Form Return – the Toolkit

This article introduces the concept of the Form Return toolkit. The toolkit was created to simplify the process of creating answer sheets. Using the toolkit, answer sheet creators do not need to worry about labels, spacing, indexing, style, testing, or even barcodes.

Key terms

Form template: a blank answer sheet that serves as the basic container for adding functionality

Segment: data component that defines the data to be captured; adds functionality, reusable

Publication: a form template with added segments that has been published and associated with a database table; linked to an answer key, specific to each exam

What is the toolkit?

The toolkit is a collection of segment files and form templates that can be reused to quickly create new answer sheets. Segments have been created for multiple choice and numerical response questions. These segment files can be edited to create other segment files and added to the collection.

How does the toolkit save time?

The segments in the toolkit are ready to use without modification and they have been tested. Segments are designed to fit together and are already indexed. For example, for an exam with 18 MC and 6 NR questions, you would chose an 18 MC segment labelled [index 1 to 36], and a 6 NR segment with an index starting with 37 or greater. This ensures a consistent export order. Each data item captured has a value field to capture the student response and a score (e.g. MC1 is index 1 and MC1_Score is index 2.)

How does it work?   

1.      Determine which template to use: 1 Page or  2 Page template

2.      Edit the course name information.

3.      Double Click on each of the segment container objects (grey rectangle) to add the appropriate segment(s).

4.      Rename & save the form template. This is the source file.

5.      Publish the form template to create a publication for printing.

6.      Import an answer key.

Two segments were added to a 2 page form template to create this answer sheet. The StudentID segment and the form barcodes are all part of the toolkit templates.