New KS Question Types

We have added some new test question types to the KS system this month.  Here's a brief summary of the new choices.

Matching list

This question type asks the user to correctly identify, or match the relationship between 2 lists of data.  Here's an example:

Here's a look at how to build up the answer options, for Matching list questions:

Complete the blank

This question type asks the user to fill in one (or more) blank fields, or select from a list of available options in a sentence or paragraph.  Here's an example:

Here's a look at how to build up the answer options, for Complete the blank questions:

Matrix

This question type asks the user to review a word or short phrase and select a radio button option that relates to the ‘correct’ description.

Here's a look at how to build up the answer options, for Matrix questions:

Essay

This question type asks the user to write a longer answer to a question. This will not be automatically marked and will require manual scoring.

To assign marks to an Essay question, go to Invites > History and click on the 'Pending' link.

Click the 'Edit Score' link and assign your marks. You can also add comments, which will appear in the test report. Save your changes and the final score will appear on the Results > Data page.

The 'Create Question' page now lists all 9 KS test question types:

You'll also see  a brief description for each question type on the test landing page:

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KS Tips for Getting Started with Your Assessments

Making a positive start with your KS assessment program is a key part of generating momentum in your wider learning and development plans.  Here is a brief guide which walks you through the right steps to make sure you get off to a flying start!

1. Discuss your goals. What do you want to achieve?  How will you define success?  Do you have management buy-in to support your plan?

2. Select your KS system administrators.  Decide who will have global access and who will have regional access.  Do you want to include sub-admins?

3. Book your KS Getting Started web meeting with the KS team and/or training partner.  Review the information on the Settings > Resources page of your KS dashboard.

4. Set up your KS accounts.  Do you need one main account or multiple linked accounts?  Add your company branding to your dashboard, test UI & reports.

5. Agree your message and decide how to communicate your plans to your team.

6. Identify a list of users to be tested.  Do you have any positive-minded ‘super users’ or champions who can be relied on to assist your plans?

7. What topics will you include in your test program?  Will you use the KS library ‘off the shelf’, or will you make some changes?  Do you want to add any custom questions of your own?

8. Build your user list.  Filter your user list into groups.

9. How much user feedback do you want to provide in your reports?  Include coaching?  Include links to learning?  Include additional user data capture?

10. Create a schedule of invites.  Who, where, when, what?  Do you want to send a custom invite message?  Will you test new hires at interview?  Who will help to administer this?

11. Send your test invites.  Monitor progress on the Invites > History page.  Set up reminders.

12. Monitor overall test progress and results.

13. Schedule results analysis workshop/web meeting with the KS team and chosen training partner.

14. Create reports and feed KS results data into your wider training and learning program. Include your preferred training partner in this phase of activity.

15. Re-test after training to monitor effectiveness of your material and measure performance improvement.


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KS Admin FAQ's

Here are the most common questions and points of discussion for KS admins.

Q - What's the difference between a Sub-admin and a Full-admin?

A - Sub-admins can set up test sessions from a browser, using the 'Assessment' link, but not access the main KS dashboard.  Full-admins can log in to the KS dashboard and use the browser test set-up tools.

Q - How do I re-set or change my KS password?

A - All users can re-set their KS password at any time, by clicking the 'Reset password' link on the KS login page:

This takes you to the following page: https://online.knowledgesmart.net/PassRecover.aspx.  Enter your KS username and the system will email a new password.

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.

Q - How do I add a new KS administrator to my account?

A - Go to the Accounts > Your Accounts page of the KS dashboard and click on the 'Administrators' tool (small people icon).

From here you can add new Sub-admins or Full-admins, using the 'Add administrator' fields:

Q - I get an error message when I try to import my user list.  Why is this?

A - First, make sure that you are using a .csv file format, not .xls or .xlsx.  (See help notes on the Users > Upload User Data page for a link to a formatted .csv template).  Also, make sure that you have 10 data columns in your .csv file.


Q - My invite mails are not getting through to users every time.  Why not?

