6 – 7 Disember 2005. Putrajaya 6

Benefits of Online Quiz

Csete et al (2005) suggested the interaction model, shown in Figure 3, where a student can act
on and get responses in the three areas. Online quiz, for example, involves learners interacting
with content. Forum discussions, for example, used as a form of group-learning tool, requires
interactions with classmates. Online assignment submissions is another way to use the web for
assessments where learners and instructors still interact.

These interactions can range from simple to highly enriched. Simple interactions are one-
directional or with limited feedback and exchanges. Enriched interactions are two-directional
and negotiation of meanings is possible. Figure 3, shows the two types of interactions with
single-directional arrows and two-directional arrows respectively.

Content
e.g. Online
Quiz

Student
Peer Instructor
e.g. Online e.g
Discussion .Assignment
Submission

Figure 3: Simple and enriched interaction model (Csete, 2005)

Among the advantages in using the online quiz system, the main one is related to the format of
the quiz. Although there are a great number of quizzes found on the internet, our online quiz
system has a small file size and uses only HTML, PHP and JavaScript codes, which speeds up the
process (Mello, 1997). Other advantages of the online quiz system are:

• The students and the teacher can work on the quiz off-line or on printed copies.
• The students can get prompt feedback of their performance, allowing them to check
their answers against the correct ones which are displayed under the answer button.

In dealing with limitations, we have to consider the general limitations of online quiz system.
The general limitations as experienced by users are:

• The necessity of having an Internet account to be able to access the information.

• The problems of the Internet itself, that is, the connection is sometimes slow or down.

Pusat Kajian E-Komuniti, FSSK - UKM

Prosiding Seminar Kebangsaan E-Komuniti 2005. UKM. 6 – 7 Disember 2005. Putrajaya 7

• The students are not given the time spent on each quiz, which would allow them to
better judge their performance.

Features of Online Quiz System

The main objective of this project is to enhance the performance of Online-Quiz System in E-
Learning System by increasing its ability and flexibility.

• The special feature of this system is that they can generate the questions randomly to
overcome some issues like cheating during the exam.

• The backend tools (add / edit / delete question, view questions, and view student
results) of Online-Test Program is highly secured. The main user has to use his or her
user name and password to login to the program, and hence the db name is required to
connect to the database.

• Lecturers can add, edit or delete the questions in the database by using the
applications provided in the Online-Test Program.

• Lecturers can also view the questions and student results in the database by using the
applications provided in the Online-Quiz System.

• The Online-Quiz System reduces the cost of printing test papers, while saving time,
because the Online-Test Program provides backend tools and easy to modify questions
in the database. It is also more environmental friendly because no test papers are
printed.

• The Online-Quiz System will increase the performance and efficiency of web-based
education as the backend tools of the system are easy to use.I It is a new and
innovative way to move beyond traditional patterns of education, and is in-keeping
with the future e-trend.

This randomized online quiz system has been tested since 2002 for the groups of Semiconductor
Devices, Internet Environment and Web Technologies of undergraduate and postgraduate
students. The overall outcomes are very encouraging.

Summary

In summary, this project has achieved its objectives and a few suggestions for future
development have been proposed. The Online-Quiz provides backend tools, reduces cost and
saves time, generates random questions, and secures login protection among other significant
advantages. These benefits are believed to have a great influence in moving the traditional
patterns of education towards an the trends of E-Learning systems via the Internet. Finally, the
suggestions are proposed in this paper to ensure that the trends of E-Learning system will
become more popular in future.

References/ Bibliography

Anzai, H., T. Hirahara, et al. (1999). WebQP: Web-based teaching assistant quiz provider.
World Conference on the WWW and Internet.
Arnow, D. and O. Barshay (1999). On-line programming examinations using WebToTeach.
Conference on integrating technology into computer science education (ITiCSE), Crocow,
Poland
Ashton, H. S. and C. E. Beevers (2002). Extending flexibility in an existing online assessment
system. Computer Aided Assessment (CAA'2002).

Pusat Kajian E-Komuniti, FSSK - UKM

Prosiding Seminar Kebangsaan E-Komuniti 2005. UKM. 6 – 7 Disember 2005. Putrajaya 8

