Current OWL Release Notes
OWL v. 7.2
(March, 2024)
Dynamic Feedback
The features formerly referred to as Flight Path, are now called “Dynamic Feedback” in the OWL user interface. Users are not required to make any adjustments to their current assignments to accommodate this change. Please click this like for updated information: OWL Help Documentation | Dynamic Feedback.
OWL v. 7.0
(February, 2024)
The OWL version 7.0 release represents an upgrade to the infrastructure of the OWL Test Management System. With this release, users will notice improved speed and performance with functions like: saving changes, loading tests, managing list pages, and running system jobs such as copies and imports. Most important, this release represents a significant investment that sets the stage for even more flexible online exam building and delivery.
System Administrators and Content Creators (Instructor role) will experience some difference in certain areas of the OWL TMS. Please see the expanded details below for the following topics:
Editing Message Templates
Creating message templates is now even easier. For OWL users who have the automatic notification feature, you can now include links and attach images with greater ease. Please watch the updated OWL Help Video for more information. [Video Transcript]
Editing Flight Paths
The editor for creating dynamic feedback has been upgraded. Please fund updated help instructions here:
Keywords
Certain OWL keywords have been incorporated into the appropriate properties editors. If your existing content included one of these keywords, your settings have been migrated to the new controls.
For more information on each setting, visit this page:
OWL Help Page | Property Definitions and Settings
Then follow the links for the marked (*).
The impacted keywords and associated test elements are:
Simple UI
Response Playback
Sync Playback and Record
Image Popup
Content Direction
Calculator/Scratchpad
Math Rendering
Right to Left Testing
for Tests with Oral Response and Directions Items Only
for Oral Response Items Only
for Oral Response Items, Video Response Items Only
for Directions, Section Headers, and/or Item Image Prompts
for Test Directions, Section Headers, and/or Individual Items
Test Level Setting
Test, Section, and/or Item Level Setting
Test, Section and/or Item Level Settings
Content Sharing
OWL v. 7.0 makes sharing easier, safer and better.
Now users can see what content they have shared in their list pages.
If an item has been shared with you, it can be accessed from a separate menu.
If you share with another user, they cannot change your original content.
Please watch these OWL Help Videos for more information.
The types of content that can now be shared include:
Test, Sections, All Item Types
Media: Audio, Image and Video Files
Message Templates
Flight Paths
Certificates
Rubrics
To access your shared content:
Go to Building menu >> Shared
Make a Copy of Shared Content
Assignment Management
Deleting - Is only meant to be used for Assignments that have been created by mistake. This function removes the assignment from the database permanently. Assignment can only be deleted if they:
Have no response data
Have no test sessions in progress
Are unlocked
Have no users on the Assignment Rosters
Archiving - Use Archiving If you have old assignments that you wish to remove from list pages. Archiving does NOT remove the assignment and it’s associated data from the database. Archiving an assignment removes it from the following pages:
Testing Menu: My Current Assignments, My Completed Assignments
Assessment Menu: Assessment List, Assessments (Flat List), Interviews, Start Blind Assessments
Assessment >> Admin Sub Menu: Unfinalized Responses, Assessments (Single No Rating), Assessment Monitor, Assessment Requests Remaining
Tools: Examinee Portfolios
To Archive an Assignment:
Go to the Testing menu >> Assignments
Select the assignment with check box
Click the Archive button
To Retrieve an Archived Assignment
Go to the Archives menu >> Assignments
Select the assignment with check box
Click the Unarchive button
To Report on an Archived Assignment:
Go to the Reporting menu and select the desired report.
Set your reporting parameters and click the Select Assignments button
Select the Archived “is true” filter from the assignment selection interface
Select the desired assignment(s) and run your reporting
Tracking Numbers
The way tracking numbers are assigned in the OWL Test Management System is changing.
Elements of the same type (i.e., within a single list page) will each have a unique tracking number
Elements of different types may have (e.g., Test v. Section v. Item) the same tracking number
OWL Items regardless of type (e.g., short answer, essay, multiple choice, etc.) will have a unique number
Content Copying
Copies of content (Tests, Sections, Items) will no longer be assigned a Version number.
Copy preferences for media are no longer requested
When copying content all associated media will be copied as well.