Test Item_Question Creation - Item Creation Tips & Tricks

Item Creation Tips and Tricks: 

This tutorial will show you some Tips and Tricks to make entering items in EADMS easy and painless.

ToolBar Icon Descriptions

Icon Descriptions starting at top left:
• Bold
• Italic
• Underline
• Strike Through Text
• Text Left
• Text Centered
• Text Right
• Text Justified
• Bulleted List
• Numbered List

• Indent
• Link
• Subscript Character
• Superscript Character
• Text Color
• Background Color
• Insert Image
• Insert Horizontal Rule
• Clean HTML
• Insert Symbols

• Insert Snippet
› Excerpt Box
› Summation
› Matrix
› Division in the house
› Box
› Arithmetic Problems
• View HTML
• Insert Table
• Insert Equation

 

Adding an Image: 

Whether you’ve created your own image or are getting it from an existing document, following these directions will
make your image crisp and sharp for printed tests.
» Set the view to the document that you are capturing your image from to 200% OR for online only items
resize to whatever size you want your final image to be.
» Using the Snipping Tool in Windows or Shift/Command/4 on the MAC.
» Select the part of the document you want as an image, cropping as tightly to the image as possible
(unless this is for a drawing item or a drag and drop item then you might want a little white space around
the image).
» Place your cursor in the position you want your image and paste.
OR
For Drawing Item backgrounds and Drag and Drop areas you will need to save your image to your
computer.

Resizing an Image: 

If your image is too large you can use the following 2 options to resize it.
» Once the image is in IO Assessessment - Select It (highlights the image in orange).
   You will now see 2 new icons appear in your tool bar:

a Resize Icon (left) and an Image Properties Icon (right).

While you have the image selected right click on the image and go to properties to get the original size
of your image.

Image Properties Icon: 

» While the image is selected, click on the Image Properties Icon.

» Take either the Width OR the Height of the original image size (no need to do both) and divide this
number in half (if you enlarged by 200% or a max width of 650) and enter it in the Box Size area.
To keep the image proportionate only enter a number into either the Width OR the Height, but not both.

Resize Icon: 
» While the image is selected, click on the Image Resize Icon.
» Grab the handle (bottom right corner) and drag to resize the image.
If the image is too large you may not see the handle, in this case use Image Properties.

Image Borders: 

You can add a border around your image by using Image Properties.

   » Border Width - TOP: enter the thickness of your border in Pixels (we use 1px) - Click “Apply for all”
   
   » Border Color - TOP: select the color you want - Click “Apply for all”

   » Border Style - TOP: use the drop down menu to choose your border style - Click “Apply for all”                                                                                                                       
   » Box Padding: - We typically do not add any padding around images, but if you want some spacing between your border and the image then:
TOP: enter the amount of padding in Pixels (we use 5px) - Click “Apply for all”

   » Box Margin: - We typically do not add any margin around images, but if you want some spacing between your image and any text outside the image then:
TOP: enter the amount of margin in Pixels (we use 5px) - Click “Apply for all”

    » Click OK 

 

Table Borders: 

        Table Creation Hints:

• Enter any text in the Stem/Promt area first before you add your table. Insert your cursor where you
want the table to be inserted.

• Create a 1 x 1 table first - add your cell properties - then add more rows and columns.

» Click inside the cell. Additional table icons will appear in the tool bar.

» Click on the Cell Properties Icon. (Do not use Table Properties to add borders)

» Alignment: Leave at None, unless you want to Center or Right align the text in your cells. Default is Left.

» Border Width - TOP: enter the thickness of your border in Pixels (we use 1px) - Click “Apply for all”

» Border Color - TOP: select the color you want - Click “Apply for all”
 

» Border Style - TOP: use the drop down menu to choose your border style - Click “Apply for all”

» Box Padding: - TOP: enter the amount of padding in Pixels (we use 5px) (this is the space on the inside of the cell border
between the border and your text) - Click “Apply for all”

» Box Margin: - Not typically used for cell properties

» Click OK

Once you have Cell Properties applied to this one cell, you can now add as many rows and columns as you need and
they will all retain the same properties as the first cell.

