Components of a question

Updated 28 Aug 2023

When you create a question and define the answer, you can include tables, graphs, or images. You also can define algorithmic values so that different data is provided each time the question is shown. Additionally, you can create custom feedback messages students see when they check their answers.

The following example shows how to open a publisher-provided economics question and explore its components.

  1. Open the Custom Question Manager and click Create New Question.
  2. In Step 1 of the Create Custom Question wizard, select Copy and edit a question from your online course, and click Next.
  3. In Step 2, select the chapter and section from the dropdown lists to display the available predefined questions.
  4. Click a question in the list of available questions, and click Next to open this question in the Custom Question Builder.
  1. Click in the table and then click Table in the top menu.

    You use this list of options to format the table width, row height, text alignment, and borders.

  2. Any value highlighted in lavender is algorithmic. Click Show Algorithmic Values List to view the variables defined for this question. In this example, the variable PH lists the possible percent values to display in the question. PI lists the possible answers, based on the current value of PH.

  3. Click Regenerate Algorithmic Values to see how the values in the Value column change.
  4. Click the Edit link in the left column to open the Edit Algorithmic Values window and view the definition of the value.
  5. Click Cancel to close the Edit Algorithmic Value window, then click Close to close the Algorithmic Values List window.
  6. Now look at the blue answer box, which shows the current answer in red.
  7. Double-click the number shown in red in the answer box. The Edit Answer Definition window displays.
  8. Click Step 4 in the left menu of this window.

    In this step you can create custom feedback messages your students see when they check their answers. You can create one message to display when the answer is incorrect and one when the answer is correct. If you choose not to provide custom feedback, the default messages display. Click the View default message links to see these messages.

  9. Click Cancel to close the Edit Answer Definition window.
  10. On the upper-left of the Custom Question Builder, click Preview Exercise to see how this question appears to students.
  11. Work the question and check your answer to see the feedback message. Close the window when you have finished previewing.
  12. Click Cancel to close the question without saving it.

 

See also: Design custom questions | Navigate the Custom Question Builder