Blackboard 9.1 now makes it possible for students to take assessments on their iPhones, Androids, iPads, other tablet devices, and their desktop or laptop computers. These mobile-compatible tests are interfaced in Blackboard Mobile learn and are simple and intuitive for students to take. However, in order to create these types of tests, there is a different set of steps you must take from creating standard Blackboard Assessments.

Creating a Mobile Test

To create a Mobile Test:

  1. In your Blackboard Learn course, find the “Create Assessment” drop-down menu under the content area you wish to have your test in. For this example we used Assignments.
  2. Select Mobile Compatible Test
  3. You will be prompted to fill out the following Test Settings:

Once these settings have been filled out, you will have a blank test canvas.

Creating a New Question

To create a new question:

  1. Select “New Question” in the upper left corner of the Mobile Test Creator
  2. Choose the Question Type from the drop-down menu on the right
  3. Type your Question, provide your Answer, and assign a Point Value
  4. To create the next question, select “Next Question” in the upper left corner again. Repeat this process until you have created all of the questions for your test.
  5. Once you have completed the test, hit the “Save and Close” button. The test will be available for students to take as soon as you mark it as “Available” in the Test Settings

Mobile Supported Question Types

The following Question Types are supported by Mobile Devices:

  • True/False
  • Multiple Choice
  • Short Answer
  • Hot Spot
  • Fill-In-Multiple-Blanks
  • File Response (image only)
  • Calculated Numeric

True/False Question Creation:

  1. Select “True/False” as your Question Type
  2. Type the Question in the box provided
  3. Select True or False as the correct answer
  4. Assign a point value

Multiple Choice Question Creation:

  1. Select “Multiple Choice” as your Question Type
  2. Type the Question in the box provided
  3. Type your answer options and select the correct answer
  4. Assign a point value

Short Answer Question Creation:

  1. Select “Short Answer” as your Question Type
  2. Type the Question in the box provided
  3. Assign a point value

Hot Spot Question Creation:

  1. Select “Hot Spot” as your Question Type
  2. Type the Question in the box provided
  3. Select the “Choose File” button to browse for the appropriate file
  4. Hit the “Upload” button
  5. Once the image is uploaded, click and drag your mouse to highlight the appropriate area of the
  6. image. When complete, hit “Update.”
  7. Assign a point value

Fill-In-Multiple-Blanks Question Creation:

  1. Select “Fill-In-Multiple-Blanks” as your Question Type
  2. Type the full, completed phrase in the box provided
  3. Highlight the word and/or phrase that you would like your students to fill out
  4. Select “Make blank from selected text”
  5. (Repeat steps 3 and 4 as necessary)
  6. Assign a point value

File Response Question Creation:

  1. Select “File Response” as your Question Type
  2. Type the Question in the box provided
  3. Assign a point value

Please note that only image file types will be accepted by the Blackboard Mobile Learn app.

Calculated Numeric Question Creation:

  1. Select “Calculated Numeric” as your Question Type
  2. Type the Question in the box provided
  3. Type the correct answer in the box provided
  4. Assign a range, if applicable.
  5. Assign a point value

Other Important Information

  • Mobile tests are available to students using iOS 4.0+ and Android 2.2+ devices only.
  • Mobile tests can be taken with both the Blackboard Mobile Learn app and via the standard Blackboard Learn environment on a desktop computer
  • While Mobile tests are designed to be taken by students on mobile devices, mobile tests can only be created using the standard Blackboard Learn desktop environment. At this time, you cannot create a mobile test from your mobile device.
  • Timed tests are not available via mobile devices
  • Mobile tests are not available via mobile web browsers, ie. Safari on the iPad
  • Standard tests created with only mobile-compatible question types will automatically be available for your students to take via Blackboard Mobile Learn. Any test that contains nonmobile-compatible question types will not be available for students to take via mobile devices.
  • Your students will need to upgrade their Blackboard Mobile Learn app on their mobile device to the latest version in order to access Mobile Tests. There is no cost for them to do so.
  • Tests that are not compatible with mobile devices will appear in the course map with a message directing students to take the test through a web browser.