Extract from Project Report

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1 AAA Continuation Activity Durchführung von E-Assessment mit ILIAS an der Universität Bern Extract from the Project Report E-Assessment ilub Extract from Project Report Optimised ILIAS E-Exam System ilub-team: Timon Amstutz, Hansjörg Lauener, Fabian Schmid, Yvonne Seiler Universität Bern Vizerektorat Lehre, ilub Fabrikstrasse 8 CH-3012 Bern

2 Contents 1. An Optimised ILIAS E-Exam System Server-side infrastructure for e-exams on the basis of ILIAS Server-side software Server-side hardware Client-side infrastructure hardware requirements Option 1 - e- exams in PC pool rooms, with University of Bern computers... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert Option 2 - e-exams in lecture halls and seminar rooms, with lending computers (laptop pool)...fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert Option 3 - examination in lecture halls and seminar rooms, with students' own devices (BYOD)...F ehler! Textmarke nicht definiert Client-side software... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. This extract from the internal project report shows how an optimised ILIAS e-exam system would have to be set up.

3 2. An Optimised ILIAS E-Exam System The following lays out the basic technical components of an optimised ILIAS e-exam system and the requirements for this. Distinctions are made between server and client components, and between software and hardware requirements. 2.1 Server-side infrastructure for e-exams on the basis of ILIAS To be able to guarantee the most trouble-free operation of e-exams with ILIAS, a server system should be established which is used exclusively for e-exams. Such an installation cannot be affected by unexpected events, which greatly simplifies the estimation of the requirements for such a system Server-side software The ILIAS learning management system (LMS) is to be installed as the central software component on the server side. ILIAS is the LMS currently in use at the Universityof Bern. It includes a test system which is compatible with the SEB. The ILIAS installation must be adjusted for conducting e- exams thus: The rights and configuration options are adjusted. Only courses and tests can be opened; all the other tools are deactivated. The design can easily be adjusted to prevent the mixing of the learning and teaching system and the exam system. Um die Vermischung von Lehr/Lern- und Prüfungssystem zu verhindern, ist auch das Design leicht anzupassen. To do this, a new customising directory must be created within ILIAS which contains the adjusted CSS and the template files. The start page layout, which is controlled by the SEB, must be specially adjusted to ensure an optimal overview of the currently running and upcoming exams. It is possible that the display of this start page will require the creation of a special ILIAS plugin. Access to the start page must be secured through Shibboleth. In addition, it should only be possible to log in from University of Bern network addresses. The firewall will need to be configured accordingly. The tests may only be opened during the period of the exam. Certain configurations are essential here. For instance, to prevent students being able to enter the test before the due time, the test configurations are to be monitored and supervised in a first phase. In conclusion, it should be noted that all the data in the database will need to be saved at least daily on physically independent hardware as a backup. Seite 3/6

4 2.1.2 Server-side hardware We are dealing here with exams for up to 300 students. These require an installation which provides a performance similar to that of the hardwre on which the ILIAS installation currently runs. These are the key data for such a configuration: Two or three web servers share the load of requests through a load balancing system, which which distributes requests by random DNS responses to the Web server. The web servers have high-performance components. We suggest quad-core processors with 4-8Gb RAM each. Experience suggests that the main load will fall on the database server. It is planned that the University database server is to be divided in the future between two or three units to ensure the greatest possible reliability. A similar configuration would also be desirable for the e-assessment database. From this summer, the ILIAS installation is to use INNO-DB as database engine. It is possible that this will have an effect on hardware requirements. Some experience must first be gained of the proposed configuration to be able to give details on the exact configuration of the database server. 2.2 Client-side infrastructure hardware requirements A suitable technical infrastructure on the client side is also already available to be able to conduct e-exams with ILIAS. The view of ilub is that three variations may be distinguished: 1. conduct the exam in a large PC pool room reserved for e-exams or in open PC pool rooms; 2. lend from a hardware pool of laptops or tablets and conduct the exam in lecture theatres and classrooms, and 3. conduct the exams on student laptops. The three options differ in their requirements and so are discussed separately here. Seite 4/6

5 2.2.1 Option 1 - e- exams in PC pool rooms, with University of Bern computers The university provides both the space in the form of an examination center (one to two firmly established large PC pool rooms ) and the computer or terminal for the test. Public PC pool rooms with a large number of computers are made available. These computers require regular maintenance and security updates. Ideally, a large space which is equipped with the necessary hardware (e.g. 160 computers including partitions) is reserved specifically for e-exams. To increase utilization, cooperation would have to be considered. Each PC should be equipped with the Safe Exam Browse, standard software and the ability to install special software. The equipment should be connected via Ethernet to the network of the University of Bern. Maintenance windows for software and hardware are not allowed to clash with the timing of exams Option 2 - e-exams in lecture halls and seminar rooms, with lending computers (laptop pool) Examinations take place in lecture halls and classrooms and the University of Bern manages a laptop pool for e-exams. Suitable rooms that are equipped with sufficient power and network need to be found. IT services provide an adequate network infrastructure (cabling or wireless ). Exam system: ILIAS + Safe Exam Browser Seite 5/6

6 2.2.3 Option 3 - examination in lecture halls and seminar rooms, with students own devices (BYOD) The students are responsible for their own computers (bring your own device - BYOD). The University is responsible for providing suitable premises (lecture theatres), equipped with sufficient power outlets and wireless. The students install the Safe Exam Browser and take the exam with their own notebook. Suitable rooms that are equipped with sufficient power and network need to be found. IT services provide an adequate network infrastructure (cabling or wireless ). The Building Development Office provides sufficient electricity infrastructure, or cables and adaptors for laptops. Twenty to thirty reserve laptops should be available available to deal with hardware failure (about 10 % of the participating students). Each laptop must have the configured Safe Exam Browser software installed on it by the students beforehand. The SEB software must cope with a large variety of configurations Client-side software The SEB (Safe Exam Browser) is to be installed on the client side. The SEB was developed by the ETH Zurich. SEB is a secure browser application and thus ensures that students cannot access aids that are not allowed on their computers during tests. The latest version of the SEB was presented in section 2.3. Seite 6/6

Extract from Project Report

AAA Continuation Activity 2013. Durchführung von E-Assessment mit ILIAS an der Universität Bern Auszug aus dem Projektbericht E-Assessment ilub Extract from Project Report A Comparison of E-Exams with