BANCO DE REACTIVOS

KALT PLUS and KALT CRITERIAL carry out the scoring of objective tests, but they don't create the questionnaires. ITEM BANKING is the program focused to create exams starting from a group of items and a set of design specifications.

It must be stated that the design of the Item Banking software includes the strictest evaluation necessities. The design of the system contains a series of advantages as for it allows to cover more than 80% of the general necessities of the evaluators of different knowledge areas. But for most of the users the system will complete their expectations in more than what they could be looking for, with capacities for today's tests -paper and pencil- as as well as for future tests taking the advantages of the optional module for implementation of on-line questionnaires, since it allows to include video, animation and sound, with the object of supporting to the evaluation in different even taxonomic levels, of abilities or skills.

	To accomplish a conceptual and format standardization of the items for the same environment, facilitating the edition of the tests, items interchange, training for the personnel and for the creators of the items, etc.
	To define a single general database with which the administrative handling of the databases is simplified when sharing a single design; data interchange is supported as well as generation of interfaces.
	To establish the outlines of general security, protecting the investment and the wealth of diverse item banks.
	To make homogeneous the presentation of reports.
	To have a user friendly interface.
	To have options for storing items and to generate tests for paper and pencil or on-line implementation.
	To have the possibility of including all kind of objects under Windows environment: graphics, images, sound, video, animation, etc.

ITEM BANKING is a very advanced system, developed for the Windows environment that allows to manage an unlimited number of items, for storing and administrating them as well as for the automatic or manual creation of very diverse kinds of tests.

The evaluator may design items in very diverse formats: from the very well-known multiple choise format to more complex items, as hierarchization, relationship of columns, alternative answer (false-true), to complete, etc. Items can include images (PCX, BMP, WMF), Windows objects (AVI, WAV, OLE), making the items very attractive and not linked to a fixed and limited format as those that are managed in databases or spreadsheets (Clipper, ACCESS, EXCEL). Items are built in a Microsoft® Word®-like editor, completely compatible with Word, Word Perfect, etc.

The BANK eases the administration of the items through validity tables, where the user establishes the levels (taxonomy, topics, sub-topics, etc.), and the number of items that are to be included in the questionnaire under developement. Data, as difficulty level, discrimination power, values of the Rasch analysis, etc. can be input and analyzed through very simple screens.

	Options to generate exams, automatically or manually.
	Creation of a questionnaire ready to be printed, together with the correct answer codes file and the description of the test for later use in the scoring process.
	Diverse capabilities of representation of the questionnaire: horizontal or vertical layout, single or double columns, different font faces, etc. The document is stored in RTF format for later use inside the BANK or for exporting it to Word or another text editor.
	Security elements: access control, encryption of the items and of the tests, etc.

Free format of the items. Wide range of different kinds of items.

The Item Banking software also allows the input of "group" items that are formed by a general reading and items are associated to it. These items are very common in analysis of texts, verbal reasoning, study of clinical cases, etc.

Developement of several questionnaire versions and of each item. With object of avoiding fraud or that the students "cheat" during a test, it is common to exchange the items to have several versions of the questionnaire, in such a way that it can be applied the same group of items in several versions to the same group of candidates or students. This action guarantees the standardization and equivalence for all the candidates. It can also be requested that the options of each item be exchanged to obtain different versions of that specific item. By doing so, the possibilities of "cheating" are practically eliminated.

Verification of the input. The system verifies that the item statement as well as its options are input in a correct, complete and standardized way. The Item Banking software makes the verifications at the moment of the input, helping the evaluator to get the item design correctly.

Management of the answer's options. It allows the input of more than one correct answer for an item. The method of partial credit or average of the options can be handled without any problem.

Database manager. It includes a set of options for database handling, such as search, sort, etc.

Exchange of information among files. The Item Banking software create files that can be handled by conventional text editors, charts that can be read by standard spreadsheets and other different formats.

History of the item in EXCEL.

ITEM BANKING software has a module for developing on-line questionnaires, in order to implement adaptative tests.

Very useful to increase the productivity, efficiency and the evaluator's control. The ITEM BANKING software is unique and it has multiple advantages regarding item administrators based on programs that handle databases.