Quizzes & Survey
Blackboard Instructors can create on-line quizzes which Blackboard will grade and automatically post the scores in the Online Gradebook
In addition, Instructors can also create on-line surveys, which are anonymous, however a check mark does appear next to the student's name in the gradebook so that the instructor can see who has submitted the survey.
There are several ways to create quizzes and surveys, this page will explain the different methods and the advantages and disadvantages of each one.
The 3 primary methods are:
1. Create the Test within Blackboard (Test Manager)
2. Create Pools of Questions and then generate the test/survey (Pool Manager)
3. Use Respondus, a software program for PC's to create tests
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|
| Test Manager within Blackboard | Quickest way to post questions if it's short (less than 10 questions) |
Test cannot be reused |
| Pool Manager | Pools can be re-used within the course and you can export them and import them into other classes |
It can be time consuming to post information into the pools via Blackboard. |
| Respondus | You can use Test banks and text files that you have to create quizzes. You can organize questions into "sets" and then specify how many ?'s from the set a student should have to answer. In addition, you can use Respondus to retrieve quizzes that already exist in Blacbkoard so that you can edit them on your computer. |
If you want to import text files, you will have to "mark" the questions and answers a certain way so that Blackboard can grade them properly. It's not hard to do, but it can be time consuming if you have a lot of questions. |
To create a test or survey using Test Manager, click on the Test manager option from your Control Panel , Click Add Test, and follow the directions on the screen. For specific information on using Test Manager, see Chapter 7 of the On-line manual, titled "Assessment"
Once you create a Test , you will need to make it active by :
Availability and Feedback Options:
| Field |
Description |
Test Information |
|
| Name: | Enter the name of the Assessment. |
| Choose Color of Name: | Click >Pick to select color for the Assessment name. |
| Description: | Enter a description of the assessment. |
| Launch Item in external window: | Select >Yes to have the Assessment open in a new separate window. |
| Test Availability | |
| Do you want to make this Assessment available? | Select >Yes to make this Assessment available. |
| Do you want to create an announcement for this Quiz? | Select >Yes to create an Announcement about the Assessment. The Announcement will include the date and state “an Assessment has been made available in [Course area that includes the link to the Assessment]”. |
| Allow multiple attempts: | Select this check box to allow Students to take this Assessment multiple times. The status of multiple attempts is displayed to Students at the top of the Assessment. |
| Force Completion: | Students must complete the Assessment the first time it is launched if >Force Completion is selected. Students may not exit the Assessment and continue working on it at a later date. The Save button is available for Students to save the Assessment as they work through it, but they may not exit and re-enter the Assessment. |
| If the >Force Completion option is enabled, it is noted and explained to Students at the top of the Assessment. | |
| If >Force Completion is not enabled Students may save their progress and complete the Assessment at another time. | |
| Set time limit: | Select this check box to set a time limit for finishing the Assessment. If selected, select the amount of time to allow for the Test in the hours and minutes boxes below. The time elapsed will be displayed to the Student during the Assessment. A one-minute warning will be displayed as Students approach the time limit. |
| Display After: | Select the date and time for this Assessment to be available to Students. |
| Display Until: | Click the >Display Until check box to stop displaying the link on a specific date. |
| Set Password: | Select this check box to require a password for Students to access this Assessment. If this check box is selected, enter a password in the field below. Passwords cannot be longer than 15 characters. |
| Test Feedback | |
| Score Only: | Present only the final score to Students. |
| Detailed Results: | Present both the Student’s answers and the final score to Students. |
| Show Correct Answers: | Present the Student’s answers, the correct answers, and the final score. |
| Detailed Results, Correct Answers, and Feedback: | Present the Student’s answers, the correct answers, the final score, and question feedback to the Student. |
|
|
| All at Once: | Select this option to present the entire Assessment on one screen to the Student. |
| One at a Time: | Select this option to display one question at a time. Students will be given navigation tools to move between questions. The >Submit button will only appear on the last page. |
| Prohibit Backtracking: | Select this option to prevent Students from returning to questions they have already answered. If backtracking is prohibited, the buttons << ,< , or >> do not appear. These buttons will appear if backtracking is not prohibited. |
| Randomize Questions: | Select this option to display questions in a random order each time the assessment is taken. |
You have the ability within Blackboard to create pools of questions. Pools can be questions grouped by Topic, Chapter, etc.
The advantage of a pool is that it can be copied and used more than once where as a test and/or survey cannot.
Also, Pools can be created from text files. In other words, if you have a file on your computer already that has test questions, you can modify the file so that those questions can be uploaded to Blackboard. For more information about uploading a text file, visit: http://support.blackboard.com/docs/LearningServices/Release6/Bb6_Assessment.pdf
If you would rather create Pools within Blackboard, you will need to choose Pool Manager from the Assessment area of your Control Panel
You can either Add your questions directly to Blackboard by choosing the Add Pool feature
OR
You can import your questions from your computer to Blackboard.
Follow the directions on the screen for either option.
I've created my pool (s), now what?
Once you create a Pool, you will need to Add the Questions from the Pool into a Test or Survey.
Assuming you have your Pools in Blackboard . . .
Add the New Test or Survey, and choose: From Question pool or Assessment from the Add option:
Once you have added pools to your test and/or survey, you will need to activate them.
If you need information about how to activate your test, click here
For more information about activating your survey, click here
Respondus is a powerful tool for creating and managing exams that can be printed to paper or published directly to Blackboard. Exams are created offline in a familiar Windows environment and the software provides many time-saving tools, such as the ability to import existing exams from word processor files.
In addition, you can also use Respondus to extract Pools & tests that you have already created in Blackboard so that you can easily edit and re-use them.
If you are interested in using Respondus, you will need to install the program onto your machine.
Respondus is for Windows only!
For more information about how to download Respondus from Stony Brook's Blackboard system for free, you will need to view this pdf file
If you would like to import questions from an existing text file into Respondus, click here for help
If you need help using Respondus, please visit the help site which is located at: http://www.respondus.com/support/resources.shtml or contact us at: bboard@notes.cc.sunysb.edu