Board of Examiner's Software Tool (BEST)

Introduction

The Board of Examiner's Software Tool (BEST) is an enhanced Excel spreadsheet for use in managing student’s results for unit assessment. A similar tool is currently in widespread use in the Department of Marketing. BEST aims to provide a generic Faculty supported tool for the recording and reporting of results.

The tool allows import of Callista and Allocate+ information, configuration of grading for assessments and the entering of results. Final marks, grade distribution and some fail analysis data is generated dynamically. The system provides tools for individual and bulk grade manipulation. Final marks can be exported for electronic upload to Callista.

The tool was released by the Education Office on 22nd August 2006 for evaluation.   It is now being managed by TSG.  Please email the TSG help desk  with any suggestions, feedback or reports of any issues.

Download BEST

• BEST B1 v143 (MS Excel)
  This version was updated in June 09. The Hurdle highlight in the exam column now works. It has been set to a default of 50% - you can change it if you need to. In the override column you now have the option of using "H" (for Hold) for results that are not complete yet. When the Callista csv file is exported the H results will appear as a blank.
  • External Mark Import File Template
  • External Mark Import File #2 Template
• BEST B1 Instruction Manual v1 (doc 110kb) - Microsoft Word
  

Accounting and Finance Resources

• Accounting & Finance BEST Manual V1.8 - pdf (487kb)
• **NEW 2009 - BEST Quick Guide - pdf**
• Setting up your marks spreadsheet - wmv (video 10.8MB)
• Importing your marks into BEST - wmv (video 47.6MB)
  NOTE - the macro security instructions in this video refer to Excel 2003. Users of Excel 2007 should refer to the updated manual and Quick Guide for macro security instructions.
• Validating your results after importing - wmv (video 20.4MB)

      The Accounting and Finance Resources are maintained by
     Cameron Nichol - AccFin eLearning and Educational Design Manager, ext 34563.

Note: For BEST to run successfully on your computer, you must configure a setting allowing macros to run in MS Excel.
Office 2003: Open Excel , go to Tools->Macro->Security. Reduce the security level to Medium or Low.
Office 2007: PowerPoint presentation detailing the necessary steps.

Project Developments

New Features (as at 23/02/2007)

• Additional results statistics
  • Maximum, mean, median and standard deviation.

• Import Marks
  • Ability to import marks for an assessment that have been calculated in another Excel Spreadsheet

Future Features

• Ability to export Callista information into a file suitable for upload into the MUSO/WebCT Vista Grade Book
• A test student row (to check calculations for example)