Computer Adaptive Testing based on Item Response Theory as a Tool for Assessment of Students' Literacy Levels

The paper deals with the current perspective of computer aided assessment of students, particularly with computer adaptive testing based on Item Response Theory. Although this testing method has become a world standard, in the Czech Republic it is still, unfortunately, rarely used. The aim of this paper is to describe the current state of the testing techniques used and to create a functional dll library, which will provide basic functionality needed for successful launching of a Web interface for computer adaptive testing of students. In addition, the library should serve as a support to authors in developing tests based on Item Response Theory. The first part provides a basic description of educational assessment methods currently used, and gives an insight into the matters of creating professional testing tools. Other chapters depict the operation of Classical Test Theory, which is now used as a cornerstone of the test development, and further it presents Item Response Theory, as a possible successor to the Classical theory. Both theories described are compared at the end. The second part of the paper is then divided into a theoretical part, which describes the possibility of computer adaptive testing, gives and overview of its origins and development, presents essential forms, and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of this testing method. The practical part contains illustrative examples and descriptions of the methods enabled by the presented dll library.