How do I create a Desmos volume & surface area item?
In Mastery Connect, if your institution has a paid Desmos upgrade, you can create a volume & surface area question. A volume & surface area question requires students to manipulate the parameters of a rectangle to illustrate volume and surface area in response to a stimulus. After you select the question type, you can use the math editor to add details for the question, view a student preview, and validate answers.
You can create any item type through the Item Editor. You can also use the Item Editor to add passages, add item-level tools, and save the item. To open and use the Item Editor, learn more about:
- Creating an item in your personal item bank
- Creating an item in the district item bank as an administrator
- Creating an item from within an assessment
Note: If you do not see the Desmos Items (Paid Upgrade) section in the Question Type drop-down menu, your institution does not have a paid Desmos upgrade.
Compose Question
![Compose Question](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/007/693/140/original/b68c28e3-8c55-4e84-8391-082c1152b99f.png)
In the Item Editor, type in the Compose Question field [1]. To add math equations and expressions, click the Add Math icon [2] and use the options to enter the expression details.
Set Example Answer
![Set Example Answer](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/004/325/995/original/013948fb-52d3-46a4-bdaa-440652a39c25.png)
To set an example answer, click and drag the points to the correct positions.
Set Properties
![Set Properties](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/007/693/142/original/38f3d0b7-679f-433b-b7b3-7f2a3ad7c68a.png)
To adjust the question parameters, select options from the question properties [1].
To view additional question options, click the More options drop-down menu [2].
Modify Graph and More Options
![Modify Graph and More Options](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/004/325/999/original/8052b7e1-9902-4e9b-80a4-99b51153d80a.png)
In the Modify Graph section, click and drag the points to create a graph for students to start with when answering the question [1]. You can modify graph settings, expressions, and parameters.
To define parameters for the graph, type in the Expression fields [2].
To adjust font size, click the Font size drop-down menu and select a size option [3].
Validate Answers
![Validate Answers](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/007/693/144/original/591b9a2b-80e0-470f-a2c6-1aa941c3ed84.png)
To preview the item interaction, click and drag the points to a new location on the graph. [1].
The number of points awarded for the item as answered in the preview window over the number of points possible displays in the scoring bubble [2].
To view correct and incorrect answers, click the Show Answers checkbox [3].