How do I create a simple shading Item?

In Mastery Connect, you can create a simple shading item. A simple shading question allows a student to fill in (shade) all or portions of a shape in response to a stimulus.

Note: District and school administrators (admins) can also create items directly in the district item bank.

Add New Item

In the Global Navigation menu, click the Assessments link. Then, follow the steps to create a new item.

Enter Question or Instructions

Enter the question or item prompt in the Compose question text field [1]. To enter math formulas, click the Calculator icon [2].

To format canvas options, enter the number of rows and columns in the Row count and Column count fields [3].

Cell size is determined by ratio, with 1 equal to 40 px. To adjust cell size, enter a number in the Cell width and Cell height fields [4].

To shade a cell in the item, click the cell [5]. To lock cells so they can not be unshaded by the student, click the Lock shaded cells checkbox [6].

To add a shading image, click the Add button [7].

Add Shading Image

Add Shading Image

To add an image to the shaded cells, click the Upload image button [1].

For additional options, click the More Options drop-down menu [2].

To format the image size, click the Unlock icon [3]. Then, enter dimensions in the Height and Width fields [4].

To host your own online image, enter the URL in the Image URL field [5].

To save changes and upload an image, click the Save button [6].

Format Shading Image

Format Shading Image

The selected image displays in the shaded cell(s) [1].

Enter text that displays when the image can not be viewed by the student in the Image alternative text field [2].

Enter an optional title for the image in the Image title field [3].

To select a different image, click the Edit button [4].

Set Correct Answers

Enter Correct Answers

Enter a point value for the item in the Point(s) box [1].

To enter the validation method for the question, click the Method drop-down menu [2].

To enter the correct answer, click the appropriate number of cells [3].

If there is more than one correct answer to the question, click the Add icon [4] and enter the alternate answer.

To add additional layout, formatting and labeling options for the item, click the More options drop-down menu [5].

View Authoring Help

For more information about additional authoring options, scroll to the top of the item authoring page and click the Authoring Help icon.

Validate Answers

Validate Answers

To preview the item interaction, click answer cells [1].

To view correct and incorrect answers, click the Show Answers checkbox [2]. If the answer is incorrect, a red X displays [3].  

Correct cell selections display a check mark and are shaded yellow [4]. Unselected cells that are part of the correct answer display a check mark and are shaded green [5].

The number of points awarded for the item as answered in the preview window over the number of points possible display in the scoring bubble [6].

Add Optional Features

Add Optional Features

To add optional features to the item, click the Add Feature button [1] and select the features you wish to add from the drop-down menu [2].  Learn more about adding Passages and other features.

Note: The Desmos calculators are only available in districts that have paid Desmos subscriptions.

Save or Publish Item  

To save the item as a draft and keep editing enabled, click the Save As Draft button [1]. When you save an item as a draft, it can be edited and deleted in your personal item bank and by admins in the district teacher item bank.

To disable editing and share the item with teachers in your district, click the Publish button [2]. When you publish an item, it displays in the district teacher item bank and is available to all users in your district. You can delete the item from your personal item bank, and admins can delete the item from the district teacher item bank.

To disable editing and share the item with admins only, click the Publish & Reserve button [3]. When you publish and reserve an item, you can delete it in your personal item bank, and admins can view and delete the item in the district teacher item bank.

To delete the question and return to the Create New Item page, click the Go Back button [4].