Surveys within Blackboard are an assessment tool that is useful for polling purposes and evaluations.
The survey manager works in much the same way as the test manager. Surveys offer the same question types as tests. However surveys differ from tests in the following ways:-
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Questions on surveys can not be assigned points
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Surveys can not include random blocks of questions
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Feedback can not be included
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Surveys can not be graded
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Survey questions can not be categorised
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Surveys are anonymous (instructors can see who attempted the survey but not can not see an individuals answers.)
There are seven types of questions that a tutor can use in a survey. The types are
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Multiple Choice
In multiple-choice questions, you ask a question and provide possible answers. The student indicates their answer choice by selecting a radio button. There is no limit to the number of answer choices that you provide for the student to choose from. -
True / False
True / false questions are similar to multiple choice but have the fixed answer options of True and False. -
Fill in the Blank
Fill in the blank questions are where a student can type in a word or series of words into a text field, in order to answer the question stem which has a blank space. -
Multiple Answer
Multiple answer are similar to multiple choice, except this type of question permits more than one answer choice from the list of possible choices. You choose the number of answers. -
Matching
Matching questions are used for matching items that belong in pairs, such as indicating a word and its definition, date with event etc, this is done using drop down boxes. -
Ordering
Ordering questions permit the student to designate a hierarchy for lists or indicate the correct order of items using drop down boxes. -
Essay
The students are provided with a question or statement and they enter an answer into a text field.
There are three steps involved in survey creation:
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Creating the survey
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Adding questions to the survey
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Modifying the survey options
Creating a survey
Surveys can be created within any of the Content areas or Survey Manager within the Control Panel area Assessment. Follow the steps below to create a survey.
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From the Control Panel of the module click on a Content area e.g. Assignments
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Click on Survey (this can be found using the drop down box on the right hand side of the screen) once selected click GO.
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Under Section 1 (Add Survey) there is a heading Create a new survey: Click on the button Create to the right of the text.
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In the name box, enter an appropriate name for the survey.
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In the description box make sure that the test characteristics are clearly identified.
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In the Instructions box enter clear instructions for candidates to follow.
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Then click Submit
A new page will open allowing you to add questions. However before doing so you need to complete the survey creation. -
Click on the button Creation Settings. This feature allows you to choose the settings of your survey questions.
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Here's an explanation of the settings
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Add images, files and URLs to questions
As the title suggests clicking this option allows you to include images, files and web links into your questions. -
Add images and files to answers
Blackboard also allows you to add images and files to the answers, allowing you to add information that you have already created. -
Add categories and keywords to questions
Adding a category or keyword to a question allows you to recycle the question into another survey or test, allowing you to choose questions that only have an assigned category (such as 'science' for example).
Once you have decided upon the survey settings click Submit and OK the confirmation receipt.
Adding questions to the survey
This section will cover adding a true / false question to a survey.
If you’ve followed the steps above you should have the Survey Canvas page open, ready to start adding questions.
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Use the drop down box to select the question type. Select True / False and then click GO.
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The appropriate question form should appear.
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In the Question Text area, type an appropriate question.
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Then click Submit.
You should now be back on the Survey Canvas page, with the True / False question on the bottom half of the screen. -
Add in other questions by repeating steps 1-4. Once you have completed all of the questions for your survey click the OK button at the bottom of the Survey Canvas page.
Modifying survey options
This section will cover modifying the survey and enabling the students to access the survey.
If you have followed the steps above you should have the Modify Survey page open.
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Click on Modify the survey options.
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The page Survey Options will open.
Section 1 shows the Name and Description of the survey that you entered earlier. If you wish, you can make changes. -
Section 2 covers the Survey Availability. Here's an explanation of the settings:
Do you want to make the link visible
Click the Radial Button to Yes if you want students to be able to access the survey..
Allow multiple attempts
If this box is ticked students will not be limited in the number of times they can take the survey.
Force completion
If this box is ticked, students have to complete the survey the first time it is opened.
Set time limit
Ticking the box will allow a time limit to be set for the survey. Use the drop down boxes to allocate the time allowed.
Set password
For added security it is possible to set a password on the survey. Students then need to enter the password before being allowed to take the survey. The password is case sensitive.
Choose the relevant options. -
Section 3 covers Survey Feedback; this section allows the tutor to decide how much feedback they provide to their students. The options are self explanatory. To choose an option click on the relevant radial button.
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Section 4 covers the presentation mode of the questions. Here's an explanation of the settings:
All at once
This allows students to view all of the questions before deciding which ones to answer. However, please note that none of the student's answers will be submitted to the Blackboard server until the student has submitted the full assessment. Therefore this option may be more suited for surveys of less than 15 questions, which will take no longer than 30 minutes to complete.
Some students could be accessing the survey via a dial up modem from home. Some Internet Service Provider's routinely time out if the page is not submitted within a certain period. If this happens before the student submits the survey they will lose all of the answers and will need to redo the survey.
One at a Time
This option allows the student to view one question at a time on the screen.
This option means that students are submitting their answers one at a time to the Blackboard Server. Therefore if they do get timed out they will only need to return to where they were before they lost their internet connection.
Prohibit Back Tracking
In conjunction with the option of viewing one question at a time it is possible to prevent students from back tracking to previous questions.
Randomise Questions
Ticking this option ensures that each student sitting the survey will view the questions in a different order, thereby minimising the opportunity to copy from a neighbour. -
Once you have decided upon the settings for your survey click Submit.
Please note: It is possible to copy surveys from one course into another, however, this is a Blackboard System Administrator function. You will therefore need to contact the System Administrator using the details below.
Need Further Assistance?
If you can't find the information you require please contact the MBU Center for Distance Learning at 314-744-5349 or distancelearning@mobap.edu.
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