Question Elements

Test learner comprehension with six different types of questions

Michael Hughes avatar
Written by Michael Hughes
Updated over a week ago

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About Question Elements

To help trainers test learner comprehension, Learning includes assessments collectively known as question elements. To add question elements to a lesson, navigate to the lesson builder, and then select Add Element โ†’ Question. Trainers can make questions required or not, and graded or not. Objective assessments, such as multiple choice and multiple select questions, are automatically graded by the system. Subjective assessments, such as free-form and upload responses, are sent to the grading station for evaluation.

๐Ÿ“ Note: Question elements cannot be timed, nor is it possible to adjust the weight of scores. Answers are correct or incorrect, and equally weighted.

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Free Response

This element allows trainers to pose open-ended questions that learners answer in essay format. Free-response questions require learners to supply the reasoning by which they arrive at their conclusions. This in turn helps trainers spot faulty assumptions or incorrect details, even when learners answer questions correctly.

  • You can make free-response questions graded or ungraded.

  • You can include an answer key and grading notes on free-response questions. Answer keys supply correct answers that graders can reference; grading notes provide instructions that help graders judge answers fairly and consistently.


Multiple Choice

This element allows trainers to test learning outcomes, from basic recall to analysis and evaluation. Learners are instructed to select one correct answer from a list of unique distractors. There is no limit to the number of distractors you can include, but as a best practice limit them to two or three items. Place an asterisk (*) before or after the correct answer in a list.

  • Multiple choice elements are automatically graded.

  • Multiple choice elements are fixed in their original order. Items aren't scrambled after learners answer incorrectly.


Multiple Select

Multiple select questions are like multiple choice questions, but they allow learners to select several correct answers from a list of unique alternatives. Learners must select all correct choices in order to solve multiple select questions. Place an asterisk (*) before or after all correct answers.

  • Multiple select questions are automatically graded.

  • Multiple select elements are static. Choices aren't scrambled when learners select the wrong answer.


Survey

Surveys are functionally similar to multiple choice questions, but learners' answers aren't graded. Instead, surveys allow trainers to solicit user preferences, discover knowledge gaps, or establish baseline comprehension of some fact or concept. In the text field, enter one choice per line. All answers are valid, so asterisks arenโ€™t necessary.

  • Surveys aren't graded.

  • Survey responses aren't anonymous

๐Ÿ’ก Tip: To anonymize responses, create a survey in a third-party platform such as Survey Monkey, and then add the survey link to your lesson.


Randomized Questions

This element reduces the likelihood of cheating by presenting questions at random. Create a question bank by adding free response, multiple choice, multiple select, or survey questions in any number or combination. You can include existing questions by dragging them into the randomizer or create new ones. On encountering this element in a lesson, learners are presented with one question selected at random from the question bank you created.


Upload Response

This element allows learners to answer questions by uploading a file. Uploaded submissions are sent to the grading station for evaluation. This element is useful when correct answers are contingent on the demonstration of a particular skill: writing a sales proposal, for example, or building a presentation.

  • You can include an answer key and grading notes on upload response elements.

  • Training supports the following file types: DOC, DOCX, IMG, JPG, ODP, ODS, ODT, PDF, PNG, PPT, PPTX, RTF, TXT, XLS, XLSX.

For more information on uploading documents as answers, check out this article.


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