Create and Deploy a Quiz

About the Test Tool

Blackboard has a test tool that allows you to create your own self-scoring tests. This is just one method for providing a quiz or test in Blackboard.

You should note that there is a survey tool (generally not a graded item) and a Pool Manager, where banks of questions can be stored for use in a test.

Additionally, some publishers have test banks that can be exported to Blackboard and there are third party tools (i.e. Respondus and BYU Test Generator) that can be used to help facilitate test creation.

After completing the activities below, move to the next item for your selected training.

Activities to Complete

Complete the following (detailed instructions are below):

Create a pool of questions (at least five).
Create a three question quiz from the pool, using a random block.
Deploy the quiz in the course.

After you deploy the quiz, a corresponding column will appear in the Grade Center.

1. Create a Pool of Questions

Create a Pool and build at least 5 pool questions. Remember, a pool is a list of questions that can be used in multiple tests and other pools. Pools are never deployed or made available to students. Instead, the instructor can opt to create tests from one or more pools. Some publishers have test generators that will export a pool file for your learning management system. For CFCC, you will export for use with Blackboard 9.x. You can also build a pool by manually creating questions (with "Create Question" button), by finding questions from other pools and tests (with "Find Questions" button), or by uploading questions (with "Upload Questions" button) that have been formatted correctly for Blackboard.

The following movie tutorials will be show you how to create a pool of questions with various question types:

Building a Pool (movie, 2:39)
Creating a Multiple Choice Question (movie, 2:54)
Tests, Surveys, and Pools:
Select from several movie tutorials about adding specific question types, using existing questions, and more.

For this activity, you will create questions (at least five).

Select Tests, Surveys, and Pools from the Course Tools area in the Control Panel.
Click on the Pools link.
Select the Build Pool button.
Provide a name (required), description, and instructions and click the Submit button.
From the three buttons in the Pool Canvas, select your desired question type from the Create Question button.
Follow the prompts and select the desired settings (some are optional, such as categories and keywords).
On the last screen for question creation, click the Submit button to save the question.

You should now have a pool of questions that can be used for a quiz or test in your course.

2. Create a Test from a Pool

Tests can be created in the same fashion as pools. However, tests are deployed in the course and visible to students. A test can be imported in the proper format (use "Import Test" button), built from scratch, built from existing questions (i.e. a Pool), or uploaded from a file (formatted for Bb).

Important: It is strongly suggested that timed tests not last longer than one hour to decrease the possibility of the test "locking". If you have long assessments, consider dividing them into two parts (i.e. multiple-choice and essay type questions on different parts).

The following resources will show you how to create a test using random block of questions from a pool and how to manage some test settings:

Creating a Test (movie, 3:50)
Creating a Random Block and Adding it to a Test (movie, 2:39)
Add Image, File or External link to Test, Survey, or Pool (html)
In order to include images, files or external links in test, survey or pool questions, you must first change the question settings. This tutorial will guide you through this process and show you how to include the image, file or external link in your question.

For this activity, you will create a test from the pool you created earlier. You will create a random block of three questions from the available pool. This means that each student will receive a different set of three questions selected from the available pool.

Select Tests, Surveys, and Pools from the Course Tools area in the Control Panel.
Click on the Tests link.
Select the Build Test button.
Provide a name (required), description, and instructions and click the Submit button.
From the three buttons in the Test Canvas, select Create Random Block from the Reuse Question button.
Select the tests or pools from which you are selecting questions and the question types desired.
Click the Submit button to make the selection and return to the Test Canvas.
In the Test Canvas, enter the desired Number of Questions to Display (i.e. "3") in the Random Block area.
Make any desired edits to points per question and click the OK button.

You now have a test that will display a set number of random questions, from the selected pool, to each student.

You will now deploy the test in your course.

3. Deploy the Test

When you deploy the test in your course, a corresponding Grade Center column will be created.

Deploy the test in the new folder you created earlier (or in the Lesson 1 folder if you do not have a new folder).

Click the menu link to your desired content area (i.e. Lessons, Units, Assignments, etc.).
Click/open the folder where the quiz will reside (the new folder or Lesson 1).
Click the Test link under the Create Assessment button.
Select the test from the list displayed and click the Submit button.
Enter the desired options:
- Remember that when Make Link Available is set to "No", it will not open on the Display After date, so set this to "Yes" if you use the Display After feature. Otherwise, you can manually toggle the test on and off with "Yes" and "No".
- Remember, when you Set Timer, it is strongly advised to limit testing time to no more than one hour in order to minimize the possibility of a student's test "locking" due to power interruptions, other applications, etc. If a test locks, the student will contact the instructor to inquire about "clearing" the test.
- The Due Date feature is optional, but shows students when items are due. If you use this, please use it consistently and change it the next semester, or students will have the wrong date.
- Be careful with Test Feedback, especially if you allow more than one attempt. You will not want to display the Correct Answers in this instance.

You have now deployed the quiz. This provides students with a link to click and begin the assessment. If you navigate to the Grade Center, you will see that a column for the quiz has been created.

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Supplemental Information

NC Community Colleges Knowledge Base: Tests, Surveys, Pools (select Course Delivery > Instructors > Tests, Surveys, Pools) provides you with guidance on getting started with these tools and includes specific tutorials for building and deploying tests, surveys, and pools.
Blackboard On Demand Learning Center provides short movie tutorials to guide you through many of the test features. Please refer to this page for information about adding specific question types.
Using the BYU Test Generator to Format Questions for Test Upload (movie 6:17)
Learn how to use a free online formatting application to easily format questions for upload to Blackboard's Test, Survey, and Pool Manager. While you can build tests directly in Blackboard, this is sometimes time-consuming and tedious. This tool allows you to create questions in Word, paste them into the test generator to create a properly formatted file that is ready to upload directly into Blackboard. The movie tutorial will walk you through the steps. Files and links referenced are included below the movie.

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