Manage Sections
All online tests must have at least one section, which is basically a collection of questions.
Attributes of a Section
When you create or modify a section, you enter values for the following fields.
Each section must have a name. When a student displays the test, the section name is displayed as a heading over the section’s questions. For this reason, you should choose a name that’s meaningful.
The Instructions field is optional. If you decide to include section instructions, these will be displayed below the section name when a student is taking the test.
If appropriate, you can create equations, which you can add to the instruction text (or use instead of instruction text). To do this, click the Add equation link and follow the prompts.
You can also upload images and add hyperlinks and other elements to the instruction text using the options available in the MoxieManager editor.
You use the Type filed to specify whether the section will display all its questions or just a random subset (making the section a question pool). Specifically, you choose one of the following:
Regular—All questions will be displayed.
Pool—A random subset of the section’s questions will be displayed. If you choose this, you must also enter values for the following:
Number of questions to give—Note that if you choose a value greater than what the section contains, the system will simply display all the section’s questions.
Point value for each question—Specify the point value of each question in the pool.
Within the Test Builder, the system will indicate whether or not the section is a question pool in a summary displayed under the section name.
The Question order field is presented only if the section is not a question pool. You can choose one of the following ordering methods:
Static—Questions will display in the same order that you arrange them in the Test Builder.
Random—Questions will be shuffled randomly for each student.
Within the Test Builder, a label under the section name indicates how questions will be ordered. If you choose Static, the description includes a Reorder link. Clicking Reorder lets you manually order the questions.
If desired, you can set a time limit for the section. The section time limit is shown to students when they begin the section, in a boxed message at the top of the page.
Once the time limit is reached, the system displays a pop-up window telling students that their work on the section has been automatically saved, but that no further work on the section is allowed.
If you previously saved a time limit for the section and you want to eliminate it, just clear the Time limit field and then save the section.
Note
If you create a section time limit that exceeds the time limit you set for the assignment overall, the system will ignore the section time limit.
Similarly, if you set time limits for your sections that equal a smaller amount of time than the limit set for the test overall, then the overall time limit will be ignored.
If you want the section to be solely for extra credit, select the checkbox labeled Make this section extra credit. With this option, a student can earn points for the questions but will not be penalized for missing any of the questions. (The point value of this section’s questions will not be added to the total possible for the test.)
If a section is extra credit, when the student displays the test, each question in the section will be clearly marked as extra credit.
In your view within Test Builder, the system will also include a reminder that the section is extra credit.
Note
By default, better-than-perfect automatic scores are not allowed (though regardless of this setting, you can always manually give a student a better-than perfect score).
Tip
If you want to make the entire assignment extra credit (not just this section), you'll need to change the assignment type.
How To
You can create and add a new section, or you can import an existing section from the File Cabinet.
Open the assignment in the Test Builder.
Click the link labeled Add Section, which is near the top of the screen.
Enter a name for the section.
Enter values for any of the other fields, as appropriate.
Click Save this section.
If you have previously saved assignments to your File Cabinet, you may want to import one or more sections from those assignments. When you do this, you import both the section’s settings and questions.
Locate the assignment to which you want to import questions. Open it in the Test Builder.
Click the More link to expand a drop-down menu.
In the More menu, click Import Question(s).
The system lists the assignments in your File Cabinet.
Click the name of the appropriate assignment.
The system lists its sections.
Use the checkboxes to select the section(s) you want to import.
Click Import Selected.
The system imports the selected section(s), along with each section’s settings and questions.
Open the assignment in the Test Builder.
Locate the section you want to edit, and click the corresponding Edit button.
The system displays a form that lets you modify the section.
Modify any of the fields as appropriate.
Click Save.
Use this procedure to reorder sections. Note that when you do this, the system saves your changes automatically—so you do not have to click a save button, and you also cannot cancel the changes.
Open the assignment in the Test Builder.
Notice the pair of black arrows at the right side of each section.
To move a section, clicking the corresponding black-arrow icon and drag the section to the appropriate location.
When you delete a section, you also delete all of that section’s questions.
Open the assignment in the Test Builder.
Locate the section you want to delete and click the corresponding Delete button.
The system displays a pop-up window asking if you’re sure you want to delete the section.
Click OK.
The system deletes the section.