Burguillo, J. C., J. V. Benlloch, et al. (2001). X-Quest: An open tool to support evaluation in
distance learning. World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and
Telecommunications.
Chery Applewood, and etal, (2000) “HTML Complete, 2nd edition”, Alameda, California, SYBEX
Inc.
Crisp, G. T. (2001). Interactivity in on-line assessment in science. Computer Aided Assessment
(CAA'2001), Leicestershire, UK.
Dalziel, J. (2000). Integrating CAA with textbooks and question banks: Options for enhancing
learning. Computer Aided Assessment (CAA'2000), Leicestershire, UK.
Elsa Schelin (2001) A New Model for Education: Online Universities Empower Students.
www.elearningmag.com
Farah, H. (2002). iQUIZ: A tool making internet quiz easy to develop and use. World Conference
on E-Learning in Corp., Govt., Health., and Higher Ed.
Francis H. Dong (2001) The Advantages and Challenges of Teaching in the e-Learning
Environment, www.elearningmag.com
Hay, B. and K. Nance (2002). Using javascript for client-side online testing. World Conference
on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications.
Hubler, A. W. and A. M. Assad (1995). CyberProf: An intelligent human-computer interface for
asynchronous wide area training and breakching. 4th International World Wide Web
Conference.
Jesus Castagnetto, Harish Rawat, Sascha Schumann, Chris Scollo and Deepak Veliath, (1999),
“Professional PHP Programming”, Birmingham, UK, Wrox Press Ltd. Publishing.
Jon Blank, Wankyu Choi, Allan Kent, Chris Lea, Ganesh Prasad and Chris Ullman, (2000),
“Beginning PHP 4”, Birmingham, UK, Wrox Press Ltd. Publishing.
Josephine Csete, Paul Lam and Yiu-Hing Wong (2005) Online Learning Strategies: Interaction
Examples That Work, Proc. 21st Annual Conf. on Distance Teaching and Learning.
Kashy, E., Y. Thoennessen, et al. (1997). Using networked tools to enhance student success
rates in large classes. Frontiers in Education Conference, Stipes Publishing L.L.C.
Li, R. (2003). Using Macromedia Flash MX to create interactive online quiz. World Conference
on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications.
Lister, R. (2000). On blooming first year programming and its blooming assessment. ACE'2000,
Melbourne, Australia.
Lister, R. and P. Jerram (2001). Minimal mark-up of multiple choice exams using XML.
ASCILITE'2001, Melbourne, Australia.
Lundquist, R. (2001). Quiz collaboration -cheating or a learning opportunity? World Conference
on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications.
MacKay, B. R. (2000). Web-based assessment of writing skills. Computer Aided Assessment
(CAA'2000, Leicestershire, UK.
Mackenzie, D. (2000). Production and delivery of TRIADS assessments on a university-wide
basis. Computer Aided Assessment (CAA'2000), Leicestershire, UK.
Matsuno, R., Y. Tsutsumi, et al. (1999). Interactive courseware quiz creator: An adaptive zero-
programming content development tool for students learning and testing via Intra/Internet.
World Conference on the WWW and Internet.
Merat, F. L. and D. Chung (1997). World wide web approach to teaching microprocessors.
Frontiers in Education Conference, Stipes Publishing L.L.C.
Michael Kofler (2003) The Definitive Guide to MySQL, Apress; 2nd edition (October, 2003)
Michael Moncur, (1999), “Teach Yourself Javascript 1.3 in 24 Hours”, Indianapolis, Indiana,
Sams Publishing.
Muldner, M. and D. Currie (1999). Techniques to implement high speed scalable dynamic on-
line systems. World Conference on the WWW and Internet.
Pain, D. and J. L. Heron (2003). "WebCT and online assessment: The best thing since SOAP?"
Journal of International Forum of Educational Technology & Society 6(2): 62-71.
Pathak, S. and P. Brusilovsky (2002). Assessing student programming knowledge with web-based
dynamic parameterized quiz. EdMedia'2002, Denver, Collarado.

Pusat Kajian E-Komuniti, FSSK - UKM

 Prosiding Seminar Kebangsaan E-Komuniti 2005. UKM. 6 – 7 Disember 2005. Putrajaya 9

Peat, M., S. Franklin, et al. (2001). A review of the use of online self-assessment modules to
enhance student learning outcomes: Are they worth the effort of production.
ASCILITE'2001, Melbourne, Australia.
R. Allen Wyke, Jason D.Gilliam and Charton Ting, (1999), “Pure Javascript: A Code-intensive
Premium Reference”, Indianapolis, Indiana, Sams Publishing.
Ratna, A. A. P., P. Raymonth, et al. (2003). Distance E-learning implmentation and analysis on
Jarkom-Online evaluation system. World Conference on Educational Multimedia,
Hypermedia and Telecommunications.
Roger S. Pressman, (2001), “Software Engineering, A Practitioner’s Approach”, New York,
McGRAW-HILL Internation Edition.
Sheard, J. and A. Carbone (2000). Providing support for self-managed learning? World
Conference on the WWW and Internet 2000.
Smythe, C. and P. Roberts (2000). Overview of the IMS question & test interoperability
specification. Computer Aided Assessment (CAA'2000), Leicestershire, UK.
Sunil Hazari (2003) Online Testing Methods in Web Based Courses,
www.sunilhazari.com/education, Retrieved August 2005.
Tim Cenverse and Joyce Park, (2000), “PHP4 Bible”, Foster City, California, IDG Books
Worldwide.
Vera Mello (1997) Online Quiz - Are they Worthwhile?, The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. III, No.
7, July 1997
White, J. (2000). Online testing: The dog sat on my keyboard. International Conference on
Technology in Collegiate Mathematics, Atlanta, Georgia.
Woolf, B., R. Day, et al. (1999). OWL: An integrated web-based learning environment.
International Conference on Mathematics/Science Education and Technology.

Pusat Kajian E-Komuniti, FSSK - UKM

View publication stats