Faculty Assessment

Test Manager

The Test Manager tool lets you create and organize surveys and exams. You can grade and record exam results in the online Grade Center.

Note: You should create your questions in the Pool Manager first so you can use them over again. You can then add questions to the test from the pool. You must also make the test visible by adding it to a content area before your students can take it.

Calculated Formula Questions Calculated Numeric Response Questions Either/Or Questions Essay Questions File Response Questions Fill in Multiple Blanks Questions Fill in the Blank Questions Hot Spot Questions Jumbled Sentence Questions Matching Questions

Multiple Answer Questions Multiple Choice Questions Opinion Scale/Likert Questions Ordering Questions Quiz Bowl Questions Short Answer Questions True/False Questions From a Question Pool or Assessment (Random) Upload TXT Questions Review Test Statistics

How to make a Test Available

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Importing an Existing Test

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on the Test Manager link in the Assessment section.
2. Click on the Import button.
3. Click on the Browse button to locate and attach the Test file.
   Note: Tests may be imported from a local file or from the Content Collection (if available). Tests must be imported from files that were created in Blackboard and exported out as .ZIP packages.
   
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Adding a New Test

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on the Test Manager link in the Assessment section.
2. Click on the Add Test button.
3. Type in information in the appropriate fields.
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Modifying the Test Options (Make Test Available)

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on the Content Area link where the test will be located (Syllabus, Course Materials, Assignments, External Links).
2. Click on the Add Test icon.
3. Select an existing test within the list.
4. Click on the Modify the test options link.
5. Make any desired changes to the test’s information.
6. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Test Availability:

• Do you want to make the link available – Enable this option to give your students access to your test.
• Add a new Announcement for this Test – Enable this options to create an announcement about the survey to remind the students. A link to the test can also be included in the Announcement.
• Allow multiple attempts – Enable this option to let your students take the test multiple times, either an unlimited amount or a set number that you specify. Blackboard only saves the most recent score, not the highest one.
• Force Completion – Enable this option to force the test to be completed the first time it is launched.
• Set time limit – Enable this option to limit the time your students have to take a test.
• Display after – Enable this option to set the starting time of a test. The test will be available for your students to take after this time.
• Display until – Enable this option to set the ending time of a test. The test will be unavailable for your students to take after this time.
• Set password – Enable this option to make your students enter a password before taking the test.

Self-assessment Options:

• Include this test in Grade Center Score Calculations - Self Assessment Options allow the Instructor to determine how the Assessments are treated in the Grade Center. The Include this test in Grade Center score calculations options allows the Instructor to view the Grade and allows the score to count towards the Grade. Grade Center items excluded from summary calculations are also excluded from weighting. Also note that if some weighted items are included in calculations and other weighted items are not, grade weight calculations will be skewed.
• Hide results for this test completely from the Instructor and the Grade Center - If this option is checked, the instructor will not be able to see any student grades for this test, view answers or aggregate results, nor download result details. To protect student privacy, this choice cannot be reversed later without losing all attempts.
  

Test Feedback:

• Score – Enable this option to only display the final score to your students.
• Submitted Answers – Presents the Student’s submitted answers only. The student's score, the correct answer and test feedback will not be presented.
• Correct Answers – Presents the correct answers only. The student's score, submitted answers and test feedback will not be presented.
• Feedback – Presents question feedback to the student. The student's score, submitted answers and the correct answers will not be presented.

Test Presentation:

• All at Once – Enable this option to show your students the whole test on one screen.
  
• One at a Time – The student is presented only one question at a time. This feature also saves each question separately if the student is unable to submit the test.
  
• Prohibit Backtracking – Enable this option to not let your students return to questions they have already answered.
  
• Randomize Questions – Enable this option to display the questions in a different order each time a student takes your test.

Adding a Calculated Formula Question

From the Test Canvas:

1. Choose Calculated Formula from the Add Question drop-down menu.
2. Click on the Go button.
3. Type the question in the Question Text field.
   Note: must use a PC and Internet Explorer to utilize the WYSIWYG editor for this question type.
   
