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Surveys in ICON

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What is Possible with ICON’s Surveys Tool?

With ICON’s Surveys tool, you can:

  • Create survey questions, choosing from eleven different types, including a Likert question with built-in opinion scales.
  • Include images and links in your quiz questions.
  • Display text or an image for use with multiple questions.
  • Import questions from another ICON course, a text file, and Respondus Basic or other survey creation software.
  • Specify when and for how long a survey will be available.
  • Make surveys anonymous (optional).
  • Customize limited reports on survey results for students, teachers, or ICON administrators.

Note: For detailed survey results that are downloadable to Excel, you may wish to use WebSurveyor, which you can link to your ICON site from a Content Module or any other area where the QuickLink tool is available. You can sign up for an account at the Survey@Iowa website: http://cs.its.uiowa.edu/sda/survey/.

  • Try out a survey as a student or other respondent and view any reports you may have set up for that survey.
24 April 2007
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Creating Questions in ICON

It is recommend that you create all your questions from within the Question Library and then import them into the quiz, survey, or self-assessment.  This approach allows you to re-use the same questions in multiple assessments and/or to randomize questions in your assessments.

When creating questions, you can use ICON's built-in HTML editor to add images or add links content files, to other areas of your ICON course, or to external purls.

To create a question from within the Question Library:

  1. Click Quizzes (or Surveys or Self Assessments) in the NavBar at top.

    2. Note: The Surveys and Self Assessment tools are not included in the default template NavBar. For instructions on how to add these links, see Changing the NavBar and Course Homepage.)

  2. Click question library Question Library.

  3. Select the question type from the Create New droplist and click Go.
    • If you wish to enter text or a graphic to be displayed before several related questions, select Text Information Item or Image Information Item. 
  4. Click on one of the following question types and follow the instructions for that type.

    • Likert (available only with the Survey tool) - Can include multiple questions, each linked to same opinion scale.

    • Multiple Choice - Answer choices can be randomized.

    • True or False

    • Long Answer - Must be graded manually.

    • Short Answer - ICON compares student answers with those entered beforehand by instructor. Can include multiple answer boxes, with a specific answer required for each box.

    • Multi-Short Answer - Like Short Answer, except a variety of answers may be acceptable in all the answer boxes provided by the instructor (e.g., the question "Name three state capitals." would allow any one of 51 possibilities in each of three answer boxes).

    • Arithmetic - For each variable you enter, numbers are selected randomly from within your specified range.

    • Significant Figures Question - Similar to Arithmetic questions type, but allows students to enter their answers in scientific notation format (useful if the answer is very large or very small). The questions are then graded based on what students entered as their significant figures.

    • Fill in the Blanks - Can include multiple blanks, inserted at any point in the sentence.

    • Multi-Select Question - Students choose more than one answer.

    • Matching

    • Ordering

Likert (Available Only with Survey and Self-Assessment Tools)

The popular Likert item, widely used for surveys, can actually include multiple questions, each linked to the same opinion scale. There are seven built-in opinion scales to choose from, along with an optional N/A response.

You can use a Likert item alone or with other item types, including other Likert questions (when the same survey calls for different scales).

To create a Likert question:

  1. In the Survey tool Question Library, choose Likert Question (LIK) from the Create New droplist and click Go.
  2. Enter a title (if you don’t, ICON will use the first 20 characters of your question).
  3. Type the introductory text that will proceed the statement(s) you want students to evaluate. Click in the text field to activate the HTML editor or click on html editor Edit Introductory Text . In Internet Explorer and Firefox, the HTML editor will activate within the same window (notice the Basic and Advanced tabs); in Safari, the HTML editor will open in a new window. Also notice the optional spell checker (spellcheck button) on the left.

    4. Note: ICON's built-in HTML editor offers various formatting options. To add links to content files, to other areas of your ICON course, and to external websites click the Quicklink button Insert QuickLink.

  4. From the HTML editor, you can include an image in your introductory text: Click inerst image icon Insert Image.

    5. To choose a file from your computer, click My Computer, click Browse to select the file, and then click Upload. To choose a file from your File Manager, click Course Offering Files, click the checkbox beside the file you want to use, and click Select File.

  5. Under the Questions section, select the opinion scale, keeping in mind it will be applied to all statements you include in this Likert question.
  6. By default, Icon gives you two spaces for adding statements. Click add option icon Add Option to enter additional statements.
  7. Enter a statement in the Value textbox. Students will evaluate that statement by selecting one of the options included in the applied scale.
  8. Click the Remove Remove icon for any option textbox you don’t need (if you don’t, ICON will insist that you enter text before you can save the Likert question).
  9. To enter question feedback (optional), click expand icon Expand question feedback.
  10. Enter question feedback (optional, unless you are using this question in a self assessment; since ICON does not mark self assessment questions as right or wrong, the text you enter here is the only feedback students will receive).
  11. Click Preview to view your question. Then click Go Back.
  12. Click Save (or click Save and Copy to create another question with your entries or Save and New to create another question of this type).

