4.9: Editing Questions

This section will show you how to create and begin editing questions and expositions. Specific information about how to edit text, add images, create code, etc., is covered in chapters 7-9. 

Creating Questions and Expositions

To create a new ADAPT question or exposition, navigate to the My Questions section of ADAPT: click on the Dashboard dropdown menu and select My Questions. Then, Click on the “New Question” tab (Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)), which brings up the new question authoring tool.

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Link to create a new question or exposition

The editing mode of a question consists of four separate "blocks":

1. Meta-Information Block
2. Content Block
3. Accessibility Alternatives Block
4. Supplemental Content Block

Each block focuses on a specific feature of the question and contain multiple sub-blocks or options.

1: Meta-Information Block

The Meta-Information section is where you identify if you are creating a question or an exposition along with other general information for the question or exposition. Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\) shows the information that’s included in the Meta-Information section. You are required to include a The Meta-Information Block is the section of the question that hosts "meta-data" on the question including:

• Title*
• Question Type*
• Public Status*
• Folder in the library that the question reside (not the assignment level)*
• Attribution*
  • Author (not the owner)
  • License (preferably open license)
  • License Version
  • Source URL (where the question originated from)
• meta-tags (unrestricted key terms for the question)
• Framework descriptors (entries to a fixed learning objectives/skills framework)

* Mandatory entries in the meta-information block. The meta-tags and framework descriptors are option, but recommended.

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Meta-Information section with Question type outlined. 

2: Content Block

The Content block consists of two sub-blocks:

• Open-ended Content*
• Auto-Graded Technology*

This block host the core of the question. The Open-Ended Content sub-block is content that is shown to the student and is standard HTML and may contain text, images, videos, mathjax question code, javascript code. Almost anything that can be used on a website can also be added to this sub-block.

The Auto-graded sub-block host the technology or IDs for the technology that is used for autograded. There are four options:

• Native (e.g., QTI questions from Learning Managment Systems)
• H5P (assessments hosted on the Studio.libretexts.org server)
• WebWork (perl-based autograded code)
• IMathAS (PHP-based autograded code - core technology used in MyOpenMath and LumenLearning's OHM platforms)

* A least ONE sub-block must contain content, although if both sub-blocks have content, then the question that is shown to the student is both of them together. These types of questions are called "Frankensteins" since they glue different contents together from different code sources. 

Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Image of the Content Block for a question in ADAPT.

If you are creating an exposition, you will only see the text editor in the content block. Editing the content for an exposition is like editing a LibreText page – you can type and format text in the area, include images, add hyperlinks, or embed different media. Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\) shows the content editor and where to find different editing tools.

Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): Image of the Content Block for an exposition with helpful tools for editing. 

You can preview your question or exposition or save it using the “Preview” or “Save” buttons on the bottom right section of the page. Saving the question or exposition moves it to your question bank and navigates you away from the question.  

3: Accessibility Alternatives Block

The Accessibility Alternatives block is entirely optional, but strongly recommended to ensure a comprehensive question. With the instructor's permission, students can switch to using this question block instead of the question formatted in the Content Block. This feature is particularly useful when the technology used in the Content block is not fully accessible, and an alternative is needed to comply with WCAG 2.1 and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) for Universal design principles. By providing this alternative, instructors can utilize questions that are fully accessible for students who can benefit from them, while relying on the text-based alternative for students who cannot use the Content question type. The accessibility block comprises of two sub-blocks:

• Open-Ended Text Alternative
• Auto-Graded Technology Alternative

The Open-Ended Text Alternative sub-block stores text-based content, which should ideally adhere to WCAG 2.1 standards in its entirety. When chosen, student submissions using this alternative will need to be graded manually. It is crucial to release scores for all students, regardless of whether they used the Content block or the Open-Ended Text Alternative, at the same time. This ensures equitable treatment of all students in the class by providing near-identical evaluation procedures.

The Auto-Graded Technology Alternative sub-block serves as a host for an automated grading alternative to the Content block question. It is utilized when an alternative auto-graded technology can be constructed, typically involving a series of multiple-choice questions.

Only the question in one block will be used at any one time for students depending on the instructor and the specific disability that the student has.

Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\): Image of the Accessibility Alternatives editor. 

4: Supplemental Content Block

The last block is entirely optional, but strongly recommended and consists of supplemental features to the core question content in the used in the blocks discussed above. This block has four sub-blocks:

• Answer
• Solution
• Hint
• Notes

The content in the Answer sub-block is a short answer to the problem without any extra exposition, tutorial, context discussion etc., This content is used if the instructor wants to reserve the question solution to a different time than releasing the answer.

The Solution sub-block holds significant importance within this section as it contains the answer accompanied by a comprehensive solution designed to guide the student through the answer. Ideally, the content in this sub-block acts as a substitute for a tutor or teaching assistant, providing thorough explanations and guidance.

The Hint sub-block host a hint that may be shown to the student depending on the question usage (selected in the assignment level)

The Notes section is a private annotation/note area for the author to keep track of specifics of the question or to provide addition details to users of the question. Students never see the content in this section.

Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\): Image of the Supplemental Content with sections for the answer and solution. 

 

Editing Questions and Expositions

You can edit questions and expositions by clicking on the pencil (edit) icon by a question. The location changes based on where you view the question/exposition, and Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\) demonstrates a few of these locations.   

Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\): Location of the question edit icon. 

Clicking the edit button brings up the question editing tool, where you can change the Meta-Information, Content, and other sections of the question. Once you have made your edits, you can preview your question or exposition or save it using the “Preview” or “Save” buttons on the bottom right section of the page. 

When you go to save, a Reason for Edit box will appear. This box exists so you can communicate to other instructors why you are making edits to a question so they can decide whether or not to use the updated version. The user will see the differences between the old and new versions, so please include text that describes the intention for editing the question. You also need to identify whether or not you want to reset any student submissions for this question: this only impacts questions that are already in an assignment. If you choose to “Automatically update the question and reset any student submissions,” the students must resubmit their responses to a question. Otherwise, you can choose not to update the question automatically and manually do it when editing your assignments.