Question Pools and Tests

There are three features that support assessment activities in BlackBoard. The Assignments tool helps manage the process of handing out, collecting, grading, and providing feedback on papers and other assignments. The Test, Pool, and Survey Managers support creation and grading of those feedback techniques. Grades are recorded and managed through the Gradebook feature.

Creating a test on BlackBoard is a four step process:

1. Create a question pool
2. Create questions
3. Create a test from the question pool
4. Deploy the test

Question Pools

Pools and tests work together to create exams and quizzes for students. A pool is a set of questions that can be used in a test. A test is the actual arrangement of those questions that a student will see. A test can draw from multiple pools, or can randomly pick different questions from a pool.

While you can create a test and load it with questions directly, we highly recommend creating a pool of questions first, and then creating tests from that pool. This gives you a lot more flexibility to mix and match questions from different quizzes, create multiple versions of a test, and export questions for use in multiple courses.

Creating Pools

To create a pool:

1. From the Control Panel, select Pool Manger.
2. Click "Add Pool".
3. Name the Pool, add any other information you want, and click "Submit."
4. Change the "Creation Settings" to meet your needs.
5. Begin creating questions.

ID Note: Receipt Page When you submit something in Blackboard, you will get a confirmation page with an OK button at the bottom of it. When you get to this page, your content has already been submitted. To make changes, you need to click on OK and then go to the item you want to edit and click Modify. If you use Back to make changes, they will not be saved.

Creating Questions

Once you have created a pool, you will be taken to the Pool Canvas. Like most sections of BlackBoard, creating questions in a pool consists of 3 steps: create or link to the content, select the display options, and submit.

To add a question to your pool:

1. Select a question type from the Add menu, and click "Go."
2. Add the question text, select the number of answers, and type in the answers for the question.
3. Choose the correct answer.
4. Type in feedback for correct and incorrect answers.
5. Click Submit.
6. To add another question, go to the top of the page, and repeat these steps.
   • To insert a question between two existing questions, click on the "Add Question Here" link

 

Creating Tests

The third part of this process is to build the test from one or more question pools.

1. From the Control Panel, select Test Manager.
2. Click "Add Test."
3. Add a name and descriptive information, and click "Submit."
4. This will take you to the Test Canvas.
5. From the Add menu, select "From a Question Pool or Assessment" and click Go. 
6. From the search screen, select the Pool, and choose the question type you'd like to add to your test. Then click Search.
7. Select each of the questions you would like to add to your test (you can choose as many as you need).
8. Click Submit.

 

Setting the Point Value for Questions

To set the point value to the same amount for all questions on the test, click Creation Settings in the Test Canvas. Set the "default point value."

To set the point value for each question individually, click on the Modify button next to each question. Set the point value for that question, and click Submit.

 

Deploying a test

You can deploy tests in any content area, using Edit view. Tests can not be deployed from the Test Manager.

1. Open a content area and click on Edit View.
2. Click on the Add: "Test" button.
3. Choose the test you want to add and click Submit.
4. Back in the content area, find the test and click on Modify.
5. Click on Modify Test Options to set availability, presentation, and feedback options.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you change a test after some students have taken it, you will need to go into the gradebook and manually grade their tests.

 

 

 

BlackBoard Logins

Go to the BlackBoard site at http://blackboard.highline.edu

Instructors have two different usernames for BlackBoard. One is for you as an instructor. The other is a "student" login, which allows you to see what your course looks like for your students.

Instructor ID

Your instructor ID is the same as your network logon at Highline. It will be the first letter of your first name, followed by the first seven letters of your last name. An initial password will be provided at your orientation, or you can use the "Forgot Password" feature (click on the link on the BlackBoard login screen to use this feature).

Student ID

Your student ID allows you to see how your courses will look to students. The username follows the pattern that all student users follow. It will be the first seven letters of your first name, followed by the first seven letters of your last name. Click on the "Forgot Password" link on the BlackBoard login screen to get your student password. Remember to use your student username when filling out the Forgot Password form!

For details, see the ICC Help page at http://flightline.highline.edu/ic/ichelp.phppasswords.

 

 

 

Quick Reference Guide

BlackBoard URL

• http://blackboard.highline.edu

Faculty Resources

• Faculty information: http://flightline.highline.edu/blackboard
• For assistance with student accounts, contact the ICC Help Desk.
• For assistance with building courses and using BlackBoard features, contact Instructional Design at id@highline.edu.

Student Resources

• Password and technical support information (http://flightline.highline.edu/ic/ichelp.php)
• Account and other problems: ICC Help Desk at icchelp@highline.edu, 206-870-4880