Faculty Guides and Documentation

Reusing Individual Questions in a New Test

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This lesson will demonstrate how to reuse individual questions from an existing test, survey or pool when building a new test in Blackboard.

Creating a Test, Part 1

Image of a Blackboard content area with the assessments button highlighted with instructions to click on assessments.  In the menu under Assessments, the option Test is outlined in a red circle with instru

Log into your Blackboard course, and go to the content area that you would like to add the test to.  At the top of the page, click on Assessment and select Test.

Creating a Test, Part 2

Image of the Create Test screen with the Create button next to Create a New Test highighted with a red circle with instructions to click on Create

On the next page, labeled Create Test, under Section 1: Add Test, click on the Create button next to Create a New Test

Creating a Test, Part 3

Image of the Test Information screen with the following annotations: 1.Name: Enter the name for the test here.2.Description: Enter a description of the test for students here3.Instructions: Enter instructions for the students here4.When finished, click the Submit button at the bottom of the page.

You will now see a screen labeled Test information:

  1. Name: Enter the name for the test here.
  2. Description: Enter a description of the test for students here
  3. Instructions: Enter instructions for the students here
  4. When finished, click the Submit button at the bottom of the page.

Reusing Questions, Part 1

Image of the Test Canvas in Blackboard with Reuse Questions highlighed with instructions to click on Reuse Questions.  Below Reuse Question is a menu with Find Questions highlighted.

You will now be on the Test Canvas in Blackboard.  Click on the Reuse Questions button at the top of the screen and select Find Questions from the menu that appears.

Reusing Questions: Part 2

Image of the Find Questions Mode with the following annotations: 1.Copy selected questions: This option will make a copy of the selected questions.  If changes are made to the question copy, it only affects the copy.2.Link to original questions: This option creates a link to an existing question in Blackboard.  If changes are made to a linked copy, that change will appear in every instance in which the test is used.3.After you have selected a method to reuse the questions, Click the Continue button.

You will then see a dialog box labeled Find Question Mode that provides two options for finding questions:j

  1. Copy selected questions: This option will make a copy of the selected questions.  If changes are made to the question copy, it only affects the copy.
  2. Link to original questions: This option creates a link to an existing question in Blackboard.  If changes are made to a linked question, that change will appear in every instance in which the question is used.
  3. After you have selected a method to reuse the questions, Click the Continue button.

Selecting Questions to Reuse

Image of the Find Questions Screen with the following annotations: 1.Enter a keyword in the search box and click Go to search for individual questions, 2.Browse Criteria: Or click on the links on the left to browse for questions in individual tests, pools, question types, or categories.3.Mode: Select the desired mode for reusing the question.  Copy Selected Questions will create a new copy of the question, or Link to Original Questions to use the original question.  Note: changes to a linked question will update the question in each instance the particular question is used.4.Criteria Summary: The selected questions will appear here.5.Check the checkboxes (highlighted in yellow in the image above) to the left of the questions you wish to add.6.Use the page navigation buttons to select questions from more than one page, or click the Show All button to show all items at once, or click the Edit Paging button to change how many items are displayed on the page..7.Selected Questions: The number of selected questions will appear here.8.When finished, click the Submit button.

You will now see a screen labeled Find Questions that will allow you to select questions to reuse:

  1. Enter a keyword in the search box and click Go to search for individual questions,
  2. Browse Criteria: Or click on the links on the left to browse for questions in individual tests, pools, question types, or categories.
  3. Criteria Summary: The selected questions will appear here.
  4. Check the checkboxes (highlighted in yellow in the image above) to the left of the questions you wish to add.
  5. Use the page navigation buttons to select questions from more than one page, or click the Show All button to show all items at once, or click the Edit Paging button to change how many items are displayed on the page..
  6. Selected Questions: The number of selected questions will appear here.
  7. When finished, click the Submit button.

Test Canvas Overview

Test Canvas Overview

After clicking the Submit button, you will be returned to the Test Canvas.  The Test Canvas will allow you to create a new question, rearrange, edit, and delete questions, as well as allowing individuals to change the point value of each question.

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