A progress-based online assessment system for first-year networking classes

This paper presents a progress-based online assessment system, the network assessment management system (NAMS), for first-year networking classes. The design of the system incorporates the mastery learning principles. It emphasizes personalized content delivery based on a student's learning aptitude, course comprehension measurement, and learning progress rules. Students with different learning abilities can use it to master the same course subjects, while spending different amount of time studying these subjects. Instructors can use the system for pedagogy analysis and student performance evaluation. NAMS organizes course subjects to support bottom-up approach of teaching following the OSI network model. It is possible to modify it to support top-down approach of teaching. The implementation of the system employs the learning advancement management system (LAMS) we introduced previously for supporting multiple progress-based e-learning systems with Web services. The development of the system provides insights for building progress-based online learning systems for technology education