How to create an exam in Blackboard
You
can create an exam for Blackboard in a variety of ways. You can
create questions directly in Blackboard, create them off line in Word
or Excel and upload them, use a Publisher's test bank (zip file),
or use the Respondus
4.0 test maker to create exams, set options, and upload
them to Blackboard. Each of these is described below.
Creating an Exam in Blackboard:
There are a
few steps in creating the exam that include (a) creating the template (also
called the Test Canvas Page or the shell for the exam), (b) entering questions
into the template, and (c) setting options to deploy the exam.
The videos
below walk you through these steps (though not necessarily in that order).
Note that some
of these videos talk about the “original” Blackboard vs. “Ultra.” We have the original so you can ignore
references to Ultra.
1. How to create a test in Blackboard:
Click on the following for a Blackboard help page called
“Create Tests and Surveys.”
If you have never
created Blackboard Test before, you might skim it to get a sense of what needs
to be done. However, I think the videos
below provide a clearer walk-though of the process.
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/Tests_Pools_Surveys/Create_Tests_and_Surveys
- Here is an overview video:
o
This shows how to create the test template and
says you can create questions. It does
not explain how to do that very well.
The next section of this guide does that.
o
The video assumes that you have entered
questions, and then goes on to explain how to “deploy” it to the Blackboard
location (e.g., Folder) that you want to hold the test.
o
As you choose where to deploy the text, you can
also set its options (which can also be set or modified later).
o
Options include:
- Making the test available to students (you
pretty much need to click on that).
- Whether to have Blackboard create an
announcement that the test is available.
- Whether to allow multiple attempts and if so
which attempt to count for the grade.
- Whether
or not to “Force Completion.” I DO NOT recommend
setting that. If set, once a student’s connection to the
test ends OR IS BROKEN by weak interned, the student cannot get back
into the
exam.
- How long students have to take the test by
setting the timer. I time my tests AND
CHOOSE AUTO-SUBMIT. That way once the
time runs out the test is automatically closed and submitted.
- Setting the opening day and time (the “Display
After Date”) and the deadline day and time (the “Display Until Date”).
- Setting the Due Date.
- Options for Feedback after for the test. When and What to show the student.
- Whether to show all the test questions at once
or to reveal them one at a time.
- Whether to randomize the order in which the test
questions are seen. I DO NOT choose this
option as in the past it has created some problems when large numbers of
students take a long test. Your results
may vary.
o
This Overview DOES NOT talk about how to set the
test up for online Proctoring. Proctorio is covered elsewhere.
- The next video goes through the entire
process, including how to create questions within Blackboard. After this, we look at other
ways to create questions.
o
It also discusses a bit about setting
“exceptions” to the test (e.g., a student needs more time on the exam or on
some other dates).
o
It provides GOOD information on the Feedback
choices.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2M4P6VHbP0 (14:19)
2. How to create Test QUESTIONS:
You can create test questions directly in Blackboard or
create them offline and then upload them, using a text file or Excel, a zip
file from a publisher, or a modified Word document.
a. First, let’s look at how to create test questions in Blackboard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE-_N3ai3YI (5:17) this example uses Multiple Choice
questions and it ALSO shows you
how to set options and “deploy” the test.
o
This video suggests that you choose Open Test in
New Browser. I DO NOT choose that
option.
o
This video suggests choosing Randomize
Order. I don’t do that, you can try it.
o
This also shows you the exam in the Grade Book.
And another version
of creating test questions in Blackboard (this one uses fill-in-the-blank
as the example) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlhr2i8I7eE
(10:06)
b. Alternatively, you can create questions “offline”
and then upload them to Blackboard.
- As you will see, each question will begin with a question
type (e.g., MC for multiple choice), then a TAB, then the question “stem,” a
TAB, and in the example below, each answer, followed by a TAB, whether it is
correct or incorrect, and a TAB.
MC Which ocean is the
warmest? Atlantic correct Pacific incorrect Arctic incorrect
- You can type the question type, stem, answers,
etc. out in Notepad and save that file.
Or, as this video shows, you may find it easier to do this using EXCEL:
c.
IF you have a test from a publisher in a .zip file, you can
import that:
d.
If you already have a test created in Word, you can do a little
editing, upload it to a test generator (https://resources.online.nwtc.edu/blackboard/test-generator/#),
and upload the generated file to Blackboard.
- This video
shows how to import Word or other Text test questions into Blackboard including the necessary upfront format changes:
3.
Creating RANDOM
BLOCKS of questions in a Blackboard test
Random Blocks are created from Question Pools. You might use one pool with (for example) 50
questions in it and then have Blackboard choose 5 questions randomly for each
test taker. OR, you might have one pool
of Lecture questions and a different pool of Text Book questions and then
randomly choose 5 from the Lecture pool and 10 from the Text Book pool (or
whatever):
4. You can use "Respondus Campus" to create or edits exams, settings, random blocks and upload them to Blackboard.
Kent
State has a license for Respondus 4.0 (Respondus Campus), which is a
tool for creating and managing exams that can be printed to paper or
published directly to Blackboard.
To download
Respondus Campus and obtain the license password needed to install it:
- Log
into software.kent.edu with your KSU
FlashLine credentials
- Locate
Respondus Campus-Wide version 4 on the software list
- Click on
Requested or Purchased Software
- Click on
View Details
- On the
window that pops up, scroll to the bottom and click on Request Software
for the download link and license information to appear
- Follow the
steps listed in the popup window
If
Respondus Campus-Wide version 4 is not on the software list or any
issues are encountered downloading it, submit a support ticket or
contact the Help Desk at 330-672-HELP(4357)
The following demonstration videos are available for Respondus 4.0. These videos are also available on the
Respondus YouTube channel..