Blackboard Test Generators
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There are a variety of ways to prepare test questions for Blackboard.
- You can enter (type) the questions one by one into Blackboard, http://tac.nvcc.edu/blackboard/faculty/assessment/tests.htm#manual
- You can import a test bank provided by your textbook publisher. Since this varies by publisher, see publisher's instructions.
- You can prepare your test using Blackboard's required format and upload questions.
- You can type your test in Word or Notepad and use a third party test generator to automatically format your questions for Blackboard.
The remainder of this document discusses third party test generator applications that are free to use.
Using Test Generators*
* Information collected September 2007. Since these are third party applications, availability and listed options may change at any time. These applications are not supported by COD.
There are currently two different test generating applications available that allow instructors to create test questions in Word and receive properly formatted questions to bring into Blackboard.
The generators work in a similar way: prepare questions in Word, copy the questions, paste them in the exam generator text box, and click a button/link to receive a file that has been prepared for immediate import/upload into Blackboard. However, each has slightly differently options to reach the same outcome. Which should you use? Take your pick – either will create properly formatted tests.
- BYU-Idaho: Blackboard Test Generator
- College of Southern Idaho: Blackboard Quiz Generator
- Brief comparison of the generators
BYU-Idaho: Blackboard Test Generator
Go to http://www.byui.edu/onlinelearning/employees/testgen/index.htm.
Question Types: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer, True-False, Ordering, Essay, and Matching.
To see a sample of the formatting requirements, download a sample test correctly formatted in Word - sample.doc
Read complete documentation for creating a test: http://www.byui.edu/onlinelearning/employees/testgen/word.htm.
Brief Instructions
Go to Word (or Notepad) and create your test. Each question must have a number (they don't have to be in order). Skip one line between questions. Once you have created your test in Word (putting your asterisks in the proper places), copy all (CTRL-A). Go to the BYU-Idaho generator page, http://www.byui.edu/onlinelearning/employees/testgen/index.htm and click the actual application link, www.byui.edu/instech/bbtest.asp. Paste (CTRL-V) into the text box. Click Save as Text File.
You will be asked if you want to open or save the file. You may either Open or Save the .txt file to your local drive. [Note: You may edit the .txt file if needed. For example, if you ever plan to randomize your questions, you can easily remove question numbers in the .txt file. (It is more difficult to remove them in Blackboard.)]
Go to Blackboard. Open your course and go to Control Panel.
Go to either Test Manager or Pool Manager.
Click the Add Test (Pool) button near the top of the page. Give the Test (Pool) a name. Optional: Enter a description and instructions. Click Submit. On the Test (Pool) Information page, click the drop down list box and find the option Upload Questions. Click the small Go button to the right of the drop down list box. Click Browse and navigate to your .txt file. Set the points per question. Click Submit. You should see a confirmation page that your questions were uploaded successfully. Click OK. You can now modify your test (pool) questions as needed.
How to turn a pool into a test: http://www.utexas.edu/academic/blackboard/tutorials/assess_g/test.html
College of Southern Idaho: Blackboard Quiz Generator
Go to http://www.csi.edu/blackboard/bbquiz/
Question Types: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer, True/False, Essay, Fill in the blank, and Matching
Read documentation for creating a test: http://www.csi.edu/blackboard/bbquiz/doc.asp.
Brief Instructions
Go to Word (or Notepad) and create your test. Each question must have a number (they don't have to be in numerical order). Skip one line between questions. Once you have created your test in Word (putting your asterisks in the proper places), copy all (CTRL-A) and paste (CTRL-V) into the text box on the College of Southern Idaho site. Be sure to give your test a name. (If you don't name the file, the final pool will be named Blackboard Quiz.) Click Create Quiz.
If it worked properly, you'll see a note that "Your
test seemed to have (number) questions." If this number matches the number
of questions you were trying to add, then it worked.
If it didn't work properly, the number won't match, or you
will see "Your test seemed to have 0 questions." Either way, you'll
need to try again.
Once you think the quiz generator worked properly, click the Here button after the words, "The package is available:" You will be asked if you want to open or save the file. Save the zip file to your local drive. [Note: don't try to edit the zip file.]
Go to Blackboard. Open your course and go to Control Panel.
Go to Pool Manager. (Not Test Manager!)
Click the Import button near the top of the page. On the Pool Import page, click Browse and navigate to your zip file. Click Submit. You should see a confirmation page that your file was uploaded successfully. Click OK. You can now modify your pool questions as needed.
How to turn a pool into a test: http://www.utexas.edu/academic/blackboard/tutorials/assess_g/test.html
Comparison of the generators