   Surround any variables with square brackets, for example, [x]. The value for this variable will be populated based on the formula. In the example [x] + [y] = z, [x] and [y] will be replaced by values when shown to Students. Students would be asked to define z.
   
   Variables should be composed of alphabets, digits (0-9), periods (.), underscores (_) and hyphens (-). All other occurrences of the opening rectangular brace ("[") character should be preceded by the back-slash ("\") character. Variable names must be unique and cannot be reused.
4. Define the formula used to answer the question in the Formula box.
   For example, x + y. Operations are chosen from the buttons across the top of the Formula box.
5. Choose the number of possible answers in the Number of Answers drop-down menu.
6. Set the Answer Range.
   This defines which submitted answers will be marked correct.
   • If the exact value must be entered, enter 0 and select Numeric from the drop-down list.
   • If the answer can vary, enter a value and select Numeric or Percent. Numeric will mark every answer as correct that falls within a range of plus or minus the Answer Range from the exact answer. Percent will mark every answer as correct that falls within a percentage of plus or minus the Answer Range from the exact answer.
7. Select Yes or No for Units Required.
   • If Yes, correct answers must include the correct unit of measurement, for example, Seconds or Grams. Enter the correct unit of measurement and choose if the unit of measurement is case sensitive. The answer may still receive partial credit if the unit of measurement is not correct.
   • Enter a percentage in Unit Points Percentage. The unit of measurement will account for that percentage of the total credit.
8. Define partial credit for answers that fall outside the correct Answer Range.
   • Select Yes or No for Allow Partial Credit. Enter a value for the Partial Credit Points Percentage. Now, set the range for partial credit by entering a value and selecting Numeric or Percent for the Partial Credit Range.
   • Answers falling within this range will receive a portion of the total points possible for the question equal to the Partial Credit Points Percentage.
9. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click the on Continue button.
   
10. For each variable, set a minimum and a maximum value.
11. For each variable, select a decimal place using the drop-down list that appears in the Decimal Places column.
12. Under Answer Set Options, select the Decimal places for answer from the drop-down list.
    Users must provide the correct answer to this decimal place.
13. Enter the number of different Answer Sets.
    The Answer Sets will be randomized so that different Students will be presented with a different set of variables.
14. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click the on Continue button.
    Note: Make any changes or remove any unwanted answer sets for each set, each variable and answer.
    
15. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click the on Calculate button.

Adding a Calculated Numeric Question

From the Test Canvas:

1. Choose Calculated Numeric from the Add Question drop-down menu.
2. Click on the Go button.
3. Type the question in the Question Text field.
4. Choose the number of possible answers in the Number of Answers drop-down menu.
5. Type an answer in each Answer field.
6. Click on the Correct radio button next to the correct answer.
7. Enter the Answer Range.
   If the answer must be exact for Students to receive credit, enter 0. Any value that is less than or more than the Correct Answer by less than the Answer Range value will be marked as correct.
8. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click the on Submit button.

Adding an Either/Or Question

From the Test Canvas:

1. Choose Either/Or from the Add Question drop-down menu.
2. Click on the Go button.
3. Type the question in the Question Text field.
4. Choose the number of possible answers in the Number of Answers drop-down menu.
5. Click the Correct Answer and select a positive value and a negative value from the dropdown lists.
6. Click on the Correct radio button next to the correct answer.
7. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click the on Submit button.

Adding an Essay Question

From the Test Canvas:

1. Choose Essay from the Add Question drop-down menu.
2. Click on the Go button.
3. Type the question in the Question Text field.
4. Type an example of an answer to assist graders in the Answer field.
5. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Adding a Fill in Multiple Blanks Question

From the Test Canvas:

1. Choose Fill In Multiple Blanks from the Add Question drop-down menu.
2. Click on the Go button.
   
3. Enter the Question Text. Enter each blank as a variable surrounded by square brackets.
   For example, William [blank_1] wrote Romeo and [blank_2].

