Creating Tests
This chapter explains how authors create tests in OpenOlat, which question types are available and which settings exist. In addition, you learn how to integrate and use tests and self-tests in courses and how to assess and provide test results.
OpenOlat tests are available in the standardized document format QTI 2.1. QTI stands for "Question & Test Interoperability" and is a defined, standardized data format used for designing online tests. The advantage is that these standardized tests can be used in various LMS and other systems that support the standard. IMS is working to develop such open standards for the e-learning sector.
In OpenOlat, tests are part of the "learning resources." Learning resources are created separately and can be integrated into online courses. For example, the same learning resource "Test (QTI 2.1)" can be used in multiple courses.
What is a test?
Tests are used to monitor performance, check current knowledge, or as online exams. They can be used at the beginning, during, or at the end of a course, or independently of courses.
Formative tests are about assessing interim learning progress and achieving learning-related improvement based on automated or manual feedback.
Summative tests are only used at the end of a learning process or course. They are used to check whether the planned learning objectives have been achieved. Examples of this are "live" exams or online tests.
Tests are created with the OpenOlat test editor as QTI 2.1 tests. The length of the test, the question types, and a range of other configurations can be specified.
Participants cannot see which answers are correct and which are incorrect in the source code of the test or self-test, as the answers are sent to the OpenOlat server and assessed there.
When you integrate a test into your course, you decide whether you use it as a self-test, i.e. for practice purposes, or as an exam test ("live" test). In the first case, use the "Self-test" course element when integrating the test into the course; in the second case, use the "Test" course element. Self-test results are anonymized, while exam test results are stored in a personalized manner. In the case of self-tests, coaches do not see the results achieved by individual participants.
Depending on the teaching scenario, however, it also makes sense to use normal "tests" rather than "self-tests" for practice purposes, namely whenever coaches want to know how individual participants are progressing or when it comes to identifying weaker course members and providing them with targeted support. In this respect, it should always be checked on an individual basis which course element is the most suitable in each case.
How do the questions get into a test?
Questions can either be created directly in the learning resource Test or created in the question bank and then integrated into the test. In the chapter How do I proceed when I create a test?, you will learn how to create a test.
When importing a question from the question bank into a test, a copy of the question is made at that point in time. The question in the test is therefore independent of the original question in the question bank. If the original question in the question bank is modified, this does not affect the imported question in the test. It remains unchanged.
Questions imported from the question bank into tests cannot be edited in the editor!
If a question needs to be edited, you can create a copy of the question and enable editing by selecting "make a copy and edit". The question will then be assigned a new ID. However, the "Master ID" still leads you to the original question in the question bank.
You may have already exported a test file in IMS QTI format from another LMS and want to import it into OpenOlat. How to proceed is described in the section Import learning resources.
Important
During import, the test file is checked for a valid QTI 2.1 package. Incorrectly generated packages, for example from external tools, are rejected with an error message.
Further information
Changing from QTI 1.2 to QTI 2.1 >
How do I proceed when I create a test? >
Test editor >
Test question types >
Configure test questions >
Configure tests >
Test settings - Administration >
Tests at course level >
Export tests >