TAO is an e-assessment platform that was updated to version 2.0. The new version features two new item types (QTI and open web item types), advanced workflow capabilities for tests and organizational processes, and improved interoperability through CSV, QTI packaging and XLS formats. The architecture of TAO 2.0 separates the application layer from the persistence layer with a generis API.

1. TAO
TAO 2.0 and its architecture
Tao Days 2011, Mar 30-31, Luxembourg
Patrick.Plichart@tudor.lu
Bertrand.Chevrier@tudor.lu

2. Conclusion
Introduction

3. TAO platform overview
TAO 2.0 New features
 New Item types (QTI item type, Open
Web Item Type )
 Advanced WorkFlow features (Tests,
Organisationnal processes)
 Interoperability : CSV, QTI packaging,
XLS

4. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro
Test Takers
management
Results
Group
management
management
Test Delivery Item (exercices)
management management
Test development &
management

5. TAO platform overview
TAO 2.0 New features
 New Item types (QTI item type, Open
Web Item Type )
 Advanced WorkFlow features (Tests,
Organisationnal processes)
 Interoperability : CSV, QTI packaging,
XLS

6. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro
“Keep a good balance between Flexibility and Ease of use”
QTI Item type
Flexibility
Ease of use

7. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro
QTI = Question and Test Interoperability
 TAO supports QTI items interactions Platform X
Platform Y
Item Bank
 TAO supports for IMS Content Packaging

8. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro

9. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro

10. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro
“QTI with style using Cascading Style Sheets!”
TAO Default Style Sheet Specific Stylesheet

11. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro
“Keep a good balance between Flexibility and Ease of use”
Open Web Item type
Flexibility
Ease of use

12. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro
“Sometimes, you need more freedom!”
1. Create an item yourself using Standard Web technologies
(XHTML, CSS, JavaScript)
2. Connect to a simple JavaScript Item Runtime API to exchange
data with TAO
3. Use eventually the Item Scoring API (Server or Client side
score processing)
“Serious-games based assessment ?”
4. Import it in your TAO Platform
5. Preview it in the Item Module

13. TAO platform overview
TAO 2.0 New features
 New Item types (QTI item type, Open
Web Item Type )
 Advanced WorkFlow features (Tests,
Organisationnal processes)
 Interoperability : CSV, QTI packaging,
XLS

14. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro
QTI Item
Open Web Item
A + B + C > 54
QTI Item QTI Item

15. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro
QTI Item

16. TAO platform overview
TAO 2.0 New features
 New Item types (QTI item type, Open
Web Item Type )
 Advanced WorkFlow features (Tests,
Organisationnal processes)
 Interoperability : CSV, QTI packaging,
XLS

17. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro
 CSV Import

18. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro
 CSV Import

19. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro
 CSV Export

20. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro
 RDF Export

21. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro
 RDF Export

22. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 Introduction
Intro
 QTI Import/Export

24. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
Client Side Server Side
Application Layer Persistency Layer
API

25. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
Where is it ? /www/generis/
What is it and why do we use it into TAO ?
KB/Ontology Edition tool / Model Flexibility
What is the database schema ? Persistency Layer
API
How does the generis API look alike ?

26. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
• How does the generis API look alike ?
core_control_FrontController::connect(LOG, PASS, DB_NAME);
//Create the national Id property
$teachersClass = new core_kernel_classes_Class(« Teacher »);
$nationalIdProperty = $teachersClass->createProperty(‘NationalId’,’’);
//Set the national ID for Marc
$Marc= new core_kernel_classes_Resource(‘Marc');
$Marc->setPropertyValue($nationalIdProperty , 10454);
//Get Theo’s Teacher
$hasTeacherProperty= new core_kernel_classes_Property(‘hasTeacher');
$Theo= new core_kernel_classes_Resource(‘Theo');
$teacherofTheo = $Theo->getPropertyValues($hasTeacherProperty);
• Where can I get more informations about Generis ?
http://forge.tao.lu/projects/tao/wiki/Generis_Overview

27. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
Client Side Server Side
Application Layer Persistency Layer
API

28. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
• Where is it ?
Application Layer
The TAO application layer is split into extensions

29. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
Client Side Server Side
Application Layer Persistency Layer
TaoSubjects
TaoGroups
TaoTests
TaoItems
API
TaoResults
TaoDelivery
wfEngine

30. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
Client Side Server Side
Application Layer Persistency Layer
TaoSubjects
TaoGroups
TaoTests
TaoItems
API
TaoResults
TaoDelivery
wfEngine

32. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
• Simple layer separation
• Evolutivity
• Factorisation, code reuse
• Adapted to web architecture
• Fits the our vision of TAO

33. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro

34. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
Use case:

35. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro

36. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro

37. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
• Main entry point
• Boostrap the extension
• Called by all URL thanks to the
mod_rewrite

38. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
• Contains the extensions infos

39. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
• Configurations
• Constants
• Libraries

40. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
• Utilities
• Transversal functionalities
• Internal libraries

41. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro

42. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
http://www.tao.lu/tao/Users/add?name=john
Token Info
www.tao.lu Domain name
tao Extension name
Users Module name
add Action name
name=john GET parameters
tao_action_Users::add($_GET['name']);

43. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
• Templates
• Resources
• Images
• Videos
• Sound
•…
• CSStylesheets
• Javascript

44. Conclusion
TAO 2.0 architecture
Intro
• Translations files

46. Conclusion
TAO 2.0
Intro
http://forge.tao.lu/

47. Conclusion
TAO 2.0
Intro
http://forge.tao.lu/

48. Conclusion
TAO 2.0
Intro
http://forge.tao.lu/

49. Conclusion
TAO 2.0
Intro
http://forge.tao.lu/

50. Conclusion
TAO 2.0
Intro
http://forge.tao.lu/

51. Conclusion
TAO 2.0
Intro
http://forge.tao.lu/

52. contact@tao.lu