A - Sometimes KS invite mails are blocked by spam prevention software.  If the KS mails are not in junk mail, then your corporate security might not be allowing the mails through.  This happens from time to time.  A combination of the following steps usually resolves the issue:

‘White flag’ the domain @knowledgesmart.net.
‘White flag’ the domain @ks-server.net.
‘White flag’ mails from system@ks-server.net.

That should allow the mails to work OK.  However, if they are still getting blocked, there is one more thing to try.  Our hosting company (1&1) sometimes uses a relay server in Germany, called kundenserver.de.

‘White flag’ the domain @kundenserver.de.

That should sort everything out, from a corporate mails point of view.


Q - Some invite mails contain a username and password.  Others do not.  Why is this?

A - The KS system appends a username and password on invite mails for regular users (i.e. non-admins), but not for system administrators. KS admins can manage their own passwords, so the KS system does not include admin usernames and passwords on invite mails.


Q - When  a user tries to log into a test session, their password does not work.  Why is this?

A - If a user receives two or more test invites in close succession, the latter invite(s) will overwrite the password(s) from earlier mails.  Instruct them to use the password from the last email invite received to access ALL open KS test sessions.

All users can re-set their KS password at any time, by clicking the 'Reset password'' link on the KS dashboard login page, which takes you here: https://online.knowledgesmart.net/PassRecover.aspx. Enter your KS username and the system will email a new password.

Q - If  a user logs out of a test session, will all answers be saved?

A - Yes.  All your answers will be saved if you resume a test session, at a later date.


Q - If a user logs out of a test session, does the clock stop?

A - Yes.  The clock stops recording elapsed time when you log out of a test session and starts again when you log back in.


Q - A test result did not upload correctly at the end of a test session.  Can it be rescued?

A - Yes.  If a user loses their web connection at the end of a test session, occasionally a result will not upload to the dashboard successfully.  Just notify us and the KS team will manually retrieve the score and add it to your dashboard.  Submitted answers will not be lost.


Q - Can I mix & match questions from different test modules?

A - Yes. KS admins have full editorial control over all KS test material, including authoring tools for creating new questions from scratch and sorting and moving existing questions between modules and tests.


Q - Can I extend the expiry date on an invite?

A - Yes. Go to Invites > History, select your invite(s) and use the 'Extend invite' tool to change the expiry date of your invites.

Q - Can I set a time limit on a KS test?

A - Yes. Import your KS test and go to Library > Draft Content > Draft Tests, edit step 4 (Test Settings). Enter your chosen time in the 'Time limit' box.

Q - Can I hide the clock which appears on the KS test UI?

A - Yes. Import your KS test and go to Library > Draft Content > Draft Tests, edit step 4 (Test Settings). Uncheck the 'Show timer' box (see above).


Q - How do I copy admins on KS invite, reminder & results mails?

A - Go to Accounts > Administrators and toggle the account invites tool (small envelope icon) to 'on'.

Go to Settings > Invites and check the box below:

Go to Settings > Reminders and check the appropriate boxes:

Q - Is it possible to edit score and time data for KS results?

A - Yes. If you have a KS result that needs to be edited, email the details across to us and we can make the edits via the main KS db.


Q - Can I copy dynamic groups from the Users page to the Results page?

A - Yes. Go to Settings > User Datafields and click on 'Share Dynamic Groups', to share existing groups across the Users, Results and Invite History pages.

Q - Can I filter results by date of test taken?

A - Yes.  You can filter KS results data across a variety of search criteria. Go to Results > Data page and click on the 'Show search' tool to display the search options:

Q - Can I export test results?

A - Yes.  Go to the Results > Data page and click on the 'Show groups' tool.  Look for the 'Export results to csv' tool.  You have a number of export options to choose from:

Q - Can I edit the user rating labels which appear at the start of a test?

A - Yes. Go to Settings > Test UI Options and apply your changes in the fields provided.

Q - Can I choose whether or not to display the user survey pages at the start and end of a test session?

A - Yes. Go to Settings > Test UI Options and apply your change in the relevant check box.

Q - Can I stop users from logging out of a test session?

A - Yes. Go to Settings > Test UI Options (see above) and apply your change using the relevant check box.


Q - How can I compare our results to the overall average KS benchmark stats?

A - Go to Results > Global Comparisons and select the title(s) you want to compare your results data against.

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