Method and System for Real-Time Observation Assessment

Abstract

Techniques for real-time observation assessment are provided. The techniques, which are designed for educators, take advantage of handheld computers, desktop/laptop computers and Internet access in order to reduce the paperwork associated with conventional educational assessments. An array of instructional assessment applications are designed to run on handheld computers. The instructional assessment applications may be based on existing and widely used paper methodologies. A common Web-based platform for assessment application distribution, selection, download, data management and reporting is also provided. Users can then periodically synchronize instructional data (assessments, diagnostic results, notes and/or schedules) to the Web site. At the Web site, browser-based reports and analysis can be viewed, administered and shared via electronic mail.

1 . A method for providing access to a real-time, observation assessment system, the method comprising: 
 enabling a desktop computer to access a Web server, via a communications network, in order to enable a subscriber to access the real-time, observation assessment system;    accessing a master database, coupled to the Web server, including a class roster for the subscriber;    receiving, at the Web server, a transmission via the communications network of assessment data previously stored on a mobile computing device used by the subscriber when performing observation assessments, wherein the mobile computing device is linked to the desktop computer during the transmission;    matching the received assessment data with the class roster for the subscriber; and    storing, by an application server coupled to the Web server and the master database, the assessment data to the master database in association with the class roster for the subscriber,    wherein browser-based reports and analysis using the class roster and the stored assessment data can be created by said Web server and displayed to the subscriber on the desktop computer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the communications network is at least a portion of the Internet.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising sending, by the Web server, the browser-based reports and analysis to a recipient specified by the subscriber via electronic mail.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein: 
 the transmission utilizes Hypertext Transmission Protocol, Secured (HTTPS), and    the assessment data is in compressed Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein matching the received assessment data with the class roster for the subscriber comprises matching the received assessment data with a student record that is associated with the class roster for the subscriber.  
     
     
         6 . A real-time, observation assessment system comprising: 
 a master database containing login information and a class roster for a subscriber;    a Web server, coupled to the master database, that accepts assessment data previously-stored on a mobile computing device used by the subscriber when performing observation assessments and transmitted via a communications network; and    an application server, coupled to the master database and the Web server, that matches the assessment data received from the mobile computing device with the class roster for the subscriber and stores the assessment data received from the mobile computing device to the master database in association with the class roster for the subscriber,    wherein the Web server can generate browser-based reports and analysis using the class roster and the translated and stored assessment data.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said communications network is at least a portion of the Internet.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the Web server allows the browser-based reports and analysis to be sent a recipient specified by the subscriber via electronic mail.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the assessment data is transmitted from the mobile computing device to the Web server in compressed Extensible Markup Language (XML) format over the Hypertext Transmission Protocol, Secured (HTTPS).  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising a desktop agent, connected to the communications network, that facilitates the transmitting of the assessment data from the mobile computing device to the Web server.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6  wherein matching the received assessment data with the class roster for the subscriber comprises matching the received assessment data with a student record that is associated with the class roster for the subscriber.