Blackboard has an extensive on-line quiz- and test-creating facility (in the Assessment section of the Control Panel). There are over twenty different question types and numerous options available. Using question types such as multiple choice, true/false and matching (among others), you can create a test which Blackboard will score automatically (and enter the grade in the grade center). Assessment options include various types of feedback for students after taking the test, and options to take tests multiple times. Hamilton College currently provides most of the placement exams for incoming students via Blackboard, so many students have already had experience taking on-line quizzes. The Assessment tools are excellent choices for periodically testing comprehension of material. Here are several very interesting options to whet your appetite:
The multiple atempts option in quizzes can now be set to unlimited or any specified number of attempts. When grading, one can choose which attempt to use (latest, highest, average of all attempts, etc.).
Self-Assessment Options
Instructors can allow students to use quizzes for self-assessment purposes (the score does not affect the student's running total grade). The option can be set to allow both instructor and student or just the student to view the score.
Extra Credit Questions
One may now set a question in a test to be an extra-credit question (will only add points if answered correctly). This option is set in the Test Manager's Creation Settings for that question.
New Question types
The Assessment tools (quizzes and tests) now have ten new types of questions, including calculated formula, hot spot, fill in multiple blanks, and opinion scale. There are also a number of new management features such as randomizing question blocks and randomizing the answers to multiple-choice questions. Please refer to the Instructors' Manual for complete details on all the assessment features.
