Changing the Orientation of Multiple Choice Questions

We've again had some cases where the orientation of multiple choice questions is horizontal by default rather than vertical. This sometimes occurs when questions are imported from publisher test banks. Unfortunately, if no orientation is indicated in the imported text bank, Blackboard defaults to a horizontal rather than the expected vertical orientation for the answers (detractors).

The layout of the answers to multiple-choice questions can be set or changed by the instructor, but this is accomplished on a question by question basis and not globally. What this means is that while the layout of the answers can be changed, it will have to be changed one question at a time.

The process includes these steps:

1. Select the Build tab.
2. Select the Assessments tool.
3. Click the link for an assessment.
4. Click the link for a specific question.
5. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
6. In the Settings section, next to Answer layout:, click the option labeled Vertical.
7. Click Save.
8. Repeat 4-7 as needed.

Thanks to Saul Epstein for this tip.

Editing Questions: What You Can and Cannot Do

In order to avoid confusion when using an assessment (e.g. to not change the question or possible answers):

• You can edit and alter answers to a question in an assessment prior to any student activity (e.g. before any student has taken the test, survey or quiz).
• You cannot change a question or it’s list of possible answers after students begin taking the assessment because the change may potentially cause answers that were correct before the change to become incorrect.
• You can alter the score for a question if it is found to be partially or totally incorrect.

For instance, if a question is worded incorrectly or the answers are listed incorrectly you can throw it out (make the score/points zero). If the question has already been made available to students and they have taken it; to change the wording or correct an answer would not be fair. Blackboard CE prevents these changes by only granting a "Save as new" (question) option so you can use the corrected question in future assessments.

Note: If you have a question that is used in an assessment and that question has been taken and saved by any student, you can no longer edit the question. You can edit and save it using a new name, but you cannot edit and replace the existing question. This applies even if the question is used in multiple assessments and it has been taken by any student in any one of those assessments.