Submitting for import #
Please send your formatted document to the Canvas team by email at canvas@uwsp.edu
General Information #
We are able to import exam questions from text files into Canvas, but only if the text files are formatted correctly and the correct answers are indicated. Please follow the instructions in this document very carefully to format your exam questions.
If files/questions are not formatted correctly, the import will fail and/or your questions will be imported incorrectly.
The files must be saved as plain text (.txt) files. We recommend that you use Notepad to create these files. You can copy text from Word to Notepad. Please contact CITL if you need assistance.
IMPORTANT: These requirements apply to all questions.
- Do not include any text other than your questions and answers in the document. The program we use to convert and import questions from text files only interprets properly formatted questions and answers.
- Each question must be separated by a blank line in the document. You must click the Enter key on your keyboard to accomplish this with a ‘hard enter’.
- Do not click the Enter key to wrap text within one question or within one answer because that will cause the program to interpret your second line as a new question. (see above)
Assigning Point Values (optional) #
If you want the questions to be 1pt each, no action is required. By default, questions will be imported with a point value of 1pt per question.
Follow these instructions if you would like to assign point values other than 1pt per question.
- Above the question(s) type the word ‘Points:’, then a space, then the point value you want to assign.
Example: #
Points: 2
- Make sure there is a hard enter after this line of text and your first question.
- Note: this point value assignment will change the point value for all questions after the command unless you add another point value command.
- Multiple sections of questions can be created, each with different point values, simply start each section with a different point value assignment command.
Adding Titles to your questions (optional) #
- You can add a title to any question by typing “Title: your title text” on the line before the question.
- We encourage you to create titles for you questions as it will make identifying questions easier in the future.
- If you don’t create a title, Canvas will automatically use the first 20 characters from the question text as the title.
Question TYpes #
Multiple Choice #
- Each question must begin with a question number, followed by either a period “.” or a parentheses “)” and one space (not a tab).
- The question wording must follow the question number. (Note: at least one space should be between the question number and the question wording.)
- Each answer must begin with a letter (A-Z) followed by a period “.” or a parentheses “)” and one space (not a tab).
- The correct answer must be indicated with an asterisk (*) directly in front of the answer choice (do not put a space between the asterisk and the answer choice).
Example: #
Title: Speed of Light MC
1) Who determined the exact speed of light?
a. Albert Einstein
*b. Albert Michelson
c. Thomas Edison
d. Guglielmo Marconi
True or False #
- The formatting for True or False questions is the same as multiple choice questions, except there are only two choices. The choices can be either “true” and “false” or “T” and “F”.
Examples: #
Title: Speed of Light TF
4) Albert Micheleson determined the exact speed to light?
*a. True
b. False
Multiple Response #
The logic for importing questions that allow multiple responses (named “Multiple Answers” questions in Instructure Canvas) is similar to what is described above for importing multiple choice questions. (Multiple Response questions are, essentially, multiple choice questions in which more than one correct response can — and generally should — be selected by the student). The primary difference is that the first line of the formatting must begin with “Type: MR” (as an alternative, you can use “Type: MA” which stands for “Multiple Answers”). This is followed by the question number, a space, and the question wording. Each correct answer is designated with an asterisk.
Example: #
Type: MR
Title: Speed of Light MS
2) Which of the following individuals are credited with determining the exact speed of light?
a. Albert Einstein
*b. Albert Michelson
c. Thomas Edison
*d. Edward Williams Morley
Matching #
- The process of importing a “matching” question is similar to what is described above for importing multiple choice questions, but there are some key differences. The first line of formatting must begin with “Type: MT”. This is followed by the question number and the question wording.
- Each answer (which consists of both parts of a correct match) must begin with a letter (a-t) followed by a period “.” or a parentheses “)”. The two parts of the match must be separated with an “=” symbol and there should not be any hard returns or blank lines within either parts of the answer.
- Spaces before or after the “=” symbol are optional, but it is important that an answer only uses the = symbol for the purpose of separating the two parts of the match.
Example: #
Type: MT
Title: Theory Matching
3) Match the correct name to the discovery or theory.
a. Michelson-Morely = Speed of light
b. Einstein = Theory of Relativity
c. Marconi = radio waves
Fill in the blank #
- Fill in the blank questions may be imported by starting the first line of formatting with “Type: F”. This is followed by the question number and the question wording.
- The correct answer should be entered on the line below the question text using the same format as multiple choice and true or false questions.
Example: #
Type: F
Title: Father of TV FIB
5. Who is known as the “father of television”?
a. Zworykin
You can have only one correct answer per question, but you can enter multiple forms of that answer.
Example: #
Type: F
Title: Father of TV FIB2
6. Who is known as the “father of television”?
a. Zworykin
b. Vladimir Zworykin
c. Vladimir Kosma Zworykin
Essay #
- The format for importing essay questions is similar to what is described above for Multiple Choice and True or False questions. The primary difference is that the first line of formatting must begin with “Type: E”. This is followed by the question number and the question wording.
- We suggest that you do not import answers for essay questions because Canvas will not be able to accurately grade essay questions. If you would like to supply an answer please follow step 3.
- If you are importing an essay question, you can supply an answer. You may provide an answer immediately after the question wording, beginning the answer with “a.” or “a)” (without the quotes) and a space followed by the suggested answer wording.
Example without an answer: #
Type: E
Title: Relativity Essay
7) How is the Michelson-Morely experiment related to Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity?
Example with an answer: #
Type: E
Title: Relativity Essay2
8) How is the Michelson-Morely experiment related to Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity?
a) In 1887, Albert Michelson and Edward Morely carried out experiments to detect the change in speed of light due to ether wind when the Earth moved around the sun. The result was negative. They found the speed of light is always the same regardless of Earth’s motion around the sun. Scientists were puzzled with this negative result, and they didn’t know how to explain it. Albert Einstein came up with the answer in his famous second postulate in theory of relativity: that the speed of light (in vacuum) is always constant and absolute, regardless of its source’s motion and observer’s movement.
