IMS Releases Its New QTI Interoperability Standard For Online Assessments

IBL News | New York

The IMS Global Consortium announced yesterday the release of the new QTI (Question and Test Interoperability) 3.0 tool, which allows interoperating online tests and assessments on vendor delivery platforms.

Advancements in this version include full support for HTML5, support via Portable Custom Interactions (PCI), and a shared vocabulary for standard presentation, including CSS, along with other features.

“QTIQTI 3.0 is yet another breakthrough enabling the most advanced assessment techniques to be fully accessible, provide actionable and timely data, and meet the full range of formative and summative needs,” said Dr. Rob Abel, CEO at IMS Global Learning Consortium.

A conversion tool that moves QTI 2.x content to QTI 3.0, along with a reference implementation delivery platform are forthcoming.

The QTI 3.0 workgroup is led by ETS, Pearson, OAT, NWEA, ACT, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, with the support of other suppliers and institutions.

QTI has made an impact on digital assessment since its inception. Pearson has used QTI 2.x/APIP in the development of 31 million items in curriculum products, district interim assessments, as well as items for homeschooling.

“Requiring vendors to become IMS certified for QTI has helped Maryland move to 100% online testing, as accessibility supports for text-to-speech, American Sign Language, and closed captioning for online videos ensure that all students can participate in online assessments,” said James Dale Cornelius, Chief Information Office at Maryland State Department of Education.

“The ability to efficiently migrate a state’s assessment assets, including stimuli, questions, scoring information, and accessibility features, across or between vendor delivery platforms and know that the functionality and scoring information will not change creates a more reliable measure of student knowledge and skills,” explained Dawn Cameron, Specialty and Technical Innovations, Statewide Assessment for the Minnesota Department of Education.