2.   Acronyms

The list of acronyms used through the APIP documentation;

3.   Related Specifications

A summary of the set of specifications and standards upon which APIP is based;

4.   Glossary of Terms

Brief definitions of the key terms used through the APIP documentation;

5.   Accessibility Definitions

Definition of the accessibility terms and the key relationships used through the APIP documentation.

IEEE Learning Object Metadata (LOM) v1.0 Standard

LOM, or IEEE 1484.12.1:2002, is the IEEE standard for the describing of "learning objects".  There is a long list of metadata attributes many of which have little relevance and common usage.  LOM and the 1EdTech Metadata have a community origin and either the IEEE or 1EdTech XML Bindings can be used to create LOM metadata instances.  1EdTech use the 1EdTech LOM binding.

1EdTech Access for All Digital Resource Description (AfA DRD) v2.0 Specification

An information model defining data structures that are used to describe the accessibility properties of the digital resources to which the metadata is attached.  This specification was released by 1EdTech in October 2009 and has also been adopted by ISO and released as ISO/IEC 24751-3:2008.

http://www.imsglobal.org/accessibility/index.html

1EdTech Access For All Personal Needs and Preferences (PNP) v2.0 Specification

The Access For All PNP v2.0 specification was released by 1EdTech in 2010.  This is based upon the original Access For All Learner Information Package (ACCLIP) v1.0 and the revision by ISO/IEC to create ISO/IEC 24751 Part 2.

http://www.imsglobal.org/accessibility/index.html

1EdTech LTI Best Practices and Implementation Guide v1.1

The 1EdTech Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) v1.1 specification was released as Final in 2012.  LTI v1.0 has been widely implemented and was included as a feature in CCv1.1 so that content based upon third party players could be exchanged in a cartridge.  LTI v1.1 provides support for the exchange of outcomes.

http://www.imsglobal.org/lti/index.html

1EdTech Common Cartridge (CC) v1.0 Profile

The Common Cartridge v1.0 was released in October 2008 and has rapidly been established as an important content distribution method for publishers and LMS vendors. The Common Cartridge defines an open format for the distribution of rich, web-based content. It is designed to ensure the correct installation and operation of content across any Common Cartridge conformant platforms and tools. The specification defines a profile for the use of specifications already widely implemented and in use across the community.

http://www.imsglobal.org/cc/ccv1p0/imscc_profilev1p0.html

1EdTech Content Packaging (CP) v1.2 Specification

An information model describing data structures that are used to provide interoperability of Internet based content with content creation tools, learning management systems and run time environments.  The CP specification was created by 1EdTech and the latest version available to the public is v1.2.  V1.2 is backwards compatible with CPv1.1.4 and is undergoing standardization by ISO/IEC SC36.

http://www.imsglobal.org/content/packaging/index.html

1EdTech Metadata v1.3 Specification

In August 2006, the 1EdTech Metadata Information Model was deprecated in favor of the IEEE LOM.  The 1EdTech XML binding v1.2.4 does not creates valid XML instances of LOM.  A new 1EdTech Metadata v1.3 XML binding was released by 1EdTech in April 2010.  This new binding is used as the basis for all LOM-based profiles created by 1EdTech.

http://www.imsglobal.org/metadata/index.html

1EdTech Question & Test Interoperability (QTI) v2.1 Specification

An information model describing data structures that are used to provide interoperability of assessments/tests and questions/items.  This specification was created by 1EdTech and the latest version available to the public is v2.1 (released in 2012).  APIP is based on this version of QTI.

http://www.imsglobal.org/question/index.html

1EdTech Vocabulary Definition Exchange (VDEX) Specification

This is an information model for the exchange of vocabulary definitions: for this Profile these are flat, token vocabularies.  This enables vocabularies to be defined in a machine-readable form.  For this Profile the vocabularies will be stored in the 1EdTech vocabulary repository.

http://www.imsglobal.org/vdex/index.html

ISO/IEC 24751 Access For All Digital Resource Description Part 3 Standard

This is the ISO/IEC version of the 1EdTech's Access For All DRD v2.0 specification.  Unfortunately, this is only an information model and so the 1EdTech AfA DRD XML binding should be used for a machine-readable version of this ISO/IEC standard.

ISO/IEC 24751 Access For All Personal Needs and Preferences Part 2 Standard

This is the ISO/IEC version of the 1EdTech's ACCLIP v1.0 specification.  Unfortunately, this is only an information model.  The 1EdTech Access For All PNP v2.0 specification was released in 2010 and has an XML binding that will also validate ISO/IEC PNP instances.

