ClassMarker - Free Online Quiz Maker & Marker!

• ClassMarker
• Reference - ClassMarker (Jane Knight)
• Directory of Quizzing & Testing Tools (Jane Knight)

WHAT?
"ClassMarker is a free, easy-to-use, online quiz maker that marks your tests and quizzes for you. You simply create your quizzes and your learners or business clients take them online.

• Link directly to quizzes from your website or emails
• Randomise quiz questions
• Have quiz results emailed to you and saved in ClassMarker
• Create multiple choice, true false, free text, short answer, fill in the blank and punctuation quizzes
• Add your own images to quizzes"

JUICE?
I wouldn't say it is an amazing online quiz authoring tool, but it certainly has potential. They seem to have many new features coming soon (e.g. a complete integration solution to adding quizzes and exams seamlessly within our own websites.), so there is plenty to look forward to. Though, I did initially find the navigation and labeling a bit confusing, but with a bit of exploration I got the hang of it.

I like the fact that I can manage my learners either through automatic (well I have to add their first/last name and e-mail address!) and manual registration (learner registration codes). Also, you can organize, or publish your quizzes within a particular class setting. ClassMarker, importantly runs (according to them) on all common browsers and operating systems (e.g. Windows, Macintosh, Linux), so we should not need to worry about that one. Yeah, you can also share your tests with other educators using ClassMarker. Finally, all the quiz results can optionally be sent to your email address instantly a quiz is finished. Not bad!

I don't like the fact that I have limited learner places available in my account (Currently, 1000 learners!). I suppose they could increase this number, or simply make it unlimited. It would certainly be a hassle to register multiple times just to enable more learners to do the quizzes. Perhaps there is plan for a commercial version of it. Also, the question types are rather limited (only 3 types: Multiple choice, Free text, and Check punctuation tests). In addition, it would be nice if we are able to export our constructed quizzes to other tools, such as Moodle (e.g. SCORM compliance). If I am wrong here, please correct me!

I suppose I could go on complaining about this and that, but I will stop here for now! ClassMarker is a free and evolving tool, and with its clean and professional look-and-feel, and ease-of-use, I see no reason why it cannot become a great success. We just got to give it some time to evolve.

OTHER FREE QUIZ TOOLS?
If ClassMarker does not meet your expectations or needs, there are other free hosted quiz options. Here are a few other free hosted quiz tools worth exploring further (Source):

• Hot Potatoes - 6 testing applications (free for non-profit educational use. Downloadable and Hosted!).
• Quibblo - Create, share and interact with quizzes, polls, surveys and content.
• ProProfs Quiz School - Create online quizzes and practice tests.
• Easy Test Maker - Easy to use, online quiz maker that marks your tests and quizzes for you.
• eQuizzer - Quizzing program.
• Quizilla - Create quizzes, stories and more on the site.
• Quizlet - Learn vocabulary using flash cards, randomly generated tests etc.
• QuizStation (Bronze Level) - Create your own interactive quizzes.
• Script-O Quiz Maker - Create quizzes, exercises and activities in minutes.

I was happy to discover one, but now I have many more to explore. If you are looking for a juicy list that combine both commercial and free quiz tools (Both downloadable and hosted), perhaps Jane Knight's growing directory of quizzing and testing tools might satisfy your learning thirst.

To be honest, I already like the quiz engine embedded in Moodle. Though, if I am not mistaken you cannot open the quizzes to guests, just for some extra exercises and fun. If they have not already enabled this feature in their latest version, perhaps they should think about it (I am sure they have! Maybe it has something to do with spam, viruses, or other threats! Actually, I have no idea!).

However, in terms of a quizzing and testing benchmark, I would love to see some free hosted tools challenge Questionmark's capabilities and features. We just need a few big boys such as Google, Microsoft and Yahoo to socially participate in this project, and we can get our hands on such an amazing tool rather sooner than later. The simplest way with money, is to acquire Questionmark, and make it free to the public (generating revenue through advertising and networking, or through some other creative way!).

Otherwise, we have to wait for another genius, or cool software geek gang in a messy garage to make it happen (or perhaps be patient for some of the tools mentioned above to mature). I suppose such a project is already in progress. Have you discovered it already? If so, please share it with us :)