From Qedoc

Release date: 6th July, 2007.

Contents 1 Cover images 2 New question types 3 Improvements to existing question types 4 Player management 5 Deployment 6 Internationalisation 7 Other changes

Cover images

• A cover image is an image which appear on the title page of the module. This is the page which displays first when a module is loaded. The cover image can be user-defined and is displayed between the title and subtitle. The cover image is automatically resized to fit in the available space. The purpose of the cover image is to set the mood for the module and help provide better screenshots for authors who wish to promote their modules.

New question types

• Three new question types have been added. These are all variations of pair-matching questions.
  • Pair-matching grid: this is a simple version of the classic memory game. The "cards" are turned up all the time which allows easier matching and also allows the use of more difficult kinds of match.
  • Pair-matching columns: instead of a grid, the buttons of pairs form two opposed columns, where it is known that one item must be taken from each side.
  • Pair-matching rows: a rotated version of the above, which may be more suitable for matching images rather than text.
• In all the above question types, matched items can be text, image or audio clips.

Improvements to existing question types

• Drag and drop: the border width around draggable items has been increased.
• Pair matching with lines: in the question types where pairs are matched by drawing lines between them, there has been some extensive fine tuning. The lines are more responsive to the mouse. Additionally, the lines jump towards nodes when the mouse approaches the node, making it easier to "fasten" a line to a node.
• Typed response: in the variant of this question type which has a virtual keyboard and multiple text fields, the size of the letters on the virtual keyboard can now be user-defined.
• Memory games and associated pair-matching question types: the correct matches are now displayed after a question has been attempted, so that a learner can see their mistakes and have a chance to improve in subsequent attempts; font sizes on buttons are now set by the normal font controller for the response rather than a separate control; the editor interface has generally been improved.
• Essay-type questions: a problem with non-opaque enclosing panels has been fixed.

Player management

Player management refers to the ability of the Qedoc Quiz Player to allow multiple users to create player profiles, complete with name, avatar and other details. The changes below extend an overhaul of the player management system started in version 1.5.1.

• Modules can now be played in "guest" mode with no logged on player. The guest is always selected by default when the Quiz Player is started.
• As the password options may have been confusing some users, the password options are disabled by default.
• The creation, storage and deletion of player profiles has been largely rewritten. The player manager works much more smoothly as a result, and a number of bugs have disappeared.
• Player profiles can now be edited after creation. In particular, this means that players can change their avatars without losing their progress records.

Deployment

There have been numerous improvements to the web start version of the Qedoc Quiz Player. This is the version which can pop up from websites.

• When run on Windows, the web start version of the Qedoc Quiz Player now supports flash, quicktime, MP3's and numerous other media formats.
• The byte size of the web start version of the Qedoc Quiz Player has been reduced by about 5 MB, so that it is now very approximately 4 MB (a download is only required the first time it is run).
• The web start version of the Qedoc Quiz Player now initially starts in a 800 x 600 window rather than full screen, which makes for more elegant launching. Module authors can choose to have their modules resize the window to full screen if required.
• It is no longer necessary to log on as a player when running the web start version of the Qedoc Quiz Player. The Player launches with a "guest" player logged on. If a user wants to, they can define one or more players and avatars, which will be remembered across sessions.
• The web start version of the Qedoc Quiz Player now includes all the language packs: French, Spanish, Dutch, Greek and Korean. For faster starting, the default language when started is always English.

Internationalisation

• Greek and Korean language packs are now inluded with the Qedoc Quiz Player. The interface language can be changed instantly.

Other changes

• Licencing of modules is being upgraded from version 2.5 to version 3.0 of the Creative Commons licences for artistic and educational resources.
• Bugs relating to selection ranges on the question bank interface have been fixed; these bugs crept in with version 1.5.1.