Multiple Choice

  1. In the Question Library, select Multiple Choice Question (MC) from the Create New droplist and click Go.
  2. Enter a title (if you don’t, ICON will use the first 20 characters of your question).
  3. Enter number of points question is worth (required) and a difficulty level (optional; for use when choosing question sets or analyzing results).
  4. Type your question text by clicking in the text field to activate the HTML editor or clicking on html editor Edit Question Text. In Internet Explorer and Firefox, the HTML editor will activate within the same window (notice the Basic and Advanced tabs); in Safari, the HTML editor will open in a new window. Also notice the optional spell checker (spellcheck button) on the left.

    5. Note: ICON's built-in HTML editor offers various formatting options. To add links to content files, to other areas of your ICON course, and to external websites click the Quicklink button Insert QuickLink.

  5. From the HTML editor you can include an image in your question text: Click inerst image iconInsert Image. To choose a file from your computer, click My Computer, click Browse to select the file, and then click Upload. To choose a file from your File Manager, click Course Offering Files, click the checkbox beside the file you want to use, and click Select File.
  6. Choose the Enumeration (none, letters, numbers) and Style (layout for answer alternatives).
  7. To order the answer choices differently on each student’s test, click the Randomize options box (optional).
  8. Type your answer options in the Value textboxes; notice the optional HTML editor and spell checker icons.
  9. Select or type weight for each answer option (e.g., 100% for the best choice; 80% for a nearly correct answer; 0% for incorrect responses).
  10. Click add option icon Add Option to enter additional answer choices.
  11. Click the Remove trash icon for any option textbox you don’t need (if you don’t, ICON will insist that you enter text before you can save the question).
  12. To enter a question hint (optional), click expand icon Expand question hint.
  13. To enter question feedback (optional, unless you are using this question in a self assessment; since ICON does not mark self assessment questions as right or wrong, the text you enter here is the only feedback students will receive), click Enter question feedback Enter question feedback.
  14. Click Preview to view your question. Then click Go Back.
  15. Click Save (or click Save and Copy to create another question with your entries or Save and New to create another question of this type).

True or False

  1. In the Question Library, select True or False Question (T/F) from the Create New droplist and click Go.
  2. Enter a title (if you don’t, ICON will use the first 20 characters of your question).
  3. Enter number of points question is worth (required) and a difficulty level (optional; for use when choosing question sets or analyzing results).
  4. Type the statement that students will evaluate as true or false. Click in the text field to activate the HTML editor or click on html editor Edit Question Text. In Internet Explorer and Firefox, the HTML editor will activate within the same window (notice the Basic and Advanced tabs); in Safari, the HTML editor will open in a new window. Also notice the optional spell checker (spellcheck button) on the left.

    5. Note: ICON's built-in HTML editor offers various formatting options. To add links to content files, to other areas of your ICON course, and to external websites click the Quicklink button Insert QuickLink.

  5. From the HTML editor, you can include an image in your question text: Click inerst image iconInsert Image. To choose a file from your computer, click My Computer, click Browse to select the file, and then click Upload. To choose a file from your File Manager, click Course Offering Files, click the circle beside the file you want to use, and click Select File.
  6. Choose the desired Enumeration (none, letters, numbers) and Style (layout for answer alternatives).
  7. Select the weights for the True and False answer options (e.g., 100% for the correct response, 0% for the incorrect response).
  8. To enter a question hint (optional), click expand icon Expand question hint.
  9. To enter question feedback (optional, unless you are using this question in a self assessment; since ICON does not mark self assessment questions as right or wrong, the text you enter here is the only feedback students will receive), click Enter question feedback Enter question feedback.
  10. Click Preview to view your question. Then click Go Back.
  11. Click Save (or click Save and Copy to create another question with your entries or Save and New to create another question of this type).

Long Answer

  1. From the Question Library, select Long Answer Question (LA) from the Create New droplist and click Go.
  2. Enter a title (if you don’t, ICON will use the first 20 characters of your question).
  3. Enter number of points question is worth (required) and a difficulty level (optional; for use when choosing question sets or analyzing results).
  4. Type your long answer question text. Click in the text field to activate the HTML editor or click on html editor Edit Question Text. In Internet Explorer and Firefox, the HTML editor will activate within the same window (notice the Basic and Advanced tabs); in Safari, the HTML editor will open in a new window. Also notice the optional spell checker (spellcheck button) on the left.

    5. Note: ICON's built-in HTML editor offers various formatting options. To add links to content files, to other areas of your ICON course, and to external websites click the Quicklink button Insert QuickLink.

