Mastering Online Assessments: Utilizing UBlearns and Respondus for Effective Testing

1. Althea Maduramente, M.A.TLC Instructional Support212 Capen Hall, North Campus(716) 645-7700 (ext.0)altheama@buffalo.eduNote: This presentation was prepared by Robin Sullivan. Additional individuals who contributed to the development of this presentation include Nathan Whitley-Grassi, Mary Jo Jensen, Jim Gordon, Althea Maduramente, and Christopher Wells. UBlearns: quizzes and surveys Last updated: 9/29/09

2. Objectives • Understand quizzes and surveys within UBlearns • Understand differences between creating quizzes using UBlearns and Respondus • Create a test in Word and import it into Respondus • Upload a test into UBlearns • Discuss publisher test banks and exam pools • StudyMate Author by Respondus

3. Online Testing • Automatic grading of many question types • Online tests are well suited for self-assessment • Labs can be reserved for proctored testing • Respondus LockDown Browser locks students into an assessment and disables printing, copying, going to another URL, or accessing other applications

4. Test vs. Survey • Same interface • Test results are associated with a specific student • Grades automatically entered into Grade Center • Survey results are NOT associated with any student • Survey responses are anonymous • Direct feedback to student is not possible

5. Creating Tests in UBlearns • Multi-step process which involves the following: • Create a test • Add questions • Add a test to a content area • Make a test available • View test results • One question at a time in UBlearns • ‘Batch creation’ through Respondus

6. What is Respondus? • Windows-Based software to create online tests • UB has a Campus License • Provides a simplified method to create tests compared to creating tests within Ublearns • Questions can be created in MS Word and imported into Respondus • Automatically uploads into Ublearns • Tests can be delivered online and in print format

7. Running Respondus the First Time • Install Respondus • Start Respondus • Fill in the following information: • Institution name: University at Buffalo • Local Support: mwoodward@buffalo.edu • Installation Password available through the UBlearns Help website: Faculty > Assignments, Assessments & Surveys > Respondushttp://ublearns.buffalo.edu/help

8. Steps to publish into UBlearns • Create, Open or Import a file • Edit document • Settings and Availability • Preview and Publish • Update Settings • Publish to UBlearns • Print options—print in Word

9. Respondus Start Page • Open an existing quiz • Create a new quiz • Import quizzes from • MS Word

10. Respondus Import • Respondus can import quizzes created in MS Word or other word processing software • The document must be in a specific format • Standard formatting guidelines can be found at Respondus.com in Support Resources: • http://www.respondus.com/downloads/Respondus40UserGuideBb.doc

11. Standard Format for Question Import • Respondus will import multiple choice, true-false, essay, fill in the blank, matching questions, etc. • Save document as a text file (.txt) • Do NOT use MS Word auto-format options • Must follow syntax rules for import without errors

12. Multiple Choice Format • Questions • Must begin with a number, followed by a period “.” • The wording must follow the number • At least one space should be between the number and the wording • Answers • Must begin with a letter (A-T) followed by a period “.” • Correct answers are indicated by an asterisk * directly in front of the answer choice with no spaces

13. Multiple Choice Example • 2. Who discovered America in 1492? • a. John Wayne • b. Thomas Edison • *c. Christopher Columbus • d. Marco Polo • If no correct answer is given, Respondus will automatically select the letter “A” as the correct answer

14. Feedback • General feedback can be imported by placing the tilde “~” symbol in from of the feedback for a correct answer. • The @ symbol can be used to indicate the feedback for incorrect answers. • There must be at least one space to the right of the ~ and @ symbols and the feedback text • The feedback must appear before the answer choices

15. Feedback Example • 2. Who discovered America in 1492? • ~ Yes. Christopher Columbus discovered America. • @ No. The correct answer is Christopher Columbus. • a. John Wayne • b. Thomas Edison • *c. Christopher Columbus • d. Marco Polo

16. Importing Questions into Respondus • View the video below to get a detailed explanation on how to import test questions that were created in Word Importing Questions into Respondus

17. Editing Test After Import • Add and edit • existing questions • Click ‘Question Menu’ • and select ‘Edit’

18. Respondus Settings - Making the Test available • These settings correspond to the Modify Test screen in Blackboard • Remember this can be done in Blackboard or Respondus

19. Preview and Publish Note: You can send the document as a question pool or as a complete exam with all settings already chosen from Respondus. Under Preferences, you may choose a point value for each question.

20. Preview and Publish • The Publish Wizard steps • through the deployment • process. • Click the Publish Wizard • button to begin

21. Preview and Publish • Reset the radio button to Save pool to local file for manual uploading. • Select Next. • Select Save As to choose a location and name of the file. • Select the appropriate Pool or Test radio button. • Select Finish to complete.

22. Preview and Publish • Navigate to the desired UBlearns course site, open Control Panel, select Test, Surveys and Pools. • Select Tests link then Import Test button to select and upload your Respondus file.