Add Tests

From the Control Panel:

1. Click a selection from Content Areas
   
   
   
2. Click Add Item on the toolbar beneath the Content Area title.
   
3. Under Content Information enter the title of your new content in the Name field.
   
   
4. Enter optional information in the Text box area.
   
   
5. Under Content
   Attach an optional local file to the Content Information that you just added above,
   by clicking to select a file to attach.
   

   Please Note: All of your added files should have a three letter extension on the file name, which already exists if the file is in its original format, such as .doc (Word), .ppt (PowerPoint), .jpg (images), .htm (Web pages), etc.

   To prevent potential problems, file names should not contain any spaces or special characters, except the underscore (_), which when used is often helpful in making file names easier to read.
   Examples:
   Use:    HomeWorkOne.doc or HomeWork_1.doc or Home_work_one.doc
   Avoid: Home Work One.doc or Homework/1.doc or Home work#1.doc

6. Name of Link to File: Enter an optional name for the attached file.
   
   
7. Special Action: Leave the default Create a link to this file;
   Or: click drop down arrow to select Display media file within the page when working with graphics or multimedia files;
   Or: Unpackage this file when adding .zip (compressed) files, typically PowerPoint presentations or collections of Web pages.
   
   
8. Under Options
   Make the content available:
   Click No if you want your content hidden until a later time. You can change this setting at any time.
   
   
9. Track number of views:
   See how many times each individual views your content.
   
   
10. Choose date and time restrictions:
    Set specific periods that you will allow content to be available.
    
    
11. Click Submit .

FAQs

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on a desired Content Area (Lessons, Assignments, etc.).
2. Click on the Test icon.
3. Select your test from the Add Test -Select Test below- list.
4. Click the Submit button.
5. Click the OK button.
6. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.

Modify the Test options

Test Information - Change the color of the test link, add a short description of the test and/or have the test open in a new window.

Test Availability

Make the link available – This feature allows you to give your students access to a specific test. Visible means that your students can see and take the test. Typically documents are made invisible when you don’t want students to access them yet. This can be changed at any time.
Allow multiple attempts - This feature allows students to take an assessment multiple times. Only the most recent score is saved, not the highest one.
Force completion - Test must be completed the first time it is launched.
Set timer - This feature allows you to limit the time your students have to take a test. The clock starts as soon as the student begins taking the test and displays in the lower left corner of the screen on the browser. Students get a five-minute or one-minute warning, depending on time limit. If the student goes over the limit they will still be allowed to complete the test, however, they will not receive a grade. The status of the test will be "Needs Grading." You will have to review the test and the time they exceeded, in order for you to change or accept the score.
Display after - This feature allows you to put an automatic timer on when the test is available to students. Make sure to check the dates for both this section and the Display until section, as this calendar function may not automatically display the current time and date.
Display until - This feature removes the functionality of the test link on a specified date. This feature does not alter the visibility of the link.
Set password - This feature requires that students enter a password, which is assigned by the instructor, before taking the assessment. This optional choice can increase security for on-line tests.
Test Feedback - This feature allows you to select how much feedback you want your students to receive after they take the test. Options include: just the score, the score plus the correct answers, or more detailed feedback.
Test Presentation – This feature allows you to decide whether to present your test in a continuous screen to scroll down, or one question at a time. You can also choose whether you want to randomize the questions or prohibit backtracking.

More Information

Question: Where can I get more instructions on how to create a test?
Answer:   See the Test Manager document.

Question: How can I create a test from a Thomson CD without retyping all of the Testbank questions?
Answer:   See the Import Thomson Testbanks document.

Question: I have created a test in the Test Manager, but the students cannot see it.
Answer:   The test needs to be added to a Content Areas using the Add Test icon before it can be accessed. Tests also need to be made visible under the Modify test options before students can access them.

Question: I created a test earlier, but it doesn’t show up in my Add Test -Select Test below- box.
Answer:   Tests can only be added to Content Areas once. If the test has been used before, it will not show up on the list of available tests.

Question: May I also create a link from the Announcements page?
Answer:   You can create a link to the Content Areas where the test is located, but can no longer create a direct link to the test in the Announcements section. This is now done in the Announcements section using the Course Link function.

Question: How do I view grades?
Answer:   When students take a test in Blackboard, their score is automatically entered in the Gradebook. If you want to view a student’s individual question responses, click on their score in the Gradebook.

Question: How do I grade the short answer questions?
Answer:   From the Gradebook, access the student's test results by clicking on the Exclamation Point in the spreadsheet view. This will show you the student's individual answers. Add the points received in the Points field and click Submit.

Question: How do I turn off the test when I no longer want students to be able to take it?
Answer:   In the Test Manager, click on the Modify button next to the name of the test. In the Modify Test Options link, choose No to the Do you want to make this link visible question and click Submit.
Note: Do not turn this feature off, otherwise you will lose all your grades. Be careful when editing options.

Question: How secure are on-line tests? How can I make them more secure?
Answer:   Anytime you give a student a test online, you run of risk of cheating. At this time, there is no way to make sure that your student is the one actually taking the test. This does not mean that the test feature is Blackboard should not be used. To increase test security you can add passwords, randomize questions, put time limits on tests, or administer them in a proctored lab environment. A good use of the test feature in Blackboard is for practice or review tests. This is an especially good use for the Allow Multiple Attempts, the random sampling and question pool features.