The Optical Mark Reader
The Optical Mark Reader is a device the "reads" pencil marks on NCS compatible scan forms such as surveys or test answer forms. If that all seems overly technical to you, just think of it as the machine that checks multiple choice computer forms. In this document The Optical Mark Reader will be referred to as the scanner or OMR. The computer test forms designed for the OMR are known as NCS compatible scan forms. Tests and surveys completed on these forms are read in by the scanner, checked, and the results are saved to a file. This data file can be converted into an output file of several different formats, depending on which type of output you desire.
The OMR is a powerful tool that has many features. If you are using casstat (grading tests), the OMR will print the number of correct answers and the percentage of correct answers at the bottom of each test. It will also record statistical data about each question. This data is recorded in the output file created when the forms are scanned. You’ll find out more about the data file and output formats available later on in this document.
The NCS compatible scan forms are the green and blue scan forms seen below.
NCS Compatible Scan Forms
(click on the forms for a larger image)
10 Question Green Form
5 Question Blue Form
These forms can be purchased at the campus bookstore or the convenience store located in the union. The green form has ten choices for each answer and the blue form has five choices for each answer. When students fill out these forms it is important that the name field is filled out with the appropriate letters filled in below the name. See the Example of a Correct Student Scan Form for more information. If this is not done the scanner will report an error. Also make sure none of the forms are damaged. Damaged forms cannot be checked. There are two sets of preprinted marks that help the scanner read the form. They are the "Skunk Marks" and the "Timing Marks". See the picture below for the location of these marks.
It is important that you use NCS compatible forms as the OMR is specifically designed to check these forms. The five and ten response NCS forms are the standard forms used for surveys and tests. If you wish to use other NCS forms, contact Information Technology at 766-2082 to find out what support we can offer.
Once you have the filled in the scan forms and wish to process them, here is what you must do. First complete a cover scan form. For test grading this will be an answer key, for teacher evaluations this will be a form filled out with the instructor’s information, and for surveys this may be general information about the survey.
Once this is completed you will need to go to the Information Technology Center to process the forms. The OMR is located in room 101A. When you come into the lab go behind the lab assistant’s desk. The OMR and the computer connected to it are located there on the table just left of the color printer. Printed versions of Test Grading, Generic Teacher Evaluations, College of Education Teacher Evaluations, and A&S Teacher Evaluations pages explaining how to scan, process, and print are located in a folder near the computer. Also inside the folder is a printed version of Scanning Errors. It is a handy reference when problems occur. In the folder there should also be an End of Forms page as well as some blank NCS blue and green scan forms in the back. The blank forms are there in case someone removed the End of Forms page from the lab. There is also a document that explains the numbers the scanner will print on the bottom of graded tests.
At this point you should determine what kind of forms you are going to process, test forms, 45 question teacher evaluations, Cafeteria teacher evaluations, or surveys. Those links will take you to the How To Pages of processing each type. Before you start it is important to note that the system is case sensitive. You will need to type in all responses exactly how they appear in the How To Pages for the type of forms you will be scanning. If you do not, problems will occur. Sit down at the computer and follow the directions for the type of forms you will be scanning. When you start, the computer prompt should be Ready>. If not ask the computer lab assistant for help; they will correct the problem. In the second step of the How To Pages the directions specify to accept the defaults. Advanced users and users with more than one answer key may want to change these. For directions on changing these defaults see the Changing Scan Defaults page. Most users will not need to do this. We recommend pressing return on the keyboard at each prompt to accept the defaults. After completing the first few steps in the How To Pages for your form type, the computer will prompt you to PUT THE STACK OF FORMS IN THE INPUT HOPPER. Meaning it is time to load the scanner with your scan forms.
There are a few things you should know about the Optical Mark Reader that will help you understand how to scan the forms. In the How To documents there are OMR related terms that may seem confusing. Use the following picture to guide you when you come across terms referring to the parts of the scanner.
The Optical Mark Reader
The input hopper holds the forms to be scanned. The Sheet Guide is used to keep forms aligned in the hopper. This is important as forms not properly aligned will become jammed in the scanner. Actual scanning occurs on the Transport bed. Once a form is scanned it comes to rest in the Output Stacker. The Operator Panel displays the scanner status and any error messages. If the scanner stops scanning in the middle of a job check the Operator Panel for information.
To load the scanner place your forms in the hopper so that they are readable to you and the timing marks are on the same side as the Operator Panel. The picture below shows how to load the scanner. Never place more than 200 forms in the input hopper at a time as this causes the scanner to jam.
Loading The OMR
Make sure to place the forms under the metal bar (located on the same side as the Operator Panel) and that they are aligned properly. The cover scan form should be on top of the stack and the End of Forms scan form on the bottom of the stack. IF you have more than 200 forms do not put the End of Forms scan form at the bottom of your first stack of forms, put it at the bottom of your last stack of forms. Next look at the Operator Panel. If the Operator Panel reads "Ready", you may begin scanning. If it does not, ask the lab assistant for help. Once you press return on the keyboard forms will begin running through the scanner. If an error occurs (i.e. a form becomes jammed in the Transport Bed) read the error message on the computer console then consult the Scanning Errors page for the solution.
After the forms are scanned a file named zzzdata is created which contains the raw data collected from the scanner. This file is overwritten each time forms are scanned so do not scan a second batch of forms. You will need to transfer this file to your Frontier account in order to change this to usable information. In the How To directions you are instructed to type in ftp Frontier. FTP stands for file transfer protocol, it is a program that allows you to move files from one computer or account to another. You are transferring zzzdata from this computer to your Frontier account. After you complete this step zzzdata will be saved to your Frontier account.
The next step is logging into your Frontier account (typing in the command telnet Frontier) to prepare an output file for printing. In the How To Pages for each type of scan forms there is a command to create the output file. For example, for test grading the command is casstat. This runs a program that changes the raw data in zzzdata to organized information in a file named outfile. Outfile is the file you will print. A description of the output file can be found on the Interpreting the Outfile How To sheet. Note that this is an example for test grading. Teacher evaluations and Cafeteria create different output files. See the instructions specific to those procedures for the names of those files.
There are several choices for how you would like the output file to be organized. Each of these choices appears after you type in the command that creates the output file. In the How To Pages the directions specify using the defaults. Advanced users may wish to change these defaults. If this applies to you consult the Changing Defaults – Output Options page for the options available.
The next step is printing the output file. You may print to the laser jet printers in the lab.
The last step is to delete the files you have created. After all there is no point keeping these files if you no longer need them. If you would like to keep these files then skip this command and consult the Other Options – Further Data Manipulation of Scanned Forms page. The command used in this step is "rm". It is the unix command for deleting a file. Once you finish this step you are officially done using the scanner and computer. You may log off the computer and pick up your printed forms.