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WebCT Information for Instructors

Creating Calculated questions
Calculated questions require students to apply a mathematical formula to answer the question. Calculated questions are designed using variables. Random values, based on a specified range, are automatically generated for each variable in the question. Calculated questions are unique for each student.

Example: If a car is traveling {x} miles per hour for {y} hours, how far does it travel (in miles)? Depending on the range you specify, values are inserted for {x} and {y}.

  1. From the Course Menu, click Quiz. The Quizzes/Surveys screen appears.
  2. Click Question Database. The Question Database screen appears.
  3. Under Options: Question, from the Create question drop-down list, select Calculated and click Go. The Calculated Question screen appears.

The Calculated Question screen contains the following four sections that you need to complete:

Completing the Question Section for Calculated Questions

  1. From the Calculated Question screen, under Question, from the Category drop-down list, select the category to which you want to save the question.
  2. In the Title text box, enter the question title.
  3. In the Question text box, enter the question. Enclose variables in curly brackets, { }. For example: How long does it take to travel {x} miles at a speed of {y} mph?
  4. If you want to create, import, or edit an equation, use the WebEQ Equation Editor for Windows or for Macintosh. Note: Depending on administrator settings, the Equation Editor may not be available.
  5. For Format, select whether you want the question to display in HTML or Text. Note: If you choose text format, students will see the question exactly as you have entered it. If you choose HTML format you can use HTML tags to format the question. For example, you can add bolding, italicizing, and color to the text.
  6. If you want to display an image with question, in the Image text box, enter the image filename or click Browse to search for it.

Completing the Formula Section for Calculated Questions

  1. From the Calculated Question screen, under Formula, in the Formula text box, enter the mathematical formula using the supported functions in the following table:

    Note: WebCT supports additional mathematical functions, such as modulus and factorial. For a complete list, perform a search for "mathematical functions" in the WebCT Knowledge Base.

    Enclose variables within curly brackets, { }. Example:

    Question Formula
    How long does it take to travel {x} miles at a speed of {y} mph? {x}/{y}
    What is the square root of {x}? sqrt({x})
  2. Click Analyze variables. A list of variables appears.
  3. For each variable, in the Minimum text box, enter the minimum value.
  4. For each variable, in the Maximum text box, enter the maximum value.
  5. For each variable, from the Decimal places drop-down list, select the number of decimal places allowed.
  6. From the first Calculate answer sets to drop-down list, select the number of decimal places or significant figures to which the answers should be calculated. Note: To specify integer results, select 0.
  7. From the second Calculate answer sets to drop-down list, select either decimal place(s) or significant figure(s).
  8. From the Number/set drop-down list, select the number of answer sets you want WebCT to generate.
  9. Click Generate random answer set. The Calculated Question screen updates and the random answer set appears.
  10. If you want to edit the random answer set:
    1. Click Edit answer set. The Calculated Question screen updates and text boxes appear in the variable columns.
    2. In the variable text boxes, edit the variables and click Update. The Calculated Question screen updates and the edited variables appear in the random answer set.
  11. If you want to specify a percent or number of units students' answers can deviate from the correct answer, specify an answer tolerance:
    1. In the Answer tolerance text box, enter the tolerance value.
    2. From the Answer tolerance drop-down list, select either % or Units.

Notes:

  • The values for trigonometric functions are expressed in radians not degrees. For conversion purposes, Pi radians = 180 degrees.
  • Scientific notation is expressed using the format xEy, where x is the coefficient and y is the exponent. To convert numbers from scientific notation to standard notation, use x times 10 to the power of y. For example:
      • 3.2E4 equals 32000
      • -2E0 equals -2
      • 3.14E-2 equals 0.0314
  • For all calculated questions that have two correct answers (for example, the square root of 9 is +3 and -3), only the positive number answers appear in the answer set.

Completing the Units Section for Calculated Questions

  1. From the Calculated Question screen, under Units, in the Units text box, enter the unit type. For example, mph or mg/L.
  2. Select whether or not units are required for a correct answer.
  3. Select whether or not to ignore spaces in the Units portion of the answer.
  4. Select whether or not to ignore case in the Units portion of the answer.
  5. From the Percentage of question value drop-down list, select the percentage of the question's total points you want to allocate to the Units portion of the answer. For example, if the unit is worth 50% of the question's total points, select 50.

Completing the General Feedback Section for Calculated Questions

  1. From the Calculated Question screen, under General Feedback, if you want to provide feedback that pertains to the question:
    1. In the General feedback text box, enter your comments.
    2. For Format, select whether you want the feedback to display in HTML or Text. Note: If you choose text format, students will see the feedback exactly as you have entered it. If you choose HTML format you can use HTML tags to format the feedback. For example, you can add bolding, italicizing, and color to the text. You can edit settings for releasing feedback from the Quiz Settings screen.
  2. Click Save. The Question Database screen appears and the calculated question is saved to the selected category.

Click on this link for a printable version of this page.
 

If you have problems or questions about uploading files into WebCT, contact Suzanne Sprouse

(sprouses@winthrop.edu) 
 
WebCT Contact Information
Suzanne Sprouse, E-Learning & Project Coordinator
Distance Learning and AV Services | 803.323.2551 | sprouses@winthrop.edu
Last updated: 02/05/07