  5. From the HTML editor you can include an image in your question text: Click inerst image iconInsert Image. To choose a file from your computer, click My Computer, click Browse to select the file, and then click Upload. To choose a file from your File Manager, click Course Offering Files, click the circle beside the file you want to use, and click Select File.
  6. Select the number of rows and columns for the answer input box. This option determines how much space students will have to provide an answer.
  7. In the Initial Text textbox, enter any text that precedes the student’s answer.
  8. In the Answer Key box, enter a model answer (for graders only; students can’t see this.  To make a model answer visible to students you, would need to enter it as feedback.)
  9. To enter a question hint (optional), click expand icon Expand question hint.
  10. To enter question feedback (optional, unless you are using this question in a self assessment; since ICON does not mark self assessment questions as right or wrong, the text you enter here is the only feedback students will receive), click Enter question feedback Enter question feedback.
  11. Click Preview to view your question. Then click Go Back.
  12. Click Save (or click Save and Copy to create another question with your entries or Save and New to create another question of this type).

Short Answer

  1. In the Question Library, select Short Answer Question (SA) from the Create New droplist and click Go.
  2. Enter a title (if you don’t, ICON will use the first 20 characters of your question).
  3. Enter number of points question is worth (required) and a difficulty level (optional; for use when choosing question sets or analyzing results).
  4. Type your short answer question text. Click in the text field to activate the HTML editor or click on html editor Edit Question Text. In Internet Explorer and Firefox, the HTML editor will activate within the same window (notice the Basic and Advanced tabs); in Safari, the HTML editor will open in a new window. Also notice the optional spell checker (spellcheck button) on the left.

    5. Note: ICON's built-in HTML editor offers various formatting options. To add links to content files, to other areas of your ICON course, and to external websites click the Quicklink button Insert QuickLink.

  5. From the HTML editor you can include an image in your question text: Click inerst image iconInsert Image. To choose a file from your computer, click My Computer, click Browse to select the file, and then click Upload. To choose a file from your File Manager, click Course Offering Files, click the circle beside the file you want to use, and click Select File.
  6. Select the number of rows and columns for the answer input box. This option determines how much space students will have to provide an answer.
    1. In the answer textbox(es), enter the pool of answers you will accept in any one of the Answer input boxes. Click Add Answer Add Answer to add another answer possibility to your answer pool. If you need more blanks, enter the number you want to add and click add blank icon Add Blank. ICON will compare the student’s entry in each blank with the pool of acceptable answers you provide in the answer boxes for that blank. If you want ICON to look for capitalization, select Case Sensitive; if not, select Case Insensitive. Alternatively, you can enter a regular expression—programming that tells ICON to allow different spellings, etc., for an answer alternative (for help creating a regular expression, email icon-support@uiowa.edu).
  7. Enter or select a weight (percentage awarded) for each acceptable answer alternative (e.g., the preferred answer may earn 100% while the second-best may earn 80%.) 
  8. Click the Remove Remove icon for any answer textbox you don’t need (if you don’t, ICON will insist that you enter text before you can save the question).
  9. To enter a question hint (optional), click expand icon Expand question hint.
  10. To enter question feedback (optional, unless you are using this question in a self assessment; since ICON does not mark self assessment questions as right or wrong, the text you enter here is the only feedback students will receive), click Expand question feedback Expand question feedback.
  11. Click Preview to view your question. Then click Go Back.
  12. Click Save (or click Save and Copy to create another question with your entries or Save and New to create another question of this type.)

Multi-Short Answer

  1. This works much like the Short Answer question, except a variety of answer alternatives may be acceptable in any one of the answer boxes provided by the instructor (e.g., the question "Name three state capitals." would allow any one of 51 possibilities in each of three answer boxes). (The Short Answer question also allows for multiple answers but requires a specific answer for each box.)
  2. In the Question Library, select Multi-Short Answer Question (MSA) from the Create New droplist and click Go.
  3. Enter a title (if you don’t, ICON will use the first 20 characters of your question).
  4. Enter number of points question is worth (required) and a difficulty level (optional; for use when choosing question sets or analyzing results).
  5. Type your question text. Click in the text field to activate the HTML editor or click on html editor Edit Question Text. In Internet Explorer and Firefox, the HTML editor will activate within the same window (notice the Basic and Advanced tabs); in Safari, the HTML editor will open in a new window. Also notice the optional spell checker (spellcheck button) on the left.

    6. Note: ICON's built-in HTML editor offers various formatting options. To add links to content files, to other areas of your ICON course, and to external websites click the Quicklink button Insert QuickLink.