Variables should be composed of alphabets, digits (0-9), periods (.), underscores (_) and hyphens (-). All other occurrences of the opening rectangular brace ("[") character should be preceded by the back-slash ("\") character. Variable names must be unique and cannot be reused.


4. Assign a Point Value. Complete any advanced features for the question as defined by the Creation Settings of the assessment.
   
5. Click Next.
   
6. A list of variables found in the question will appear. Enter one or more correct answers for each variable.
   
7. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Adding a Fill in the Blank Question

From the Test Canvas:

1. Choose Fill in the Blank from the Add Question drop-down menu.
2. Click on the Go button.
3. Type the question in the Question Text field.
4. Choose the number of answers in the Number of Answers field.
5. Type an answer in each Answer field.
6. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Adding a Matching Question

From the Test Canvas:

1. Choose Matching from the Add Question drop-down menu.
2. Click on the Go button.
3. Choose the number of questions in the Number of Questions drop-down menu.
4. Type a question in each Question field.
5. Choose the number of answers in the Number of Answers drop-down menu.
   Note: You do not need to have the same number of questions and answers.
6. Type an answer in each Answer field.
7. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Continue button.
8. Choose the correct answer for each question in the Match drop-down menu.
9. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Adding a Multiple Answer Question

From the Test Canvas:

1. Choose Multiple Answer from the Add Question drop-down menu.
2. Click on the Go button.
3. Type the question into the Question Text field.
4. Choose the number of possible answers in the Number of Answers drop-down menu.
5. Type an answer in each Answer field.
6. Click on the Correct check box next to every correct answer.
7. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Adding a Multiple-Choice Question

From the Test Canvas:

1. Choose Multiple Choice from the Add Question drop-down menu.
2. Click on the Go button.
3. Type the question in the Question Text field.
4. Choose the number of possible answers in the Number of Answers drop-down menu.
5. Type an answer in each Answer field.
6. Click on the Correct radio button next to the correct answer.
7. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click the on Submit button.

Adding an Ordering Question

From the Test Canvas:

1. Choose Ordering from the Add Question drop-down menu.
2. Click on the Go button.
3. Type the question into the Question Text field.
4. Choose the number of answers in the Number of Answers drop-down menu.
5. Type an answer in each Answer field in the correct order.
6. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Continue button.
7. Choose the order of the displayed questions from the Display Order drop-down menus.
8. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Adding a True/False Question

From the Test Canvas:

1. Choose True/False from the Add Question drop-down menu.
2. Click on the Go button.
3. Type the question into the Question Text field.
4. Click on the Correct Answer radio button next to the correct answer.
5. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Adding a Question from a Question Pool or Assessment

From the Test Canvas:

1. Choose From a Question Pool or Assessment from the drop-down menu.
2. Click on the Go button.
3. Click on the desired pool or test from the list box.
4. Click on the desired Question Types check boxes to search for particular types of questions.
5. Click on the Search button.
6. Click on the check box next to each question you would like to add.
7. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Upload (TXT) Questions

From the Test Canvas:

1. Choose Upload Questions from the drop-down menu.
2. Click on the Go button.
3. Click on the Browse button.
4. Choose the .txt file and click on the Open button.
   (How to create the .txt file)
5. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

More Information

Q: How do I make my finished tests available to my students?
A: Enter a content area section (Course Information, Course Documents, and Assignments) and click on the Add Test button to add the test to a content area and make your test available.

Q: How do I add an image, URL, or file to my question?
A: Click on the Creation Settings link on the Test Canvas page. From there, you can choose to provide feedback to individual answers, add images, files and URLs to questions, add images and files to answers, and add categories to questions.

Q: What are the Correct and Incorrect Response fields for?
A: If you would like to display a response to your students for each question, you can do so in these fields. Students will be able to view your response when they see their graded exam.

Q: How do I add a new question between question 4 and 5?
A: Click on the Add Question Here link and fill in the text fields.

Q: I finished my test and saved it. Now I want to make a change and add more questions. How do I do that?
A: Click on the Modify button to the right of the test item. From there you can add more questions or modify existing questions.