What is an assessment?

An assessment is anything from a quiz to a test that an instructor can use to “assess” their students knowledge about a certain subject. An assessment works just as a paper assessment would, it is simply online to allow an instructor more in class time.

What is a question pool?

A question pool is a method of copying and saving questions for later use. Question pools can also have subpools for better organization. An example of a question pool would be one labeled 'Biology 105', while some subpools might be named 'Genetics', 'Basic Concepts', and 'Cells'. Questions pools are useful for if you come up with a question you may want to use again in another assessment or another section of your course.

Can I share question pools with other instructors?

No, you cannot share your question pool with other instructors but you can export it to another instructor who in turn can import it.

Can I edit an already published assessment?

No, you can add questions from an already published assessment to the question pool but you cannot edit an already published assessment without taking the assessment down completely, fixing it, and then reposting.

Can I make it so only certain students can take an assessment?

Yes, but only on Tests before you publish the assessment and only by setting up a name and password. Start by clicking 'Settings' under the assessment title. Under the 'High Security' section, type in a username like 'Guest' and a password, 'guest01'. Save the Settings or Save and Publish the assessment. Email the username and password out to the students taking the assessment.

Is there a way to see what students answered on assessments?

Yes, if you want to see what students are answering to certain questions, you start at the main Test and Quizzes page on Isidore. Under the assessment title, click 'Scores'. The first page to come up will be 'Total Scores'. Directly to the right of the words 'Total Scores' is 'Questions', which you click on. From the 'Questions' page, you can click whichever question you wish to see to compare the correct answer to what students have selected as the correct answer.

Why isn't my assessment showing up in the gradebook?

If an assessment isn't showing up in the gradebook, the settings of the assessment may not be positioned properly. To have the grades sent to the gradebook, first go to the main Test and Quizzes page. Click 'Settings' below the assessment's title. Click the arrow next to 'Grading' (third from the bottom). Under 'Gradebook Options', the circle next to 'None' is probably selected. Click the one right below it that says 'Grades Sent to Gradebook'. Click 'Save Settings'.

If you've configured the 'Grades Sent to Gradebook' option already or if you continue to have problems, feel free to contact the E-Learning Lab at e-learning@notes.udayton.edu or 229-5039.

What is the difference between remove and retract?

Removing an assessment means that you completely take the assessment off the Isidore site, though if students have taken it, the grade will remain in your gradebook. Once an assessment has been removed, it's gone and you would have to rebuild it completely if you want to use it again. Retracting an assessment is when you do not allow students to continue to have access to the assessment but it is still in your site, where you can use it again if you need to. The grades of the students who have already taken the retracted assessment will still show up in your gradebook.

Can I open a quiz for a specific amount of time on a given day?

Yes, to achieve this, you will need to go to 'Settings' under your assessment title. Click the arrow next to 'Delivery Dates' to display the options. Click the calendar next to the box next to 'Available Date' Set the time you want to make the assessment available by entering it into the time box. Keep in mind that if you want something to be available in the PM hours, you have to add 12 to your hour time. Select the date you want the assessment to become available. Now click the calendar next to the box next to 'Due Date'. As with the 'Available' input what time and date you want the assessment to be due. Make sure to also input a 'Retract' time and date, even if it's the same as the Due date and time. Click either 'Save Settings and Publish' or 'Save Settings' to save the dates and times.

Can I set a time limit on a quiz?

Yes, the time limit option is available under the 'Settings' part of the assessment. Once you're under the 'Settings' section click the arrow next to 'Timed Assessment' to set a time limit. Set the time to however many hours and minutes you would like the students to have. Click either 'Save Settings and Publish' or 'Save Settings' to save the time limit.

Can I build my quiz in Word and then import it into Isidore?

Yes, with the 'Quick Create' button on the assessment main page. With this application, it's best to use only one type of question, such as all multiple choices or all fill in the blanks just to avoid your own confusion. The most important thing to remember when building your quiz in Word is to put 'Question' before the question number and include the point value after it in parenthesis, such as this: Question 1 (10 points).

With any type of questions, you just type the question and then the answer options in but before the correct answer, you will need to type a asterisk, so if the correct answer is c it should say *c. answer, or in true/false, *true. The only exception to this rule would be when using a short answer question; there should be no answer from you on this one.

Once your quiz has been created in Word, go to the 'Test and Quizzes' section of Isidore. Select you assessment type, type in the title and click 'Quick Create'. Copy and paste your quiz from Word into Isidore. Once the text is in place, click 'Next'. The site will display all the questions and their answers so that you can ensure that they transferred properly. If they do not, there's a 'Back' button at the bottom of the screen. If you go back and are not sure what to fix, on the right hand side of the text box are several links that expand into the proper ways to set up the different questions. Once you're sure your quiz is correct, you can click either 'Create Assessment' or 'Create Question Pool' depending on where you want the questions of the quiz to go. Your quiz or question pool has now been created.

Does the 'Save for later' option during an assessment still work when the assessment is being timed?

No, in timed assessments, if a student clicks 'Save for later' and logs out, the timer simply keeps running. The 'Save for later' option simply allows the student to save the answers they've already selected for the next time they log in.

What does 'Mark for Review' mean?

Mark for review is a feature used by students who are actively taking an assessment. This feature allows students to mark a question they would like to re-visit at the end of the assessment. The feature is simply a way for students to remind themselves to return to a question.