Introduction to item authoring

There are two broad families of item types in risr/ assess; the written item and the OSCE. Of the former there are also several subtypes, enabling test administrators to design inventive and challenging assessments that measure candidate attributes in novel ways.

To support this variety, risr/ assess has an in-depth and feature-rich authoring interface that comprises many parts. The articles that follow will take you through in detail how this all works. 

As such, we have divided the authorship articles into three main areas.

1. General features of the authoring interface (which is where you are now)
2. Written item types
3. The OSCE item type

The first section covers off all of the shared functionality between the different item types including the basics of using the interface tools, item version control and tagging and categorisation of those items for organisation and exam blueprinting purposes.

In section 2 we'll look at each written item type in depth; how they each work and the purpose for which each is intended, as well as in-depth guidance for building each type of item. 

In the third section, we cover some of the more advanced OSCE design concepts. For example, mark sheet construction, critical stop points and examiner, candidate and simulated patient materials).

Later in the category, we have also included sections on item banking, resource bank management as well as bringing those items together to construct item sets (exam papers).

The authoring interface

The image below shows a high-level overview of the authoring interface (the image is of a written item type, the OSCE version is here).

1. Item information: This is the basic item information configured during the initial item creation. With the exception of the item number, all information can be adjusted here by clicking Edit item information.
2. Item resources: Any resources needed for the item can be added and managed here. 
3. Blueprinting: Item tagging takes place under the blueprinting tab.
4. Item overview: The item overview tab displays information about the items usage in item sets and exams.
5. Item performance: Aggregated item performance analysis is presented under the item performance tab.
6. Cloning: The ability to clone an item is controlled from here. Once all required information has been added to the item, you will also see options to initiate the review and approval process from here.
7. Preview and export: The option to preview the item as it will appear for candidates and examiners in the exam or to export to HTML/PDF.
8. Item linking: Any enemy items can be specified and linked up here. 
9. Version history and activity log: The item's version history as well as a detailed log of changes that occurred within each of those versions is maintained here.