Assessments

Overview

An Assessment is a Test or Survey created by an Instructor or Teaching Assistant.  Tests can be used to test the knowledge and skill level of the users enrolled in the course. They allow the Instructor to assign point values to questions. Student answers are submitted for grading, and the results can be recorded in the Gradebook.

Surveys can be used for polling purposes and evaluations.  These assessments are not graded.

Students can find Assessments within any content area, content area folder, or Learning Unit within the course Web site.

There are several types of questions that can be included in an Assessment. A description of each question type is provided below. 

·          Multiple Choice: Allows the user a multitude of choices. In multiple-choice questions, the user indicates the correct answer by selecting a radio button.

·          True/False: Allows the user to choose either true or false. True/False answer options are limited to the words True and False. 

·          Fill in the Blank: Users enter the answer in the text fields provided. Those answers are evaluated based on an exact text match.

·          Multiple Answer: Multiple answer questions allow the user to choose more than one answer.

·          Matching questions: Allows the user to pair questions to answers.

·          Essay Questions: Instructors provide Students with a question or statement. Students are given the opportunity to type or cut and paste an answer into a text field. Students may also use the Math and Science Notation Tool in Essay questions.

Taking Assessments

Follow the steps below to begin taking an Assessment.

Step 1                 Locate an Assessment in a Course Content Area and click the hyperlink associated with it.

Step 2                 Click Yes to begin the Assessment.

Step 3                 Instructors may choose to have users enter a password to begin taking an Assessment. If necessary, enter the valid password and select Submit to begin the Assessment. The Assessment will continue to prompt for a valid password until the correct one is entered.

If the Assessment is timed, the time remaining will appear in the bottom of the browser. An example of an Assessment is shown below.

Feedback and Grades

After finishing a Test, detailed results of Student performance may be available if configured by the Instructor. Feedback will show the correct answers and comments from the Instructor as well as display the grade received. To access this information select the Test in the Content Area or use the View GradesTools.

If an Assessment is changed by an Instructor after the user has submitted it, the new, modified Assessment will appear if the user accesses their grade and feedback after the change was made.

Multiple Attempts

Instructors have the option of allowing Students to take an Assessment multiple times.  If this option is available, after the Assessment is submitted a link to take the Test again will appear when the Test is opened.  Students are notified at the top of an Assessment if a Test will allow multiple attempts. If a Student takes an Assessment a second time, the first Assessment will be over-written. If the Assessment does not allow multiple attempts, the Review Assessment page will appear when the Student clicks OK on the receipt.

Force Completion

If the Force Completion option is enabled, Students must complete the Assessment the first time it is launched. They 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. 

Backtrack Prohibited

Instructors use this option to prevent Students from returning to questions they have already answered. If this option is not enabled, Students may return to previous questions. If a Student is taking an Assessment that does not allow backtracking, an error page will appear if they submit a question and then attempt to use the Back button on the browser. The Student will be sent to the last unsaved question from this page.

Assessment modes

An Assessment is a Test or Survey created by an Instructor or Teaching Assistant.  There are two different options for the way Assessments are presented. These include:

·          All-at-Once: All of the questions are presented at the same time.  The following table describes the functions available for an All-at-Once Assessment:

·          One at a Time: Questions in the Assessment appear one at a time. The following table describes the functions available for a One at a Time Assessment: