Math Assessment with Mixed Numbers

[DavidGarcia4]

I am trying to create a math assessment in Canvas 2 2/3 + 1 3/5 =? I am having trouble figuring out how to fill in the answer which is a mixed number while building the quiz. Thank you.

[James · Accepted solution]

@DavidGarcia4, as you have probably figured out, Canvas doesn't support anything other than a decimal answer (including integers) for a numeric question. 

You can fake it using short answer / fill in the blank questions, but those are problematic. Less so if you tell students to reduce the fraction and give very specific directions about not adding extra spaces to the answers. New Quizzes makes it a little more flexible than Classic Quizzes, but it's still not checking the numeric equivalent.

People trying to make it look like a fraction by putting the results into a table make me cringe because of the accessibility training I've had. If a student is using a screen-reader, there is no context whatsoever that it's a fraction. The problem is that Canvas does not support math and so people try all kinds of hacks to get it to do something it doesn't do. The things that people need to do in order to be accessible aren't fully supported.

Using a third-party system for math assessment is almost a necessity if you want to do it correctly.

Putting aside how we cannot do what we want to do, what can we do?

With multiple fill in the blank, you could do something like this.

Simplify \(4\frac{1}{3}+\frac{2}{5}\).

Write your answer as a mixed number in the form a + b/c.

`4` + `11` / `15`

When the student sees it, they see this.

The spacing in New Quizzes is terrible. That's one of several reasons I still use Classic Quizzes.

This approach has issues if you want to work with negative numbers.

Tables can be used. Don't use for formatting, use them properly marked up to label where the answers go.

Or you could make it clearer to the student about how to write the answer.

<p>Simplify \(4\frac{1}{3}+\frac{2}{5}\).</p>
<p>Write your answer as a mixed number \(A\frac{b}{c}\).</p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;">
    <thead>
        <tr style="text-align: center;">
            <td style="text-align: center;">A</td>
            <td style="text-align: center;">b</td>
            <td style="text-align: center;">c</td>
        </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
        <tr>
            <td style="text-align: center;">`4`</td>
            <td style="text-align: center;">`11`</td>
            <td style="text-align: center;">`15`</td>
        </tr>
    </tbody>
</table>

[dbrace]

Hi @DavidGarcia4

Does reviewing How do I use the math Equation Editor in the Rich Content Editor? - Instructure Community - 618231  (it also has a video) help you?

-Doug

[DavidGarcia4]

Thank you for responding, Doug. Unfortunately, the problem I am running into is with the solutions to some of the math problems.  If an answer is a mixed number, Canvas is not accepting it when I create the quiz. Canvas wants numbers only in the solutions. 

[dbrace]

You are welcome, @DavidGarcia4, and I apologize for not initially fulling understanding your question.

Are you using New Quizzes or Classic Quizzes?

-Doug

[DavidGarcia4]

Hi, Doug.

I am not sure if I am using new or classic? Is there a way for me to determine which I am using?  

The attached screenshot are two examples of questions I typed into a Canvas quiz.  In question 1, I would prefer only one answer field for a student to type the fraction.  In question 2, the answer is a mixed number.  The format would be really challenging for a student to know where to write each part of the fraction 4 and 11/15.  

Thanks again for your help.

[dbrace]

Thank you for the screenshot, @DavidGarcia4.

From what I can tell, you are using New Quizzes. Below is a link to a Google search that you should find helpful for general information about new quizzes, plus links to other locations in the Canvas Community and a two other institutions:

1. Google Search - canvas differences between classic quizzes and new quizzes
2. Canvas: Understand Classic Quizzes vs. New Quizzes (University of Minnesota)
3. Comparison of Quiz Tools: Canvas Quizzes and New Quizzes (Cornell University)
4. What is New Quizzes? (Instructure Community)
5. New Quizzes Overview (Instructors - Instructure Community)
6. "New Quizzes" section of the Canvas Instructor Guide
7. Canvas New Quizzes Feature Comparison (Google Doc)
8. New Quizzes Hub (Instructure Community)

I came across a similar but different question/post at https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Question-Forum/fractions-in-quizzes/m-p/625771. Please review that.

@Chris_Hofer and @James, I see that you helped in that other question/post. Do either of you have any suggestions?

-Doug

[James · Accepted solution]

@DavidGarcia4, as you have probably figured out, Canvas doesn't support anything other than a decimal answer (including integers) for a numeric question. 

You can fake it using short answer / fill in the blank questions, but those are problematic. Less so if you tell students to reduce the fraction and give very specific directions about not adding extra spaces to the answers. New Quizzes makes it a little more flexible than Classic Quizzes, but it's still not checking the numeric equivalent.

People trying to make it look like a fraction by putting the results into a table make me cringe because of the accessibility training I've had. If a student is using a screen-reader, there is no context whatsoever that it's a fraction. The problem is that Canvas does not support math and so people try all kinds of hacks to get it to do something it doesn't do. The things that people need to do in order to be accessible aren't fully supported.

Using a third-party system for math assessment is almost a necessity if you want to do it correctly.

Putting aside how we cannot do what we want to do, what can we do?

With multiple fill in the blank, you could do something like this.

Simplify \(4\frac{1}{3}+\frac{2}{5}\).

Write your answer as a mixed number in the form a + b/c.

`4` + `11` / `15`

When the student sees it, they see this.

The spacing in New Quizzes is terrible. That's one of several reasons I still use Classic Quizzes.

This approach has issues if you want to work with negative numbers.

Tables can be used. Don't use for formatting, use them properly marked up to label where the answers go.

Or you could make it clearer to the student about how to write the answer.

<p>Simplify \(4\frac{1}{3}+\frac{2}{5}\).</p>
<p>Write your answer as a mixed number \(A\frac{b}{c}\).</p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;">
    <thead>
        <tr style="text-align: center;">
            <td style="text-align: center;">A</td>
            <td style="text-align: center;">b</td>
            <td style="text-align: center;">c</td>
        </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
        <tr>
            <td style="text-align: center;">`4`</td>
            <td style="text-align: center;">`11`</td>
            <td style="text-align: center;">`15`</td>
        </tr>
    </tbody>
</table>

[James]

I just noticed (after I hit reply) that Canvas does not give you accessible tables. Tsk! Tsk!

I was wondering what the headings weren't in bold even though I told it to mark the row as a header row. You also need to mark the cells as header cells. The whole center alignment thing is a personal preference.

<p>Simplify \(4\frac{1}{3}+\frac{2}{5}\).</p>
<p>Write your answer as a mixed number \(A\frac{b}{c}\).</p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;">
    <thead>
        <tr style="text-align: center;">
            <th style="text-align: center;">A</th>
            <th style="text-align: center;">b</th>
            <th style="text-align: center;">c</th>
        </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
        <tr>
            <td style="text-align: center;">`4`</td>
            <td style="text-align: center;">`11`</td>
            <td style="text-align: center;">`15`</td>
        </tr>
    </tbody>
</table>

[stimme · Accepted solution]

@DavidGarcia4 This is an interesting problem. Thanks for sharing a screenshot to show your current workaround with blanks. I'm sharing one more workaround idea (it's similar to the first table in @James 's suggestion). You could create the problem as a stimulus item and attach three numeric questions asking for the whole number, numerator, and denominator (sample attached). I hope one of these approaches works for you!

[dbrace]

Thank you @James and @stimme.

-Doug

[DavidGarcia4]

Thank you all for these workarounds.  I will talk it over with my team and decide which one is best for our students.  I appreciate your help!