Access Element

This is the structure within APIP that is used to contain a single facet of the APIP accessibility information.  The alternative content for an Item is defined using a number of access elements.  Each access element defines the alternative content and identifies the part of the original QTI Item to which it refers.

Activate By Default

In the APIP Personal Needs and Preferences profile, many of the supports include the activateByDefault tag. This means that the specified support should be actively running when the testing session is initiated. For example, if a user had a magnification need, and activateByDefault = true for that user, when their test session began, the testing interface would have the magnification turned on, not just available as an option.

Answer Reduction

This is the process by which the number of possible answers in a multiple-choice question is reduced.  The content author must define which possible answers are to be removed and the order in which the removal should take place. This is experimental and not part of APIP v1.0 conformance.

APIP Interchange File

This is the "zip" file that is used to contain one, or more, APIP Items and all of the associated asset files, and the mandatory "imsmanifest.xml" file.  This interchange file is a profiled form of the "zip" file defined as a content package in the 1EdTech Content Package specification.

APIP Item

An APIP Item is a collection of QTI assessmentItems that provide an accessibility enabled QTI assessmentItem.  The multiple forms provide alternative renderings of the basic assessmentItem to reflect configuration of the Item for particular learner accessibility preferences.

APIP Test

An APIP Test is equivalent to a QTI assessmentTest. An APIP Content Package may contain a test structure.

AssessmentItem

See QTI Assessment Item.

AssessmentTest

See QTI Assessment Test.

Assigned Support

In the APIP Personal Needs Profile many of the supports include the assignedSupport tag. When included for the support, the tag is considered true by default. It means that the student requires this support during assessment. If a profile includes the support tag, but not the assignedSupport tag, the assumption is that the support should be provided. The possibility of a assignedSupport=false is included in the event that the user profile wanted to affirm that the user is specifically not to use a support during testing, most likely changing  from a previous use of the support. 

Braille Text

This is the text that is rendered as Braille using an appropriate piece of hardware (refreshable Braille display).

Chunk

Chunking is designed to assist students in processing information by breaking passages into smaller sections, each of which focus on a specific topic or element of information. The chunk is used with extended text passages and specifies how a passage is to be divided into shorter segments, chunks, when displayed for a student. Chunking is reserved for future uses in APIP and is not part of v1.0 conformance.

Common Cartridge

This is a form of Content Packaging that was designed to provide a wide range of content interoperability including assessment (using 1EdTech QTI v1.2.1).  It also supports web links, discussion topics and the launching of third party tools.  Later versions of Common cartridge and APIP will be harmonized.

Companion Materials

Companion Materials are materials and tools that the test taker is expected to work with while answering  an item. These materials and tools may include a reading passage, a primary document, a periodic table, ruler, protractor, calculator, etc. Companion materials information also identifies any lookup dictionaries associated with the item to provide definitions or translations of specific words within an item. The companion materials information is intended to be used by a test delivery interface to make the requisite material available when the item is presented or to identify the appropriate definition or translation of item content when the test taker requests such information.

Content Information (PNP)

Content Information, provides information about the contents of the item that are to be presented to a test taker assuming no access needs have been defined for that test taker. This information includes the item type, the prompt, media associated with the item (e.g. figures, tables, graphs), response options, correct response, scoring rule, etc. The content information component specifies the information that forms the item and additional information used by a test engine to score an item. The APIP content information is based on QTI specifications.

Content Link Information

This is the description of how the new APIP alternative content is linked to the original QTI assessmentItem content. The link to the control structures in the assessmentItem is via the use of the "id" attribute (this is an optional attribute for all of the HMTL content features in QTIv2.1).  Each new APIP content feature can itself have alternative content features i.e. recursive.  In the latter case the content link information uses the value of the "contentLinkIdentifier" attribute that must be assigned to every alternative piece of content. The content link can refer to either the entire structure identified or, in the case of text, to some substructure e.g. a character, a word or a string of characters.

Content Package

The key exchange object defined in the 1EdTech CP specification.  A profiled version of CP is used in 1EdTech QTIv2.1 for the exchange of assessmentItems and assessmentTests.  It is the profiled version of CP for QTI that is further profiled in APIP to create the APIP Interchange File.

Control Information (PNP)

This is the collection of needs and preferences for how to configure alternative access systems for controlling a device.  In APIPv1.0, none of the original AfA PNP features are supported i.e. only the new features added by APIP are permitted.

Curriculum Standards Metadata

This is an 1EdTech metadata specification that is used to enable learning resources to be linked to the appropriate learning standards (standards that define the required learning objectives for a specific subject and level of education).  The external learning standards are identified using a GUID (the GUID defined by some authority that maintains electronically available versions of the learning standards).

