Current OWL Release Notes
OWL v. 7.5.1
(September, 2025)
Publish ASAP NEW!
This new setting available in the OWL Assignment editor allows you to tell the OWL TMS to publish your assignment for the test taker to view as soon as it is finalized. This feature can be used with auto-scored items, rated assessments, or exams that include a combination of both types. Publish ASAP can be used with Assignments set to practice and can be added to locked assignments.
Auto-scored
Responses are scored, finalized and published automatically when submitted by the test taker.
Rated assessments
Finalize ASAP - Once required number of blind assessments is fulfilled, the response will finalize and then publish.
Manually Finalized - (Finalized ASAP is not selected) Once the administrator finalizes the response, the system will publish it automatically.
Practice Testing
It the test taker re-launches the assignment to retake the test the system will unpublish the results, un-finalize and delete the assessments, and reset the prior responses.
Once the test taker re-submits a response the system will function as described for first time testing.
Locked Assignments
Click the edit control (pencil) next to the locked assignment, and click the check box next to Publish ASAP
End of Test Messaging for Linked Assignments ENHANCED
The “Finish Test Tab” no longer have messaging that indicates the end of testing for linked assignments.
This is for a test taker completing an assignment who is being directed to a subsequent assignment through the OWL Assignment Linking feature.
Automatic Notifications to Results Viewers NEW!
Now you can send an email message directly to an Results Viewer in your OWL Domain, making them aware that they have new items to be reviewed. This enhancement is for users who have the Automatic Notifications feature, and who use the user role of “Results Viewer” in their assessment process.
The Automatic Notification’s triggering event must be set to “Rating Finalized”
Audio Player Strict Mode ENHANCED
Removes the stop button and pause button from the audio player
Requires the test taker to replay the prompt in its entirety before proceeding with the testing.
Applies to Sections and Item audio prompts.
[OWL Help | Audio Replay Settings]This setting is recommended with the following settings:
Auto Play Media = No, Replays = No, Timers = No
To use this feature type the following into the Keywords field for the Test/Section/Item properties: \sys:audio_replay_strict_mode=yes\
To toggle this feature off for an individual element of the Test, type the following modified keyword into the properties editor for that specific element: \sys:audio_replay_strict_mode=no\
1. Test Level Properties - Will apply to all Sections and Individual Item Audio prompt replays
2. Section Properties - Will apply to the replays for Section Header audio prompt and the audio prompts on all Items within that Section
3. Individual Item - Will only apply to the replaying of the audio for that specific Item
Replay Settings on Individual Items
The audio prompt settings for Items can now have the following options:
unlimited,
limited = 0, or
limited = [user determined number]
ip Address Added to Response List Page
That pretty much says it all! In response to the requests of some of our System Administrators, the ip address of the test taker has been added to the Response List page. The Response List page can be found under the Assessment Menu.
OWL v. 7.3
(June, 2024)
Adjustments to correct the behavior of item and test timers with oral response and video response items.
OWL v. 7.2
(March, 2024)
Dynamic Feedback
The features formerly referred to as Flight Path, are now called “Dynamic Feedback” in the OWL user interface. Users are not required to make any adjustments to their current assignments to accommodate this change. Please click this like for updated information: OWL Help Documentation | Dynamic Feedback.
OWL v. 7.0
(February, 2024)
The OWL version 7.0 release represents an upgrade to the infrastructure of the OWL Test Management System. With this release, users will notice improved speed and performance with functions like: saving changes, loading tests, managing list pages, and running system jobs such as copies and imports. Most important, this release represents a significant investment that sets the stage for even more flexible online exam building and delivery.
System Administrators and Content Creators (Instructor role) will experience some difference in certain areas of the OWL TMS. Please see the expanded details below for the following topics:
Editing Message Templates
Creating message templates is now even easier. For OWL users who have the automatic notification feature, you can now include links and attach images with greater ease. Please watch the updated OWL Help Video for more information. [Video Transcript]
Editing Flight Paths
The editor for creating dynamic feedback has been upgraded. Please fund updated help instructions here:
Keywords
Sample of Keywords added to User Interface
Certain OWL keywords have been incorporated into the appropriate properties editors. If your existing content included one of these keywords, your settings have been migrated to the new controls.
For more information on each setting, visit this page:
OWL Help Page | Property Definitions and Settings
Then follow the links for the marked (*).
The impacted keywords and associated test elements are:
Simple UI
Response Playback
Sync Playback and Record
Image Popup
Content Direction
Calculator/Scratchpad
Math Rendering
Right to Left Testing
for Tests with Oral Response and Directions Items Only
for Oral Response Items Only
for Oral Response Items, Video Response Items Only
for Directions, Section Headers, and/or Item Image Prompts
for Test Directions, Section Headers, and/or Individual Items
Test Level Setting
Test, Section, and/or Item Level Setting
Test, Section and/or Item Level Settings
Content Sharing
OWL v. 7.0 makes sharing easier, safer and better.
Now users can see what content they have shared in their list pages.
If an item has been shared with you, it can be accessed from a separate menu.
If you share with another user, they cannot change your original content.
Please watch these OWL Help Videos for more information.
This tutorial will demonstrate how to share your OWL content with other members of your team. [Transcript]
The types of content that can now be shared include:
Test, Sections, All Item Types
Media: Audio, Image and Video Files
Message Templates
Flight Paths
Certificates
Rubrics
If another OWL user has shared something with you watch this tutorial. [Transcript]
To access your shared content:
Go to Building menu >> Shared
Make a Copy of Shared Content
Assignment Management
Deleting - Is only meant to be used for Assignments that have been created by mistake. This function removes the assignment from the database permanently. Assignment can only be deleted if they:
Have no response data
Have no test sessions in progress
Are unlocked
Have no users on the Assignment Rosters
Archiving - Use Archiving If you have old assignments that you wish to remove from list pages. Archiving does NOT remove the assignment and it’s associated data from the database. Archiving an assignment removes it from the following pages:
Testing Menu: My Current Assignments, My Completed Assignments
Assessment Menu: Assessment List, Assessments (Flat List), Interviews, Start Blind Assessments
Assessment >> Admin Sub Menu: Unfinalized Responses, Assessments (Single No Rating), Assessment Monitor, Assessment Requests Remaining
Tools: Examinee Portfolios
To Archive an Assignment:
Go to the Testing menu >> Assignments
Select the assignment with check box
Click the Archive button
To Retrieve an Archived Assignment
Go to the Archives menu >> Assignments
Select the assignment with check box
Click the Unarchive button
To Report on an Archived Assignment:
Go to the Reporting menu and select the desired report.
Set your reporting parameters and click the Select Assignments button
Select the Archived “is true” filter from the assignment selection interface
Select the desired assignment(s) and run your reporting
Tracking Numbers
The way tracking numbers are assigned in the OWL Test Management System is changing.
Elements of the same type (i.e., within a single list page) will each have a unique tracking number
Elements of different types may have (e.g., Test v. Section v. Item) the same tracking number
OWL Items regardless of type (e.g., short answer, essay, multiple choice, etc.) will have a unique number
Content Copying
Copies of content (Tests, Sections, Items) will no longer be assigned a Version number.
Copy preferences for media are no longer requested
When copying content all associated media will be copied as well.