Tests are online evaluations that can be used to measure a students understanding of the course.
What is a Test?
A test within Blackboard is a series of questions a tutor presents to students. The purpose of the assessment can be to evaluate concepts, or provide drill and practice exercises to aid learning. Within the test the instructor can assign answers and point values to each question as well as feedback for the correct and incorrect answers. The computer can mark the student's answers however this does depend on the type of questions chosen. Student answers are submitted for grading and the results recorded under each student in the Gradebook area of the Control Panel.
What question types does Blackboard offer?
There are seven types of questions that an instructor can use in a test, the first six are marked automatically by the computer whilst the last type (essay) requires the instructor to manually mark it. The types are
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Multiple Choice
In multiple-choice questions, you ask a question and provide possible answers, only one of which is correct. The student indicates the correct answer 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. In order for the computer to accurately mark this type of question you must enter every possible answer. -
Multiple Answer
Multiple answer are similar to multiple choice, except this type of question permits more than one acceptable answer 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. Blackboard's software does not mark essay questions automatically as it does for every other question type. An instructor must enter the Grade book and assign points to each essay question. Once this has been completed a final grade can be assigned to the test. -
Multiple Answer
Multiple answer questions allow users to choose more than one answer. The number of answer choices is limited to 20. This type of question may be used when more then one answer is correct; users can select the incorrect answers. For example, in the medical field, this type of question may be used to select symptoms associated with a medical condition.
There are three steps involved in test creation:
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Creating the test
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Adding questions to the test
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Modifying the test options
Creating a test
Tests can be created within any of the Content areas or Test Manager within the Control Panel area Assessment. Follow the steps below to create a test.
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From the Control Panel of the module click on a Content area e.g. Module Documents
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Click on the Add Test button.
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Under Section 1 (Add Test) there is a heading Create a new test: Click on the button Create to the right of the text.
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In the name of the test box, enter an appropriate name.
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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 test creation. -
Click on the button Creation Settings. This feature allows you to choose the settings of your test questions.
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Here's an explanation of the settings
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Provide feedback for individual answers
This option allows the lecturer to provide feedback for every possible answer, i.e. a multiple choice question with 4 possible answers, means that a student receives different feedback dependant on the answer that they chose. If you do not click this box you can still provide feedback for an incorrect and correct response. -
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 test, allowing you to choose questions that only have an assigned category (such as 'science' for example). -
Specify default point values for questions
This feature allows you to set a default point value for each question within the test.
Once you have decided upon the test settings click Submit and OK the confirmation receipt.
Adding questions to the test
This section will cover adding a true / false question and a multiple-choice question.
If you’ve followed the steps above you should have the Test 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 an click GO.
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The appropriate question form should appear.
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In the Question Text area, type the question.
Allocate a point value for the question (if you didn't set a default) -
Section 2 requires the correct answer value. Click the radial button to True / False as appropriate. For the example the answer is False and is thus known as a distracter.
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Section 3 requires the feedback for the correct and incorrect answers.
In the Correct Response area type:
In the Incorrect Response area type:
When feedback is provided be sure to include enough information to indicate WHY the answer was correct / incorrect. Alternatively you can direct the student to WHERE they can look to find the answer. Feedback is an excellent way to reinforce the learning process.
The test should be a learning experience as well as a grading exercise. -
Then click Submit.
You should now be on the Test Canvas page, with the True / False question on the bottom half of the screen. -
Use the drop down box to select the question type - Multiple Choice.
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In the Question Text area, type the question text.
Allocate a point value for the question (if you didn't set a default) -
Section 2 requires the answers. Blackboard automatically sets a multiple choice question as having 4 possible answers. Type in the 4 possible answers.
To add additional answers click on the 'Number of answers' drop down box and choose the necessary number.
To remove answers click on the Remove button to the right of the Answer box.
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Ensure that the radial button to the left of the correct answer is ticked. In our example Answer 3 is the correct answer.
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Section 3 requires feedback for the correct and incorrect answer.
Type in an appropriate response. -
Then click Submit.
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Again you will be taken back to the Test Canvas page. As you scroll down the screen you should see the questions that have been added. Continue to add questions until your test is complete. Once complete click OK at the bottom of the Test Canvas page.
Modifying test options
This section will cover modifying the test and enabling the students to access the test.
If you have followed the steps above you should have the Modify Test page open.
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Click on Modify the test options.
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The page Test Options will open.
Section 1 shows the Name and Description of the test that you entered earlier. If you wish you can make changes. -
Section 2 covers the Test 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 test.
Allow multiple attempts
If this box is ticked students will not be limited in the number of times they can take the test.
Force completion
If this box is ticked, students have to complete the test the first time it is opened.
Set time limit
Ticking the box will allow a time limit to be set for the test. Use the drop down boxes to allocate the time allowed.
Set password
For added security it is possible to set a password that students need to enter before being allowed to take the test. The password is case sensitive. -
Section 3 covers Test 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 test of less than 15 questions, which will take no longer than 30 minutes to complete.
Some students could be accessing the test 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 test they will lose all of the answers and will need to redo the test.
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.
Randomize Questions
Ticking this option ensures that each student sitting the test will view the questions in a different order, thereby minimising the opportunity to copy from a neighbor. -
Once you have decided upon the settings for your test click Submit.
Please note: It is possible to copy tests from one module 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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