System and method for representing and updating a test-taker status by remote polling

Abstract

An online test platform facilitates representing a test taker with an interactive test taker icon. The platform may include administrator interfaces, test proctor interfaces, and test taker interfaces to allow each participant to view, navigate, and interact with aspects of the online test platform that are intended to meet their needs. The test platform allows representation of test takers via an interactive test taker icon. An icon represents the test taker on a display available to a teacher or proctor to monitor the status of the test taker while an online test is being administered. The display and the test taker icon may be used to represent a status of the test taker and may also be used to update the test taker status. In one example, the status of the test taker may be updated by remote polling of the test taker's station via a remote server.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 representing a test taker with an interactive test taker icon;   logging the test taker into a test taker station at a testing facility or at a remote location to take a test;   presenting the interactive test taker icon within an online test proctoring interface on a display;   representing a status of the test taker by a property of the interactive test taker icon; and   updating the status of the test taker by remote polling of the test taker station via a remote server.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising updating the status of the test taker within the display via the property of the interactive test taker icon. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting or clicking on the interactive test taker icon to access and to act on information associated with the interactive test taker icon. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the status of the test taker comprises progress of the test being taken by the test taker. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the status of the test taker and the progress of the test taker is displayed in a plurality of panels within the online test proctoring interface on the display. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the property of the test taker icon comprises a color of the test taker icon or text within the test taker icon. 
     
     
         7 . A method, comprising;
 representing a test taker with a test taker icon;   logging the test taker into a test taker station at a testing facility or at a remote location to take a test;   presenting the test taker icon within an online test proctoring interface on a display, the test proctoring interface comprising a plurality of testing status panels;   determining a status of the test taker by remote polling of the test taker station via a remote server;   representing the determined status of the test taker by a property of the test taker icon;   updating the status of the test taker by remote polling of the test taker station via the remote server; and   adjusting the updated status of the test taker within the display via the property of the test taker icon.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the test taker comprises a plurality of test takers represented by a plurality of test taker icons and further comprising organizing the test taker icons according to the status of each of the plurality of test takers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the test taker icons are organized into the plurality of testing status panels. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the status comprises one of starting the test, testing and finishing the test. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the online test proctoring interface is available for viewing on a computer in the testing facility. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising dragging and dropping the test taker icon to update the status of the test taker. 
     
     
         13 . A system, comprising:
 a computer test platform for logging a test taker into a test station at a testing facility at a location to take a test, the test taker represented by a test taker icon;   a server remote from the test taker station, the server suitable for polling of the test taker station to determine a status of the test taker with respect to the test; and   an online test proctoring interface visible on a display,   wherein the test taker is represented within the online test proctoring interface by a test taker icon, the status of the test taker updated according to the polling of the test taker, and the updated status is displayed on the display via a property of the test taker icon.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the status of the test taker with respect to the test comprises a number of completed questions of the test. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the property of the test taker icon is selected from the group consisting of a color of the test taker icon and text displayed within the test taker icon. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the test taker icon is interactive, allowing the user to click on the test taker icon to access or act on information associated with the test taker icon. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the display of the online test proctoring interface comprises a plurality of status panels for displaying the status of the test taker with respect to the test. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of status panels comprises at least one of a start panel, a testing panel and a finish panel. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein a plurality of test taker icons representing a plurality of test takers are organized into the plurality of status panels. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of test taker icons are organized according to a subject matter of a test being taken by each of the plurality of test takers.