Monday 17 September 2012

KS Help Notes_Invites 05_Setting up a Mock Test

Occasionally, KS firms ask if it is possible to set up a practice or mock test environment for users, so they can familiarise themselves with the KS test UI, format, question types, file download process, and so on, before taking a test 'for real'.

The answer is yes.  And it's pretty easy to set up.  Here's what you need to do...

Step One
Set up a Practice Test Account

First, set up a new account, called 'XYZ Engineers Practice Account/Sand Box/Mock Test Account', or similar.

See this link for more detailed notes on how to set up a new KS 'child' account.  Don't add any KS OTS tests when setting up this account.  Leave the KS test list blank for now.

Next, set up a new Full-admin profile for your new account.  Go to the Accounts > Your Accounts page of your dashboard and select the 'Administrators' icon next to your new practice test account.


Use the 'Add administrator' fields to add a new Full-admin to your account.


Use a general user name, i.e. XYZAdmin and a 'catchall' email address, such as training@xyzengineers, learning@xyzengineers, or similar.

Look out for the system mail with your new admin's login details.  Or, alternatively, re-set the password on your new admin profile.


Log in as your new administrator.  Now, hit the 'Change password' link, to create a new generic password, i.e. XYZ123.  These login details will be made available to all users, so should be easy to remember.





Last, change your new admin profile from Full-admin to Sub-admin status.  Don't forget, a Sub-admin user profile can only access a KS test from a browser.  It cannot be used to access your main KS dashboard.


Now that you have set up your new practice test account, you need to create a mock test, for your users to log into.


Step Two
Set up a Mock Test

Choose a suitable topic for your mock test, i.e. AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, MicroStation, etc.  Log into your main KS 'parent' account and create a new practice test from scratch.  See this link for more detailed notes on how to create your own KS modules and tests.  See this link for more detailed notes on how to import and edit a KS OTS test.

Set up your new test so that you only have a single module, with 3 or 4 sample questions presented in your mock test.  Save your changes and publish your new test.  See this link for notes on how to publish draft KS content.

Now, go to the Accounts > Manage Content page and copy your new mock test across to your practice test account.  See this link for notes on how to copy published tests from a 'parent' account to a 'child' account.

Now, any user can log in to a mock test session, using the generic Sub-admin profile, to get a preview of what a live KS test session looks and feels like.

You might want to create some simple user instructions on how to log in to a KS test from a browser.  This link will give you some useful info to share with your team.

R

KS user passwords

This query comes up from time to time, so I thought it worth documenting on the KS blog.

Some invite mails contain a username and password, but others do not.  Why is this?

The answer is pretty straightforward.  The KS system appends a username and password on invite mails for regular users (i.e. non-admins).  Further, if a user receives two or more test invites in close succession, the latter invite(s) will overwrite the password(s) from earlier mails. Which means they need to use the most recent password for all active test sessions.

All users can re-set their KS password at any time, by clicking the 'Forgot details' link on the KS dashboard login page, which takes you here.




Enter your KS username and the system will email a new password.


System admins can set their own password, so the KS system does not include usernames and passwords on test invite mails for administrators.

KS admins can set their own password, by logging in to their KS dashboard and selecting the 'Change password' link.


Copy the original password into the first field, then confirm your own password and save the changes.


R

AUGI Top DAUG 2012



The AUGI Top DAUG competition was introduced at Autodesk University, back in 2000. The contest originally featured AutoCAD 2D knowledge. This year, once again, AUGI is teaming up with KnowledgeSmart to expand the range of topics to include 8 software tracks.

Here are some guidelines for this year's contest..

All contestants must attend Autodesk University in order to compete.

The contest includes modules based on the following software versions:

- 3ds Max 2013
- AutoCAD 2013
- AutoCAD Civil 3D 2013
- Inventor 2013
- Navisworks Manage 2013
- Revit Architecture 2013
- Revit MEP 2013
- Revit Structure 2013

Contestants may participate in multiple modules, but only take each module once.  (Any contestant taking the same module more than once will be disqualified).

A combination of test scores and fastest times determines the winner of each module and the overall winner of the competition.  In the event of a tie, the winner of the contest will be decided by a coin toss.

The following are not allowed to be used in the Top DAUG contest area:

- Cell phones, smart phones or any electronic devices
- Reference books and/or websites
- Autodesk materials, training courseware or related materials
- Personal 1 on 1 coaching from Brian Mackey (just kidding, Brian! ;) )

A range of prizes will be awarded for the best performers.  See you all at the Mandalay Bay, in a couple of months!

R

Monday 3 September 2012

KS Help Notes_Library 10_Precision on Free Text Questions

KS admins can determine answer precision on free text type questions.  To edit a question, go to Library > Draft Content > Draft Questions and hover your mouse over the 'Edit question' icon. Select 'Provide the answer' in the flyout menu.


If an answer is numeric, admins can allow a variance in the value presented in the answer field by users, assigning full or partial marks for 'nearly right' answers.


Admins can provide user hints for answer precision (i.e. the number of decimal places required in the 'correct' answer).




For non-numeric answers, we have included the option to disregard incorrect case and white spacing in the answers submitted by users.  So, for example, if the 'correct' answer to a question was 'Top DAUG', but a user entered an answer of 'Top  daug', the admin can decide whether to assign full, partial or no marks.



As a default setting, KS OTS (off the shelf) tests assign full marks to answers with minor variance in case and white spacing.  Precision hint and variance for numeric answers is not enabled.

R