 *Click the following icons to...

 

Excerpt Box: 

You can easily add a box around some text to make it stand out more, like this example below:

                                                                             
» Insert your cursor where you want your box
» In the tool bar use the “Insert Snippet” drop down and select “Excerpt Box”

This will add an empty box, just click inside the box and start typing.

Insert an Equation: 

Our Equation Editor allows you to easily add an equation like a fraction. Use this if you cannot enter the equation
using the keyboard.
In this example it’s easier to use your keyboard: 3 + 2 = 5
In this example you would need to use the equation editor: 1/2 X 2/4=1
» Insert your cursor where you want your equation
» Click on the “Insert Equation” Icon in the toolbar 
» Add your equation
» Click OK

 

This palette will give you many options to enter all
different types of equations.

Adding a Ruler or Protractor: 

Hint: If this item will be used in Print AND Online then you want to make sure that the image measures correctly in
Print first and then resize the online tool.
In order for the item to print out in the correct size, you will need to create a test with the item and generate a
PDF booklet. When you print the PDF (or page in the PDF) make sure it prints at Full Size 100%. Once the image
measures correctly for print then proceed with resizing the Online tool. If this item will only be used online you will
want to make sure the Media Type is set to Online Only.
» Click on the Ruler or Protractor icon in the upper right corner to add it to the item. If you are adding a Ruler you need to choose a size 6” or

Once the tool has been added it will appear in the item above and to the left of the Stem/Prompt area.

» Click on the tool to activate the options: Edit, View or Delete.

            

» Click the View (Eye) Icon and the tool will appear. You can click anywhere on the tool and drag to move it.
You can also resize and rotate these tools.
For this example I am using a ruler, but the same principles apply for the protractor.

» Resize the ruler so the measurement matches the correct answer.

 

» Preview Online to make sure it looks the way you want the student to see it.
(The student will not be able to resize these tools, they can only rotate them)

» Save the item.

Adding a Calculator:

The calculator tool must be added to every item that you want the calculator to appear on.
It cannot be added to an entire test.

» Click on the Calculator Icon in the upper right corner to add it to an item.

» You will be prompted to choose a Calculator Type, use the drop down menu to choose between a Standard or Scientific Calculator.  

» Click on the tool to activate the options:Edit, View or Delete.

 

Adding Teacher Instructions:

Teacher instructions can be added to any Item or Passage.
» If they are for an individual question, add the instructions to the item itself.
» If they are for a group of items, then put them in a Passage and link the Passage to all items that need
these instructions.
Add Teacher Instructions to an Item
» Click the button (top left corner, above stem/prompt area).
This will add another section for Teacher Instructions above the Stem/Prompt area.
Hint: If you decide not to add any instructions in this area, you should remove the section by clicking the red “X” that
will appear when hovering over the area.

Add Teacher Instructions to a Passage

When creating or editing a passage, there is already a Teacher Instructions section.

» Click inside the Teacher Instructions area to enter Teacher Instructions for the Passage.

Viewing Teacher Instructions: 

In order for your Teacher Instructions to appear you must turn them on for both Online and Print.

For Online Tests
» When scheduling your test you need to make sure that “Show Teacher Instructions” is checked under
Online Options. WARNING: The students will see these instructions on the online test if this option is checked.


For Teacher Edition Booklets
» Make sure “Show Teacher Instructions” is checked under Booklet Options (available for the Teacher
Edition only). 

  

Adding Items to a Test Quickly: 

You can utilize the Local ID for faster test creation. When you are creating multiple items that will all be brought into
the same test, adding an identical Local ID to every item will allow you to search for all these items using just this
one Local ID.