  6. From the HTML editor you can include an image in your question text: Click inerst image iconInsert Image. To choose a file from your computer, click My Computer, click Browse to select the file, and then click Upload. To choose a file from your File Manager, click Course Offering Files, click the circle beside the file you want to use, and click Select File.
  7. Select the number of rows and columns for the answer input box. This option determines how much space students will have to provide an answer (e.g., the question "Name three state capitals" would need three answer input boxes).
  8. In the answer textboxes, enter the pool of answers you will accept in any one of the Answer input boxes. If you need more Answer textboxes, enter the number you want to add and click add blank icon Add Answer. ICON will compare the student’s entries with the pool of acceptable answers you provide in the answer boxes. If you want ICON to look for capitalization, select case sensitive; if not, select case insensitive. Alternatively, you can enter a regular expression, programming that tells ICON to allow different spellings, etc., for an answer alternative (for help creating a regular expression, email icon-support@uiowa.edu).
  9. Enter or select a weight (percentage awarded) for each acceptable answer alternative (e.g., the preferred answer might earn 100% while the second-best might earn 80%). If you want your students to receive full credit only if they identify all the options you have specified, distribute the weight evenly (e.g., if you have 2 input boxes, give a weight of 50% to each acceptable answer alternative).
  10. Click the Delete Remove icon for any answer textbox you don’t need (if you don’t, ICON will insist that you enter text before you can save the question).
  11. To enter a question hint (optional), click expand icon Expand question hint.
  12. To enter question feedback (optional, unless you are using this question in a self assessment; since ICON does not mark self assessment questions as right or wrong, the text you enter here is the only feedback students will receive), click Expand question feedback Expand question feedback.
  13. Click Preview to view your question. Then click Go Back.
  14. Click Save (or click Save and Copy to create another question with your entries or Save and New to create another question of this type).

Arithmetic

  1. In the Question Library, select Arithmetic Question (2 + 2) from the Create New droplist and click Go.
  2. Enter a title (if you don’t, ICON will use the first 20 characters of your question).
  3. Enter the number of points the question is worth (required) and a difficulty level (optional; for use when choosing question sets or analyzing results).
  4. Enter your question text. To display the value of a variable in your question text, ensure that the variable is enclosed in curly braces (e.g., "What is the sum of {x} and {y}?). Click in the text field to activate the HTML editor or click on html editor Edit Question Text. In Internet Explorer and Firefox, the HTML editor will activate within the same window (notice the Basic and Advanced tabs); in Safari, the HTML editor will open in a new window. Also notice the optional spell checker (spellcheck button) on the left.

    5. Note: ICON's built-in HTML editor offers various formatting options. To add links to content files, to other areas of your ICON course, and to external websites click the Quicklink button Insert QuickLink.

  5. From the HTML editor you can include an image in your question text: Click inerst image iconInsert Image. To choose a file from your computer, click My Computer, click Browse to select the file, and then click Upload. To choose a file from your File Manager, click Course Offering Files, click the circle beside the file you want to use, and click Select File.
  6. Enter your formula (used to calculate the correct answer), e.g., ({x}+{y})/4.

    7. Click the question icon Question Mark to view a list of defined functions. Notice that all variables are enclosed in curly braces. Try out your formula by clicking the Test button.

  7. In the Answer Precision field, enter the number of decimal places the answer must be accurate to.
  8. Enter a tolerance value (in units or percent, e.g., answer can be off by 5% or 5 units).
  9. Enter the Unit the answer must be written in (optional, e.g., mph). 
  10. Select case sensitive if the units in your answer are case sensitive. 
  11. In the Worth box, choose a value to award for entering the correct unit (also optional).
  12. In the Variables section, define the variables you used in your question.  Enter the variable name (e.g., “x”), minimum and maximum values, and steps (increments ICON will use when randomly selecting values). For each variable you enter, numbers are selected randomly from within your maximum and minimum range at in increments you specify in the Steps textbox.  For example, if the minimum is 100, the maximum is 200, and the step is 5, ICON might randomly select 105, 110, 115, etc., up to 200).
  13. Click the Remove Remove icon for any variable textboxes you don’t need (if you don’t, ICON will insist that you enter text before you can save the question).
  14. To enter a question hint (optional), click expand icon Expand question hint.
  15. To enter question feedback (optional, unless you are using this question in a self assessment; since ICON does not mark self assessment questions as right or wrong, the text you enter here is the only feedback students will receive), click Expand question feedback Expand question feedback.
  16. Click Preview to view your question. Then click Go Back.
  17. Click Save (or click Save and Copy to create another question with your entries or Save and New to create another question of this type).

