Using Among Quiz: A Guide To Effective Online Assessment

Introduction to Online Quiz Features

Online quizzes have become essential tools for educators, trainers, and organizations to assess knowledge and understanding. Among the various quiz platforms available, finding the right settings and features can significantly impact the effectiveness of your assessments. This guide explores key options and functionalities to help you create better quizzes for your participants.

Essential Quiz Settings and Options

When setting up a quiz in learning management systems like Canvas, various configuration options allow you to customize the assessment experience. Understanding these settings helps create quizzes that align with your specific learning objectives.

Time Limit Settings

One of the most crucial settings for any quiz is the time limit. To implement this:
– Click the “Time Limit” checkbox in your quiz settings
– Enter the number of minutes students will have to complete the entire assessment
– Consider the complexity and number of questions when determining appropriate time limits
– Some platforms allow for extended time accommodations for students requiring accessibility options

Time limits create a sense of urgency while preventing excessive time for unauthorized resource consultation. However, ensure the allocated time is reasonable for the assessment’s scope and difficulty.

Question Selection Options

Some instructors prefer flexibility in how students approach quizzes. A useful feature available in certain platforms is the ability to let students choose which questions to answer.

For example, you might create a quiz with 8 questions but only require students to answer 5 of them. This approach:
– Gives students some agency in demonstrating their knowledge
– Reduces test anxiety by allowing students to skip challenging topics
– Enables assessment of broader knowledge while acknowledging specialization

To implement this in platforms like Canvas, you’ll typically need to:
1. Create a question group
2. Add more questions than required
3. Set the number of questions to be randomly selected
4. Adjust point values to reflect the partial completion requirement

Troubleshooting Common Quiz Issues

Even well-designed quizzes can experience technical issues. Understanding common problems and their solutions ensures smoother assessment experiences.

Selected State Problems in Interactive Quizzes

A frequent issue in platforms like Articulate involves the “selected state” not working properly. This occurs when:
– The selected state only appears when actively selected before submission
– When revisiting slides via menu navigation, previous selections don’t show correctly
– Visual feedback for user choices disappears during review

This issue often stems from state management problems within the quiz software. Solutions typically include:
– Checking that correct variables are being tracked
– Ensuring review mode properly restores user selections
– Verifying that object states are properly configured for all interaction scenarios
– Using built-in review functionality rather than custom navigation when possible

Creating Quizzes with Microsoft Forms

Microsoft Forms offers a streamlined approach to quiz creation with AI assistance through Copilot integration.

Using Copilot for Quick Quiz Generation

Microsoft’s Copilot can significantly accelerate quiz creation by:
– Generating draft quizzes complete with titles, questions, and answers
– Providing a starting point that you can refine rather than building from scratch
– Offering regeneration options if the initial draft doesn’t meet your needs

After Copilot creates a draft, you can:
– Select “Keep it” to accept the generated quiz
– Choose “Regenerate” for alternative options
– Type specific prompts to guide the creation toward your preferred content
– Edit individual questions, answers, and settings to perfect the assessment

Customizing Microsoft Forms Quizzes

Beyond the AI-generated content, Microsoft Forms allows extensive customization:
– Question types: Multiple choice, text, rating, date, ranking, Likert, and more
– Branching logic: Create paths based on responses
– Theme options: Customize the visual appearance
– Response options: Set correct answers and point values
– Quiz settings: Configure time limits, shuffling, and feedback options

Instructor Resources and Guides

Effective quiz creation and management often require additional resources and guidance. Most learning platforms provide comprehensive documentation to support instructors.

Canvas Instructor Guide

Canvas offers an extensive Instructor Guide covering all aspects of course management, including quiz creation and administration. This resource includes:
– Step-by-step instructions for creating various question types
– Guidance on quiz settings and options
– Information on reviewing and analyzing quiz results
– Best practices for assessment design

The guide serves as a valuable reference for both new and experienced Canvas users, ensuring you can leverage the full potential of the platform’s assessment capabilities.

Advanced Quiz Techniques

Beyond basic quiz creation, several advanced techniques can enhance the assessment experience and provide more meaningful data.

Question Banks and Randomization

Creating question banks allows for:
– Random selection from larger pools of questions
– Reduced chances of academic dishonesty
– Varied assessment experiences across multiple attempts
– Targeted assessment of specific learning objectives

Most platforms support question banks or question groups that randomly pull questions according to your specifications.

Feedback Strategies

Effective feedback transforms quizzes from simple assessments into learning opportunities:
– Immediate feedback: Provides instant correction of misconceptions
– Delayed feedback: Encourages complete thinking before revealing answers
– Question-level feedback: Addresses specific conceptual issues
– General feedback: Offers guidance on overall performance and next steps

Consider your learning objectives when determining which feedback approach best serves your students.

Accessibility Considerations

Creating inclusive quizzes ensures all participants have equitable opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge.

Time Accommodations

Many learners require extended time accommodations. Most platforms allow you to:
– Set different time limits for specific students
– Configure extended time as a percentage or fixed duration
– Apply accommodations individually or to groups

Format and Design Accessibility

Accessible quiz design includes:
– Clear, concise instructions
– Compatible formatting for screen readers
– Alternative text for images
– Keyboard navigation support
– High contrast options for visually impaired users

Quiz Analytics and Improvement

After administering quizzes, analyzing the results helps improve both the assessment and instruction.

Item Analysis

Most platforms provide item analysis tools that reveal:
– Question difficulty (percentage of correct responses)
– Discrimination (how well questions differentiate between high and low performers)
– Distractor effectiveness (how well incorrect options function)
– Time spent on individual questions

This data helps identify problematic questions that may need revision or replacement.

Conclusion

Effective quiz creation involves understanding available options, troubleshooting common issues, and implementing best practices for assessment. By leveraging time limits, question selection features, and platform-specific tools like Microsoft’s Copilot, educators can create engaging and informative assessments. Remember to consult platform-specific guides for detailed instructions and consider accessibility needs when designing your quizzes. With thoughtful implementation, quizzes become powerful tools for both assessment and learning.