» Enter the exact same Local ID for every item on the test

» Use something very specific. In my example above I used Math 03 Unit 3 Post 2016-17 (If you are very specific with your Local ID then when you create items for next years test using Math 03 Unit 3 Post 2017-18 you will not end up with the Math 03 Unit 3 Post 2016-17 items on your new test)

All your items will be listed under “Available Items.”
» Click “Check All”
» Click “Add All Checked”

All your items will be added to your test in the order you created them.

Hint: If you have more than 25 items, go to the last page of items and add this page of items first, click search again
and make sure you are on the last page and add these items, continue until all items have been added. This will
insure that all the items come into the test in the order you created them. (The first item on the first page will be
the last item you created).

Copy Items: 

You can copy items to make Item Creation a little faster. The new item must be the same Item Type (you cannot
change an item type). This is especially helpful if the Item Information is the same for all items, Item Bank, Local ID,
Media Type, Depth of Knowledge and Standards will all copy over to the new item and you won’t have to enter this
information again.

» Create your first item and save it
» You will get a dialog box that contains the Item ID #

» Select and Copy this number
» Click “Return to Item Portal”

» Paste this number into the “Copy Existing Item” section
» Click “Go”
» Update any item information if needed and Click “Go to Next Step”
» Edit to make your new item and save it
» Repeat the process for additional items

Copy Text from a Word, PDF or similar document:
Whenever you copy text from a document (Word, PDF etc.) and paste it into EADMS it retains excess code
(like font size and style) that can change the look of your text and will make it display inconsistently between items.

You can remove this excess code easily. Before doing any other formatting follow these steps.

» Insert your cursor anywhere within the text (no need to select the text)
» Click the “Clean HTML” icon 

BEFORE CLEANING:


The “Clean HTML” option does not remove everything - things like line breaks may still be there.

To remove EVERYTHING........



» Click the “View HTML” icon
» Paste your text into the “View HTML”
dialog box
» Click “Update”
This will give you completely clean text and then you can add your own formatting.

Specific Item Type Tips: 

Table Matching - Selecting Correct Answers

As you can see in the image below, selecting the correct answers using the traditional toggle on/off method
for this item could prove very difficult with this many answer choices, but we have a solution.

» Check the box “Enable Checkbox Clicks” and now you can select your answer choices directly in the table
itself.



Table Matching - Delay Saving

When entering fractions in the table using the Equation Editor, there is a delay as the item populates the
answer choices every time you click out of the Equation Editor.

» Check the box for “Delay Saving” and now you can use the Equation Editor without interruption.

» Uncheck the box before saving the item

Equation Numeric - adding variables, yards, feet , etc.
There are 2 ways to do this.
» Make the words part of the question in your stem/prompt area


OR if you need something like a variable that needs to be inserted by the student within the answer then
you can:
» Add a letter, word or phrase to the student’s palette
» After selecting the grade level palette you want to use
» Click into the area that says “add”

» Type the letter, word or phrase you want to add to the palette
» Click outside of this area to apply the letter, word or phrase to the palette Repeat for each additional letter, word or phrase

Inline Dropdown - Breaks to New Line
Does your Inline Dropdown look like this when previewing online?

When creating an Inline Dropdown avoid using “Enter” (hard return) for your line breaks and instead use
“Shift + Enter” (soft return).

The “Enter” (hard return) key will add what we call “P” tags, which is what is causing the dropdown to break
to a new line.

If you’ve already created the item and don’t want to start over you can remove the codes that are added
when you use “Enter”.
» Click the “View HTML” icon
» Look for the following codes and remove them:
<p>
</p>
» Add your line breaks back in using “Shift-Enter”

Highlightable Text - Unable to Highlight Selected Text

Highlight before formatting.

Are you receiving the following error message when trying to highlight selected text?

» Select the text and remove any formatting (underlines, bold, etc.)
» Now you should be able to highlight your selected text.
» When you have completed highlighting all of your text, go back and add your formatting back in.