5 Steps to Creating a Test in BlackBoard
Monday, March 29th, 2010
1. Create the test items, use one of these methods.
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one by one
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importing them from a previous course
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creating from a word or text document
View a video of Step 1 by clicking here
2. Deploy the test by inserting it into a content area in the course.
Use the Add Test icon.
View a video of Step2 by clicking here.
3. Set the options for the test.
· how many times it can be taken
· when it will be available to students
· how it will be presented to students:
o all on one page, each question on a separate page
o randomized or not
· Whether feedback is shown and how much.
These are all done on the Modify Test Options screen which appears when you put the test into a content area. You can also get there by clicking Modify next to the item after the test is deployed.
View a video of Step 3 by clicking here.
4. Test your test
You can not see the questions “run” in the Test Manager so you must preview your test to see what it will look like to students. Sometimes questions act differently than you think they are going to, especially Matching and Ordering.
· You can preview the test by taking it even if it is “unavailable” to students.
· You WILL see feedback and summary as students will see it.
· You WON’T see anything in the gradebook for your try.
· The best preview is using a student logon.
View a video of Step 4 by clicking here.
5. After students have taken the test (that is, hit the submit button)
· Students’ scores will be immediately available in the gradebook–unless you have used a questions type that a human must correct: essay or short answer.
In that case, students will see how they did on the “automated part of the test” only.
· To see data about the scores click on the item name in the Gradebook to go to the Item Options page.
· If a student gets stuck in the test you can unlock their test, called “clearing their attempt” by going to the Gradebook and clicking the lock icon that appears next to their name. Click Clear Attempt.