Significant Figures Question

  1. In the Question Library, select Significant Figures (x10) from the Create New droplist and click Go. The Significant Figures question is similar to the Arithmetic question, however, the answer is expressed in scientific notation (useful if the answer is very large or very small).
  2. Enter a title (if you don’t, ICON will use the first 20 characters of your question).
  3. Enter the number of points the question is worth (required) and a difficulty level (optional; for use when choosing question sets or analyzing results).
  4. Type your question text. Enclose variables in curly braces, e.g., “What is {xa} times {xb}? Give 2 significant digits in your answer. ” Click in the text field to activate the HTML editor or click on html editor Edit Question Text. In Internet Explorer and Firefox, the HTML editor will activate within the same window (notice the Basic and Advanced tabs); in Safari, the HTML editor will open in a new window. Also notice the optional spell checker (spellcheck button) on the left.  
  5. Enter your formula (used to calculate the correct answer, e.g. ({xa}*{xb}), and try it out by clicking the Test button. In the "Significant Field" (2 in this case) you can specify the number of significant figures that should be in the student's answer (that is, the number of digits students should enter in the non-exponent field). You can deduct a percentage of the score if the students fail to meet this requirement (optional).
  6. Enter a tolerance value (in units or percent, e.g., student answer can be off by 5% or 5 units).
  7. Enter the Unit the answer must be written in (e.g., mph; this is optional).  Select case sensitive if your answer is case sensitive.  In the Worth box, choose a value to award for entering the correct unit (also optional).
  8. In the Variables section, define the variables you used in your question.  Enter the variable name (e.g., “xa”), minimum and maximum values (type the exponent in the box to the upper right of “x10,” for example "-12"), and steps (increments ICON will use when randomly selecting values). For each variable you enter, numbers are selected randomly from within your maximum and minimum range at in increments you specify in the Steps textbox.  For example, if the minimum is 100, the maximum is 200, and the step is 5, ICON might randomly select 105, 110, 115, etc., up to 200).

    9. Note: ICON's built-in HTML editor offers various formatting options. To add links to content files, to other areas of your ICON course, and to external websites click the Quicklink button Insert QuickLink.

  9. Click the Remove trash icon for any variable textboxes you don’t need (if you don’t, ICON will insist that you enter text before you can save the question).
  10. From the HTML editor you can include an image in your question text: Click inerst image iconInsert Image. To choose a file from your computer, click My Computer, click Browse to select the file, and then click Upload. To choose a file from your File Manager, click Course Offering Files, click the circle beside the file you want to use, and click Select File.
  11. beside the file you want to use, and click Select File.
  12. To enter a question hint (optional), click expand icon Expand question hint.
  13. To enter question feedback (optional, unless you are using this question in a self assessment; since ICON does not mark self assessment questions as right or wrong, the text you enter here is the only feedback students will receive), click Expand question feedback Expand question feedback.
  14. Click Preview to view your question. Then click Go Back.
  15. Click Save (or click Save and Copy to create another question with your entries or Save and New to create another question of this type).

Fill in the Blanks

  1. In the Question Library, select Fill in the Blanks Question (FIB) from the Create New droplist and click Go.
  2. Enter a title (if you don’t, ICON will use the first 20 characters of your question).
  3. Enter number of points question is worth (required) and a difficulty level (optional; for use when choosing question sets or analyzing results).
  4. From the HTML editor you can include an image in your question text: Click inerst image iconInsert Image. To choose a file from your computer, click My Computer, click Browse to select the file, and then click Upload. To choose a file from your File Manager, click Course Offering Files, click the circle beside the file you want to use, and click Select File.
  5. In the first Text: box, enter the text that precedes the answer. ICON requires that you have text before the blank.  
  6. Select the blank size.
  7. In the Answer box, enter the correct answer. (ICON will make a character-by-character comparison).
  8. Enter the weight the answer is worth (weights do not need to total 100) .
  9. If more than one answer variation is acceptable (e.g., boxer and pugilist), click Add answer Add Answer and enter the variation.  (If that answer is second-best, you may wish to assign a lesser weight, e.g., 80%.)
  10. In the second Text: box, enter the text, if any, that follows your answer(s). Click the Remove Remove icon to get rid of the second Text: box if you don't use it (if you don’t remove an unused textbox, ICON will insist that you enter some text when you try to save the question).    
  11. To enter a question hint (optional), click expand icon Expand question hint.
  12. To enter question feedback (optional, unless you are using this question in a self assessment; since ICON does not mark self assessment questions as right or wrong, the text you enter here is the only feedback students will receive), click Expand question feedback Expand question feedback.
  13. Click Preview to view your question. Then click Go Back.
  14. Click Save (or click Save and Copy to create another question with your entries or Save and New to create another question of this type).