Display Information (PNP)

This is the AfA PNP v2.0 information that is used to describe the user preferences for displaying information i.e. the way in which the content should be rendered for the user.

Extensible Mark-up Language (XML)

This is the underlying language used by 1EdTech to define the interoperability. APIP zip files contain XML instances which when combined with other asset files e.g. images, are the content. The validity of an XML instance is defined using an associated XML Schema Definition (XSD) file and it is these XSD files that are defined by this specification.

File Metadata

This is the metadata defined for a file within the manifest of a content package. Each file can have its own metadata description.  The metadata for a file should be based upon a profile of the LOM metadata.

Guidance

This is the container for the instructions on how to render information that is subjected to guidance (Language Learner Guidance or Cognitive Guidance).  This is used for students who require assistance identifying the key components of an item, Guidance presents additional information or cues to the test taker. A guidance support is applied to item content and specifies to the test delivery system both the additional information that is to be displayed for the test taker and the content with which the guidance is associated. When the item is presented on screen, the test delivery system may automatically display guidance content associated with the item or may display guidance content on-demand, depending on the specifications provided in the student access profile.

Keyword Emphasis

The alternative content presentation that is to be rendered when keyWordEmphasis is enabled. Emphasis is often represented as bold, italic, or bold/italic, though other forms would be permissible.

Inclusion Order

Inclusion Order specifies the order in which accessibility elements are to be presented to a test taker with a given category of access needs. The six categories of access needs for which an inclusion order is specified include: 1) Braille presentation; 2) Spoken, Text Only presentation (; 3) Spoken, Text & Graphics presentation; 4) Spoken Non-visual presentation; 5) Graphics Only spoken presentation 5) American Sign Language presentation; and 6) Exact Signed English presentation. For each category of access needs, the inclusion order also specifies whether the accessible content element is to be presented by default, where accessibility elements are presented to a test taker from the beginning to the end of their specific inclusion order, without stopping between elements and requiring the test taker to reinitiate playback. Some categories (Spoken Text Only, Spoken Text & Graphics, Spoken Graphics Only, ASL, Signed English) also include an "onDemandOrder". On demand orders include content that is presented to the test taker only at the specific request of the test taker. An example might be a label for a diagram, where the test taker would not want the label presented to them when understanding an item's stimulus, prompt, or responses; but the test taker would access this information when examining the diagram when considering their response. For these six categories of access needs, default presentation and on-demand presentation are described in greater detail in the Examinee Access Information section.

Item

Within APIP, Item is used to refer to the concept of a question in an assessment (including all of its associated accessibility constructs and response processing).  An Item is also an important feature within the 1EdTech Content Packaging specification.  CP Items are not permitted in APIP.  An assessmentItem and a CP Item are not the same and are not related (they are constructs from different 1EdTech specifications). 

Keyword Translation

An examine for whom the default language used to represent item content is different than the test taker's native language may require specific key words to be translated to another language.  When keyword translation is activated, the test delivery system should allow a test taker to access a key word translation on-demand at any time while the item is displayed.

Manifest

This is the XML structure contained within the file "imsmanifest.xml" that must be included within a content package.

Manifest Metadata

This is the metadata that is defined at the top level of the manifest.  LOM is used as the required format and manifest metadata is required in an APIP Content Package.  This metadata is used to describe the APIP content package as a whole and not just the manifest within the package.

Organization

This is a structure within a content package that is used to describe the logical structure of the contents within a content package.  Organizations are not permitted in an APIP Content Package.

Platform Specific Model (PSM)

The XML bindings of the data models created by 1EdTech are generated using a PSM. The PSM is a form of UML diagram. The PSM representation is used by the 1EdTech Binding Auto-generation Toolkit (I-BAT) to create the associated XSD.

Profiling

This is the process by which one or more specifications are tailored and combined to meet the interoperability requirements of a specific market sector or user community. 1EdTech makes extensive use of profiling of their specifications to establish best practice interoperability.

QTI Assessment Item

This is the representation of an Item using QTI. Each assessmentItem is contained in its own XML instance file. An APIP Item is a type of QTI assessmentItem i.e. a profiled version.

QTI Assessment Test

This is the representation of a Test using QTI.  Each assessmentTest is contained in its own XML instance file.  The associated assessmentItems are contained in their own XML instance files.

QTI Metadata

This is the metadata for QTI assessmentItems as defined within the 1EdTech QTI v2.1 specification.  Within APIP this metadata is contained with the LOM for the metadata of a resource in the manifest of the APIP content package.

