6.3: Submitting Answers
Viewing Questions
You can navigate to a question by clicking on the question number or the “View Assessments” button in the Assignment dashboard (See (Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\))).
Once you have navigated to a question, you will see the assignment due date countdown at the top of the view and the question and your submission information. You can navigate between questions using the navigation pane above the question prompt, submit responses using the submission buttons, and view hints or solutions if they are available. (Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\)) shows an example of the question view with the important buttons and information indicated. The view may look different based on the assignment and question, but the main information and navigation buttons should be in the same general location.
Submitting Responses
There are two types of questions that you will encounter in ADAPT: auto-graded and open-ended.
Auto-Graded Submissions
Auto-graded questions will grade your response after your submission, and your score may be shared with you based on the properties of your assignment. An auto-graded question will have a submission box in the question box (See (Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\))).
After you have typed in your submission(s) in the entry boxe(s), click the “Submit Answers” button, which will bring up a preview so you can review your submissions. If you are okay with your submissions, click the “Complete Submission” button. The ADAPT system will interpret your submissions and provide a score if your instructor has allowed that option.
You need to keep in mind several formatting requirements, which are covered later in this guide and the ADAPT Practice Tutorials assignment.
Open-Ended Submissions
Open-ended questions may require you to enter text or upload a file for grading later by your instructor or grader. These types of questions generally ask you to explain, describe, you’re your work, or draw out a representation, which the system cannot automatically grade. (Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\)) shows where to respond to an open-graded question with a text entry or a file submission.
Formatting Answers - Submission Toolbar
The ADAPT auto-grading system often requires specific formats for entries that involve text, units, superscripts, subscripts, chemical equations, and scientific notation. Your course should have a tutorial assignment that walks you through how to submit different formats in ADAPT, and we recommend completing that assignment before attempting other assignments. This section of the guide describes the formatting toolbar and provides specific examples of general formatting types.
The submission toolbar contains preset formatting options for your submissions. It appears on the right-hand side of the question view when you click on the submission entry box (see (Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\))). The toolbox options may vary depending on the question, and (Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\)) shows you the common icons you may encounter. You can also use standard keyboard shortcuts to format superscripts and subscripts.
Scientific (Sci) Notation
There are two options for submitting responses using scientific notation: using the toolbar to fill in the format or typing it.
Using the Toolbar
- Type the coefficient into the submission box.
- Click the Sci toolbar option (Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\)) to add x10 to your submission.
- Type out the power of ten
- Submit
Typing it Out
- Type the coefficient into the submission box.
- Use the asterisk (*) button to create the multiplication symbol, which should add a dot to your entry.
- To get the asterisk, shift 8 on the keyboard
- Type out 10
- Add the exponent by clicking the superscript icon in the toolbar (Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\)) or using your keyboard shortcuts.
- Submit your answer.
(Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\)) shows completed entries using the Sci tool and typing them out.
Submission Error: If you get an error that says, “Your answer isn’t a number,” you may have typed out the notation incorrectly. For example, you used the symbol “x” for multiplication, but ADAPT looks for the multiplication dot because “x” is used for formulas.
Units
If your entry requires you to submit units with a single letter, you can include the unit following the value. However, if the units are more complex, you need to convert your entry to text before typing out the units. Here’s how to enter complex units:
- Type out the number
- Use the Tt icon or type “ to convert your entry to text.
-
Type out the unit
- You can format powers using the ^ symbol (shift + 6 on the keyboard).
- If there are units with a fraction, use / to indicate the fraction or negative power.
- Submit your answer
Submission Error: You may get an error that says, “Your answer doesn’t look like a number with units,” which means you’ve either incorrectly converted the units section to text or have incorrect units. If you have questions or run into errors, check the Unit help page for the types of units and formatting options.
Compounds and Ions
Entering compound formulas and ions requires you to format the appropriate information. Brief descriptions of how enter these are included below, along with a video with examples.
Compound formulas
are entered using elemental symbols and subscripts for the number of each element in a compound. Make sure to use the correct capitalization and letters for the symbol and the subscript formatting:
To format your entry as a subscript, either:
- Use the subscript icon in the toolbar (shown below).
- Or Type Shift + - to get the underscore.
Example: To enter the formula for methane (CH 4 ), you would type
- C
- H
- Shift + - or subscript tool icon
- 4
Compound Submission Error: you may get an error that states “Can’t combine an element and a Number,” which probably means you haven’t correctly formatted your subscripts. Check to make sure all values.
Ions
are entered using the elemental symbols, + or – for charge, and the value of the charge, and you must include the symbol of the charge before the value.
For example: To enter the Na
+
, you would type:
- Na
- Shift + 6 or superscript tool icon
- +
- 1
You may include curly brackets around the charge and value to ensure ADAPT interprets the entry correctly.
Polyatomic ions
combine compound formula and ion formatting. Make sure to use the appropriate symbols, subscripts, and charge formatting (sign followed by value).
For example: To enter the sulfate ion (SO
4
2
-
), you would type:
- S
- O
- Shift + - or subscript tool icon
- 4
- Right arrow to get out of subscript formatting
- Shift + 6 or superscript tool icon
- -
- 2
Ion Submission Errors: you may get an error that states “Missing operand after +” or Missing operand after –,“ which happens when you have put the value before the sign of the charge or not included a value in the charge at all.
Chemical Equations
Formatting chemical equations may require entering compound formulas, ions, reaction arrows, and phases. This section will cover specific chemical equation formatting with a video showing examples. Make sure to check the previous sections for formatting compound formulas and ions if you have questions about how to enter these.
To enter phases
, place the phase in parenthesis to the right of the element, compound, or ion.
A forward reaction arrow
can either be typed using dash, dash, greater than (-->) or entered using the forward arrow toolbar icon.
Stoichiometric coefficients
are typed to the left of the element, compound, or ion as a normal number entry.
Submission Errors:
You may get an error that states “Unexpected character >,” which indicates you haven’t formatted the reaction arrow correctly. You may also see “Missing operand before or after `-->,” which means you haven’t typed out the reactants or products in the reaction.