Multi-Select Question

  1. Important Note: If your multi-select question includes more incorrect answer alternatives than correct ones, students may receive some undeserved points when they fail to select all the correct alternatives. This is a bug.
  2. In the Question Library, select Multi-Select Question (M-S) from the Create New droplist and click Go.
  3. Enter a title (if you don’t, ICON will use the first 20 characters of your question).
  4. Enter number of points question is worth (required) and a difficulty level (optional; for use when choosing question sets or analyzing results).
  5. Enter your question text. Click in the text field to activate the HTML editor or click on html editor Edit Question Text. In Internet Explorer and Firefox, the HTML editor will activate within the same window (notice the Basic and Advanced tabs); in Safari, the HTML editor will open in a new window. Also notice the optional spell checker (spellcheck button) on the left.

    6. Note: ICON's built-in HTML editor offers various formatting options. To add links to content files, to other areas of your ICON course, and to external websites click the Quicklink button Insert QuickLink.

  6. From the HTML editor you can include an image in your introductory text: Click inerst image icon Insert Image.

    7. To choose a file from your computer, click My Computer, click Browse to select the file, and then click Upload. To choose a file from your File Manager, click Course Offering Files, click the circle beside the file you want to use, and click Select File.

  7. Choose the Enumeration (none, letters, numbers) and Style (layout for answer alternatives).
  8. To allocate points, choose from the following:
    1. All or Nothing - To earn points, students must select all the right answers and none of the wrong answers.
    2. Right Minus Wrong - Students are penalized for not selecting a right answer as well as for selecting a wrong answer. The system multiplies the number of points possible by the percentage of correct responses.
    3. Right Answers. Students receive credit for not selecting wrong answers, but they are not penalized for selecting wrong answers. For example, if a multiple select question has two correct answers and two wrong ones, the student who chooses one correct answer and nothing else receives credit for selecting the correct answer plus credit for not selecting the two wrong answers, therefore earning 75% of the points allotted to that question. The only time students won't get credit for not selecting wrong answers is if they don't select anything at all.
  9. To order the answer choices differently on each student’s test, click the Randomize options box (optional).
  10. Type your answer options in the textboxes; notice the optional HTML editor and spell checker icons.  Click the Correct box next to each right answer.
  11. To enter additional answer choices, type a number in the Add Option box and click Add option Add Option. As noted above, due to a bug in ICON, if your question includes more incorrect answer alternatives than correct ones, students may receive some undeserved points when they fail to select all the correct alternatives.
  12. Click the Remove Remove icon for any option textbox you don’t need (if you don’t remove unused textboxes, ICON will insist that you “enter some text” before you can save the question).
  13. To enter a question hint (optional), click expand icon Expand question hint.
  14. To enter question feedback (optional, unless you are using this question in a self assessment; since ICON does not mark self assessment questions as right or wrong, the text you enter here is the only feedback students will receive), click Expand question feedback Expand question feedback.
  15. Click Preview to view your question. Then click Go Back.
  16. Click Save (or click Save and Copy to create another question with your entries or Save and New to create another question of this type.)

Matching

  1. In the Question Library, select Matching Question (MAT) from the Create New droplist and click Go.
  2. Enter a title (if you don’t, ICON will use the first 20 characters of your question).
  3. Enter number of points question is worth (required) and a difficulty level (optional; for use when choosing question sets or analyzing results).
  4. Enter your question text. Click in the text field to activate the HTML editor or click on html editor Edit Question Text . In Internet Explorer and Firefox, the HTML editor will activate within the same window (notice the Basic and Advanced tabs); in Safari, the HTML editor will open in a new window. Also notice the optional spell checker (spellcheck button) on the left.

    5. Note: ICON's built-in HTML editor offers various formatting options. To add links to content files, to other areas of your ICON course, and to external websites click the Quicklink button Insert QuickLink.

  5. From the HTML editor you can include an image in your introductory text: Click inerst image icon Insert Image.

    6. To choose a file from your computer, click My Computer, click Browse to select the file, and then click Upload. To choose a file from your File Manager, click Course Offering Files, click the circle beside the file you want to use, and click Select File.

  6. To allocate points, choose from the following:
    1. All or Nothing - To earn points, students must select all the right answers and none of the wrong answers.
    2. Right Minus Wrong - The system divides the total number of points possible by the number of correct answers.
    3. Equally Weighted - Students receive credit for right answers while wrong answers are subtracted from the points for the question.
  7. Enter the choices and matches and then use the droplist beside each match to select the correct choice number.
  8. To add more choices, type the number needed in the Add Choice textbox and then click Add Choice Add Choice.  To add more matches, type the number needed in the Add Match textbox and then click Add match Add Match. You don't have to have an equal number of choices and matches.
  9. Click the Remove trash icon for any Choice or Match textbox you don’t need (if you don’t remove unused textboxes, ICON will insist that you “enter some text” before you can save the question).
  10. To enter a question hint (optional), click expand icon Expand question hint.
  11. To enter question feedback (optional, unless you are using this question in a self assessment; since ICON does not mark self assessment questions as right or wrong, the text you enter here is the only feedback students will receive), click Expand question feedback Expand question feedback.
  12. Click Preview to view your question. Then click Go Back.
  13. Click Save (or click Save and Copy to create another question with your entries or Save and New to create another question of this type.)

