Greetings,
Our Chinese programme is intending on making web-based quizzes integrated in Blackboard, and faculty asked me whether there is a tool out there (IME, keyboard within Windows 7 or an application) that would include tones symbols to pinyin to word and Internet Explorer without resorting to cut and paste or the numbers after the pinyin?

Also would you have any recommendation for course materials that could ensure continuity through three years of university study starting from absolute beginners? The department has been using NPCR 1, 2, and 3 but might consider other options. 
Thanking you kindly for your help.

Edith Paillat
Language Technology Specialist
LLC @ Library
Victoria University of Wellington
New Zealand
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/llc/about/projects.aspx