[ARCHIVED] Entering externally generated numbers into quizzes/assignments

[DanielWalker]

I soon have to start setting tests/exams in CANVAS. I want these to be based around questions with right/wrong numeric answers, in which, for obvious reasons, each student is given their own unique set of numbers. (These numbers are generated externally. Though they are randomized, they are not simply random numbers). Is there a way of uploading them, en masse, into CANVAS? I can easily put them into a spreadsheet or other format.) Same question, in relation to the uploading of corresponding individualized correct answers.

Thanks in anticipation, Daniel Walker 

[Ron_Bowman]

@DanielWalker 

this answer is probably too late for what you wanted.  However, for New or classic quizzes you can use the formula question to have it generate random numbers in the range you specify.  You then provide a formula for calculating the correct answer.  I am not sure if this type of question is what you wanted, but it does fit the criteria you outlined - possibly you mentioned Randomized but not random.  So maybe this type of question will not work for what you want.

Here is the instructor manual page.  

https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-create-a-Formula-quiz-question-with-a-s...

[DanielWalker · Accepted solution]

Neither the question parameters (numbers) nor the solutions can be converted into simple formulae. For example, a paper might be based on a randomized (& different for each student - potentially hundreds) aeroplane or helicopter configuration; the parameters (mass, rotor diameter, chord, drag & lift properties etc) are outputs from fairly complex design codes, seeded with a few highly constrained random numbers. And many of the answers amount to considerably more than substituting numbers into simple formulae.  I have run and marked exams like this using MATLAB, but not using CANVAS, and the CANVAS people have now told me that the "upload" I wanted to do is not possible. Thanks anyway for taking the trouble to reply.

[Ron_Bowman]

@DanielWalker 

That sounds like quite a question.  I understand what you want to do now a lot better.

I guess what you would want is to be able to use the place holders in the question explanation and then have the Canvas Quiz take the values for the place holders and the answer for those values from a csv file.  In that setup you would have the Canvas quiz determine randomly which set of numbers to use and then read them from the csv.

If that could ever be added to any LMS quiz setup, it would make life a lot easier for engineering/science/math/chemistry classes.

I guess your only option would be to create a question bank that has a separate question for each set of data.  Then use either a numerical answer question(if only one answer), or a multiple fill in the blank for the answers(not as nice because you have to check these visually).  Then in the general comments for the question, you can put the answer.

once the bank is done, then create a question group where you pick 1 question out of the question bank,  

If all the problems require more than one answer, but they are all the same item(i.e. velocity, drag, lift, etc) then you can use multiple numeric questions after the problem question for the students to use for their answers.

Not sure how much sense that makes, but it is similar to what I do for my electrical circuits exams

Ron