Ordering

  1. In the Question Library, select Ordering Question (ORD) from the Create New droplist and click Go.
  2. Enter a title (if you don’t, ICON will use the first 20 characters of your question).
  3. Enter number of points question is worth (required) and a difficulty level (optional; for use when choosing question sets or analyzing results).
  4. Enter your question text. Click in the text field to activate the HTML editor or click on html editor Edit Question Text. In Internet Explorer and Firefox, the HTML editor will activate within the same window (notice the Basic and Advanced tabs); in Safari, the HTML editor will open in a new window. Also notice the optional spell checker (spellcheck button) on the left.

    5. Note: ICON's built-in HTML editor offers various formatting options. To add links to content files, to other areas of your ICON course, and to external websites click the Quicklink button Insert QuickLink.

  5. From the HTML editor you can include an image in your introductory text: Click inerst image icon Insert Image.

    6. To choose a file from your computer, click My Computer, click Browse to select the file, and then click Upload. To choose a file from your File Manager, click Course Offering Files, click the circle beside the file you want to use, and click Select File.

  6. To allocate points, choose from the following:
    1. All or Nothing - To earn points, students must select all the right answers and none of the wrong answers.
    2. Right Minus Wrong - The system divides the total number of points possible by the number of correct answers.
    3. Equally Weighted - Students receive credit for right answers while wrong answers are subtracted from the points for the question.
  7. Enter the items to be ordered. To add more items, type the number needed in the Add Item textbox and then click Add item Add Item.
  8. For each item, select the correct order from the dropdown list.  The items will be randomized in the quiz or survey.
  9. Click the Remove trash icon for any items you don’t need (if you don’t remove unused textboxes, ICON will insist that you “enter some text” before you can save the question).
  10. To enter a question hint (optional), click expand icon Expand question hint.
  11. To enter question feedback (optional, unless you are using this question in a self assessment; since ICON does not mark self assessment questions as right or wrong, the text you enter here is the only feedback students will receive), click Expand question feedback Expand question feedback.
  12. Click Preview to view your question. Then click Go Back.
  13. Click Save (or click Save and Copy to create another question with your entries or Save and New to create another question of this type.)
15 October 2009
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Importing Questions from a Text File

You can create questions offline using ICON’s question formatting template and then upload your questions into ICON.

To download ICON’s question formatting template:

  1. Click Surveys in the navbar.
  2. Click icon Question Library.
  3. Click Import.
  4. Select From a Desire2Learn Text Format File from the droplist.
  5. Click CSV Sample File to download this template.
  6. Open this file from within Microsoft Excel.

To upload a completed question file:

  1. Click Surveys in the navbar.
  2. Click icon Question Library.
  3. Click Import.
  4. Select From a Desire2Learn Text Format File from the droplist.
  5. Click Browse, select your completed question .csv file and click Open.
  6. Click Save.
14 November 2007
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Creating Surveys

In this part:

Note: The Surveys tool is not included in the default template NavBar. For instructions on how to add this link, see Changing the NavBar and Course Homepage.

An ICON survey includes:

  • Copies of—not links to—questions in your Question Library.
  • Survey properties—description, headers and footers, anonymity setting, etc.
  • Restrictions on availability (can be overridden for makeup tests, students with special needs, etc.) ICON’s creators recommend that you create your questions in your Question Library and then copy them into a survey.

Adding a New Survey

Assuming your questions have been created and are stored in your Question Library:

  1. Click Surveys in the navbar. Note: The Surveys tool is not included in the default template NavBar. For instructions on how to add this link, see Changing the NavBar and Course Homepage.
  2. Click create new survey New Survey.
  3. On the Properties panel, enter the survey name.
  4. Click Save Survey.

Now you’re ready to enter additional survey settings, which you can access by clicking the different tabs.  You can add all the settings now or Edit the survey later and add them then.   

Adding a Description, Footer, Submission Message

  1. Click the survey’s Properties tab (if you don’t see this tab, click Surveys in the Navbar and then click the survey name).
  2. To give users feedback immediately each time they answer a question, select give instant feedback.  (You must have already provided the feedback when you created the question.)
  3. Click Expand Messages to add a Description or Submission Message (optional).
  4. Click Expand Page Footer to add a message to be displayed at the end of the survey (optional).
  5. Click Save Survey.

Making the Survey Anonymous

To make results available without revealing names:

  1. Click the Properties tab within a survey (if you don’t see this tab, click Surveys in the Navbar and then click the survey name).
  2. Click make result anonymous. Once this option is checked, the survey will always remain anonymous. Click OK in the warning pop-up window.
  3. Click Save Survey.

