Question and test interoperability: introducing version 2 of the IMS QTI specification

The Question and Test Interoperability (QTI) specification describes an XML-based technical format for the coding and exchange of assessment content from individual questions through to complete tests. The specification was first published by the IMS Global Learning Consortium in June 2000 and since then an increasing number of developers have used it as a guide to implementing assessment functionality in their e-learning systems, in addition to the more established assessment tool providers who have added QTI export/import facilities to their products. In September 2003, IMS approved a project to develop version 2 of the specification, concentrating on the format of individual 'items' and the way they can be packaged and integrated into authored learning experiences based on the companion specifications known as Simple Sequencing and Learning Design. At the time of writing, a draft of version 2 is being prepared for public review and should be available for review from the IMS website two weeks before the CAA 2004 Conference. Version 2 will represent a significant step forward for the specification, addressing many of the issues that have been raised by developers and providing some powerful new capabilities based on some of the extensions to version 1 that have developed within the community. Readers are encouraged to review the public draft for detailed technical information. This paper will concentrate on the more general issues raised with version 1 of the specification and how they are being addressed. It also attempts to address some more general criticisms of technical standardization work as a whole