Text Entry Interaction

Text Entry allows the Test-taker to complete a "fill the blank" question with an exact text answer. This interaction is one of two Block-related interactions, the other being Inline Choice (covered in its own section).

In order to begin creating either an Inline Choice or Text Entry item, it is first necessary to select the Inline Interactions bar, and then drag the Block interaction, represented by a letter A icon, out of the left-hand Library Panel and into the canvas area, dropping it into the blue text block that will appear. This will create a field in which text may be cut and pasted from a favorite source (a Word document or website, for instance), or typed in.

Step 1: Once the text is placed, create a Text Entry field by dragging from the Library Panel to a space next to where the test-taker will be expected to fill the blank.

This creates a pop-up window showing the blank to be adjusted. In the default Question mode, no changes can be made to the blank, as the Test-taker is expected to enter in the answer. However, a correct answer will need to be selected and this is done in the Response mode.

Step 2: Click Response in the interaction header.

This opens the response entry window, in which you can enter in the correct answer. Note that the test author will need to produce an answer that the test-taker will be expected to exactly match, character-for-character, including spaces. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until all the desired text entry blanks have been inserted into the text.

Step 3: Remove the text that the Text Entry blank is supposed to replace.

This necessary step effectively completes the replacement of text by the Text Entry blank.

Step 4: Click anywhere outside of the Work Space. This will produce in the Properties Panel a check box that can be set if the interaction is to be time dependent (completed within a certain interval) by the test-taker. Check if this is the case.

Time dependence is useful for limiting the time in which a test-taker has to get through interactions within the examination. This will be covered in greater detail in Test Settings.

Step 5: Click the blue Done button to finish editing.

When this is done, you can preview what your Text Entry item looks like. For more on how to preview, review its section.