Setting Survey Availability and Restrictions

  1. Click the Restrictions tab within a survey (if you don’t see this tab, click Surveys in the Navbar and then click the survey name).
  • To make the survey available now, select Active from the Status droplist. Alternatively, enter start and/or end dates.
  • To restrict access based on group membership or completion of an online task, click Create and Attach under Additional Release Conditions.
  • To allow students to take the survey an unlimited number of times until the survey period is over, select Unlimited. To allow students to re-access and edit a single survey attempt, click Editable (until survey period is over). To allow students to take the survey multiple times (all versions are recorded), select Limited to __ responses.
  • To allow access to selected users only, select Allow selected users special access to this survey; to allow only those select users to see this survey, click Allow only users with special access to see this survey. Click Add Users to Special Access.
  1. Click Save Survey.

Adding Questions to the Survey

ICON’s creators recommend that you create the questions from within the Questions Library and then add them to a survey (See Creating Questions in ICON.)  The following instructions assume that your questions are already in the Questions Library.

Note: When creating a survey, you can access the all the questions in your Question Library as well as questions in other quizzes or surveys.

  1. Click on the Layout/Questions tab (if you don’t see this tab, click Surveys in the navbar and then click the survey name).
  2. Click Add/Edit Questions (right) .
  3. Click the Import button (top).
  4. From the Source Collection dropdown list, select Question Library or select an existing quiz, survey, or self assessment.
  5. From the Source Section dropdown list, select Collection Root or select a specific section.
  6. Check the questions you want to include and click Save.

Previewing a Survey

You can respond to questions, submit the survey, and view any results reports you have set up.

  1. Click Surveys in the navbar.
  2. Click the icon View icon beside the survey name.
14 November 2007
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Viewing Survey Results

In this part:

Viewing Overall Survey Results

Note: For detailed survey results that are downloadable to Excel, you may wish to use WebSurveyor, which you can link to your ICON site from a Content Module or any other area where the QuickLink tool is available. You can sign up for an account at the Survey@Iowa website: http://cs.its.uiowa.edu/sda/survey/.

  1. Click Surveys
  2. Click the icon Results icon beside the survey name.
  3. If the survey was anonymous, you will see the overall results.  If not, you will see a list of users' attempts. The following instructions are for surveys whose users can be identified. Anonymous surveys have fewer options.
  4. To limit reporting to attempts submitted in a specified time period, click on the Attempts tab and check From and/or To and select date(s) from the droplist.
  5. To see what percent of the class chose each answer alternative, click the  icon Overall Survey Results icon (bottom right).
  6. To view an individual’s responses to all survey items, click the attempt number for that student.

Customizing Reports

Note: For detailed survey results that are downloadable to Excel, you may wish to use WebSurveyor, which you can link to your ICON site from a Content Module or any other area where the QuickLink tool is available. You can sign up for an account at the Survey@Iowa website: http://cs.its.uiowa.edu/sda/survey/.

You can customize reports to include selected statistics.  Reports can be tailored for students, instructors, or your ICON administrator.  They can also be printed.  Multiple reports can be created for a single survey, and reports can be created even after students have taken the survey.

  1. Click the Reports Setup tab (If the survey isn't already open, click Surveys in the navbar and then click the survey name).
  2. Click Add Report.
  3. Enter a report name.
  4. Select Summary Report or Individual Attempts and then select any desired subsets of these. 

For Summary Report, you have the following options:

    • Show aggregate data: displays data for objective questions.
    • Show text responses: displays data for long answers, short answers, and fill-in-the-blank questions.

Individual Attempts gives you the option to Hide user information (first and last names of respondents).

  1. Select the release date for the report.
  2. Select one or more groups (or subgroups) that will have access to the report.
    • Administrator
    • Instructors (Instructor, TA)
    • Students
  3. Click Save Report (top right).

Viewing Survey Reports

Note: For detailed survey results that are downloadable to Excel, you may wish to use WebSurveyor, which you can link to your ICON site from a Content Module or any other area where the QuickLink tool is available. You can sign up for an account at the Survey@Iowa website: http://cs.its.uiowa.edu/sda/survey/.

In order to view a report, you must have already created it on the Reports Setup panel.  You can set up multiple reports for a survey, even after the survey period is over (see Customizing Reports). 

  1. Click Surveys in the navbar.
  2. Click the survey name.
  3. Click icon Survey Reports (top).
  4. Click the report name.
  5. To limit reporting to attempts submitted in a specified time period, check From and/or To and select date(s) from the droplist.
  6. Click Generate Report. 
  7. To print the results, click Print Report.
30 May 2008

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