Instructors can write their own questions for both EMSTesting and Platinum Tests. However, before those questions can be added to an exam, they must first be added to the system.
Creating Instructor Created Questions:
1. Login to EMSTesting or Platinum Tests and select your Instructor role.
2. From your instructor homepage, you will click on the Manage Questions link in your red toolbar. This will bring you to your Question Search page where you can manage your existing questions or create a new question.
3. For a new question, you will select the New Question button found near the upper right of your screen.
4. This will bring you to the Add New Question page, where you will enter your question.
- The Question Text field is where you will enter the stem of your question.
- You can add an image to your question by using the Add Image button and uploading a file to display with your question.
5. Answers/Annotation tab:
On the Answers/Annotation tab you will select the Answer Type.
- Select One: This option can be used to create standard multiple-choice questions with one correct answer or true or false questions.
- Choose All that Apply: This option should be used to create questions that have multiple correct answers.
- Note: All correct answers must be selected for a student to receive credit for answering the question correctly.
For either type, at least one correct answer must be marked for a question to be pulled onto a test.
- The Annotation field should be used to explain why the correct answer is correct or the wrong answers are wrong.
6. Properties Tab.
- Question Reference ID: This is where you can assign an individualized reference identifier for your question. This will allow you to pull that specific question onto a test when utilizing the Pull Questions By Text, Keyword, or ID option when building your tests.
- Question Bank: This drop-down menu indicates the bank where the question is held within our program. Many users will have only one option.
- School: This drop-down will allow instructors who are active in multiple institutions to decide which school their question will belong to. If you are associated with only one school you will only have one option.
- Status: This drop-down allows you to adjust the status of your question.
Note: Your question must be marked as Active for it to be pulled onto a test. - Cut Score: This drop-down is used to assign the appropriate cut score for your question. If you need help determining the appropriate score for your question please check out our article about cut scores, found here.
- Bloom Level: This drop-down is used to assign the appropriate Bloom level for your question. If you need help determining the appropriate level please check out our article, found here.
- Reading Level: To determine the reading level for your question, click the [re-calc] link and the program will calculate the reading grade level for you.
- Scenario Question: When applicable selecting this option will allow you to utilize the Scenario Based Questions sort when building your tests.
- CAT Enabled: If you would like to build your own school's bank for students to test in while practicing with the computer adaptive tests you can mark this.
7. Keywords tab.
You can attach specific words or phrases to your questions to make it easier to locate your questions. For example, if you are adding multiple questions into the program for a specific test, you can add a keyword like the name of the test (ex. "Airway1" or"Anatomy") to all of those questions. Then, when you are building your test, you can perform a search using the Pull Questions By Text, Keyword, or ID option, with your assigned keyword, and pull all of your questions with one search.
8. Curriculums tab:
On the Curriculums tab you will cross-reference your question to the topic area(s) the question relates to. Questions can be associated with multiple objectives in multiple curriculums.
Note: For you to be able to pull it onto a test of that provider level, your question must have at least one curriculum assigned to it.
- Program Type: You will choose the Program Type from the drop-down.
- Note: If you choose N/A, you will not be able to complete the process of adding a curriculum and, therefore, will not be able to pull the questions onto a test.
- Provider Level: Select the Provider Level to choose which students the question will be appropriate for.
- Curriculum Level: Select the Curriculum and Curriculum Level.
- Add Curriculum: Once you have made your selections be sure to click the Add Curriculum button. You can additional Curriculums where it is appropriate.
- Note: if you do not click Add Curriculum, the option selected will not be added. Skipping this step and just clicking save will not Add your selection.
- Note: if you do not click Add Curriculum, the option selected will not be added. Skipping this step and just clicking save will not Add your selection.
9. Once you are satisfied with the settings of your question, click Save.
Once you have completed these steps you will be able to pull your questions onto a test.