Related Element Information

This is the collection of the accessibility information that is used for the various alternative renderings of the QTI content.  For APIPv1.0 this includes the forms of spoken, brailleText, tactileFile, signFile, keywordTranslation, revealAlternativeRepresentation, guidance and keyWordEmphasis.

Resource

A resource is a structure in a content package that is used to identify the physical resources that are used.  In APIP the resource types are the original root QTI XML instance, the set of alternative QTI XML instances reflecting the accessibility capabilities, the set of related asset files (such as images, audio files, etc.) and the set of control files (such as XSDs) contained within the content package.  Every physical file contained within the content package must identified in a resource.

Resource Metadata

This is the metadata defined for a resource within the manifest of a content package.  Each resource is expected to have its own metadata description.  The metadata for a resource is based upon a profile of the LOM metadata that also includes an extension to support the QTI Metadata.

Reveal Alternative Representation

This is the information that defines the preferences for the manner in which the alternative representation should be revealed.  In APIPv1.0 only "textString" is supported i.e. rendered using some form of text-based presentation.

Scaffolding

For students who require a high level of support processing information presented in an item and who may require assistance maintaining focus, scaffolding is designed to walk a student through an item element by element with additional support provided. Scaffolding combines elements of guidance and masking. Like structured masking, scaffolding applies a mask to specific item content and specifies the order in which a mask is to be revealed. Like guidance, scaffolding associates additional information with item content. Scaffolding is reserved for future uses in APIP. It is not used within the APIP v1 profile.

Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF)

SIF is a data sharing specification for K-12. The specification has two parts: a set of XML data models for administrative data in K-12 and a communications framework for sharing the data between institutions. The communications framework is based upon a centralized controller called a Zone Integration Server (ZIS).

Sign File

This is a file that contains a visual (video) rendering of the signing that is used to accompany some written text.

Structured Mask

For students who require assistance maintaining focus, masking may be used to display smaller blocks of information. Structured masking is used to assist the student in developing an understanding of an item by masking specific elements of the item and revealing them in a prescribed order. A separate structured mask tag is applied to each item content element and the order in which the content is intended to be revealed is specified for each mask.  When a student access profile specifies structured masking, the test delivery system will initially present this item with the introductory text and item prompt revealed. At the student's demand, the graphic element will be revealed. At the student's demand, each answer option will be revealed. Answer options are included in structured mask by default, and should be ordered last. Structured Mask is reserved for future uses in APIP. It is not used within the APIP v1 profile.

Test Taker

The person whose knowledge, skill, or aptitude is assessed through the administration of a test or assessment. Examinee, candidate, student, or learner are similar terms.

Unified Modeling Language (UML)

UML is a generic representation language for software-based systems. This is the representation form used by 1EdTech to describe the data models and bindings defined in the 1EdTech specifications. 1EdTech use a profile of UMLv2.1.

Variant

This is a feature in the 1EdTech CPv1.2 that is used to contain alternative resource information. A resource can have many variants (for example, an English variant, a Spanish variant, and a Simplified English Variant). In APIP, the variant structure is used to contain the metadata that describes the conditions under which the alternative forms of an item are available to be used. Variants for an item are packaged together in a single item content package.

Spoken

This is the content that is to be presented in a spoken form e.g. read aloud using a speech synthesizer (live or pre-recorded) or pre-recorded human sound file. The actual form in which the spoken rendering is realized is dependent upon the content presented as the alternative forms.

XML Schema Definition (XSD)

This is the control file(s) that is use to define the valid structure of associated XML instance files. An XSD may consist of several linked physical files.

Rob Abel, 1EdTech (USA)

Justin Marks, NWEA (USA)

Michael Aumock, Pacific Metrics (USA)

Mark McKell, 1EdTech (USA)

Marty Christensen, ACT (USA)

Sue Milne, JISC (UK)

Jason Craft, Pearson (USA)

Wayne Ostler, Pearson (USA)

Gary Driscoll, ETS (USA)

Zack Pierce, Measured Progress (USA)

Eric Hansen, ETS (USA)

Michelle Richard, Pearson (USA)

Regina Hoag, ETS (USA)

Mike Russell, Measured Progress (USA)

Thomas Hoffmann, Measured Progress (USA)

Farhat Siddiqui, ETS (USA)

Wilbert Kraan, JISC (UK)

Colin Smythe, 1EdTech (UK)

Devin Loftis, McGraw-Hill/CTB (USA)

Wyatt VanderStucken, ETS (USA)

Version No.

Release Date

Comments

v1.0 Candidate Final

26 March 2012

The first formal release of the Candidate Final version of this document.

v1.0 Final Specification

31 March 2014

The Final Specification version of this document.