Simple text answer type (Simple Editor)

You can use the Simple Editor to create or edit the simple text input answer type in an item. A simple text input answer can be used for a part or Socratic hint question. Use the simple text input answer type for an answer that is either:

The correct answer you provide must be simple text—no HTML or TeX markup is accepted.

Mobile-compatible answer type: You can use this answer type to create mobile-ready Mastering questions which can be completed on a smartphone, tablet, or on a computer. Guidelines for mobile-ready items

ClosedStudent view of a simple text input question

Question text "Enter the four life stages of a butterfly. Use commas to separate each stage."

ClosedAnswer box for a simple text input answer (Simple Editor view)

For the question above, this image shows that it has four answers that need to be input by the student (separated by commas). This is a "multiple term " answer.

""

The image below shows an additional correct answer set, with alternate acceptable responses for terms 2-4.

""

ClosedCreate an item with the simple text input answer type

You can use the simple text input answer type to create:

To create a simple text input answer:

  1. Click the Item Library tab.
  2. Click the Create New Item button (top right of the Items list) to open the Simple Editor in a new window.
  3. Scroll down to the Answer box for the part. Click the dropdown menu next to Answer Type (on the right) and choose simple text input.
  4. In the Answer box, enter the following information:
    • [Optional] Specify the number of correct terms
    • [Optional] Specify whether answer is case sensitive
    • Add the correct answer
    • [Optional] Add pre-text and post-text
    • [Optional] Add wrong-answer feedback to help students
    • [Optional] Add follow-up text in response to correct answers

    For detailed instructions, see the next sections.

  5. To save your edits, click Save (from the top toolbar) or the Save & Preview link (top right). Do NOT press Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command-S (Mac OS
Closed[Optional] Specify the number of correct terms

One term for the correct answer

  • By default, the number of terms that the student needs to solve for is 1.
  • Leave the check box blank for Correct answer set has.

Two or more terms for correct answer

  • Select the check box for Correct answer set has and then choose the number of terms required, from 2 to 15.
    The Answer box changes to display the correct answer boxes for the number of terms you set, labeled Correct Answer Term 1, Correct Answer Term 2, and so on.
  • In the question instructions, be sure to tell students to use commas to separate answer terms. (The “Student view” section above shows an example of this kind of instruction.)
Closed[Optional] Specify whether answer is case sensitive

Only check Case Sensitive when it is incorrect for students to enter either uppercase or lowercase characters.

For example, make sure this option is NOT checked for element names. However, for answers such as element symbols or proper names, check Case Sensitive.

ClosedAdd the correct answer
  1. Enter the correct value in the Correct Answer box. Because the correct answer that students enter is simple text, the editing toolbar and menus are not available.
  2. [Optional] Click either add an additional correct answer or add an additional correct answer set and enter the additional correct answer(s). Enter the same number of terms for each additional answer, including any terms that might be the same. (You cannot have an alternate answer with a different number of terms.)
Closed[Optional] Add pre-text and post-text
  • Click the add pre-text link to enter text, like a sentence or sentence fragment, to appear before the answer.
  • Click the add post-text link to enter text to appear after the answer.
Closed[Optional] Add wrong-answer feedback to help students

Although optional, it is recommended that you provide wrong-answer feedback. Wrong-answer feedback can help students learn from their mistakes or incorrect choices.

  • Mastering provides the initial feedback "Incorrect; Try Again", followed by the follow-up text. ClosedExample of wrong answer feedback in student view (Standard View)

    Incorrect; Try Again. Check the capitalization in your answer.

  • If the correct answer has more than one term: Create a single wrong answer response for each incorrect answer combination. Click add response as needed. The editing toolbar and menus are available to format the feedback, but not the wrong answer.
  • Enter more specific answers first, followed by less specific ones. Click the "" Move Up or "" Move Down arrows to reorder the wrong answers and associated feedback.
  • To delete wrong answer responses: Click Delete choice in the row for the response.
Closed[Optional] Add follow-up text in response to correct answers

Follow-up text appears after students submit a correct answer, to reinforce learning by offering more information or providing an interpretation of the answer the student just submitted.

  1. Click the add follow-up text link.
  2. Enter your answer feedback, using your keyboard and options from the editing toolbar and menus.

ClosedEdit simple text input answers

You can make the following edits to simple text input answers:

To edit simple text input answers:

  1. Open the Simple Editor so that the item you want to edit appears in the Edit Item window.
  2. Navigate to the Answer box for the simple text input question you want to edit.
    (The simple text input answer type can be assigned to a part or a Socratic hint question.)
  3. [Optional] Change the number of correct answer terms:
    Select or clear the check box for Correct answer has. For more than one term in the answer, choose the number of required terms. (The question instructions should tell students to use commas to separate multiple answer terms.)
  4. [Optional] Change whether case sensitivity is required. Select or clear the Case Sensitive check box.
  5. [Optional] Edit the content of correct answers:
    Click in the text box for the correct term(s) and make your edits using simple text (editing toolbar and menus are unavailable). To remove any additional answers, choose delete additional answer.
  6. [Optional] To check your edits without saving, click "" Validate (from the top toolbar) to verify the XML.
  7. To save your edits, click ""Save (from the top toolbar) or the Save & Preview link (top right). Do NOT press Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command-S (Mac OS).

See also:

Mobile-ready items

Answer types you can use in the Simple Editor

Edit item elements

Specify chapter and section for items you create or edit

Copyright © 2015 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.