1. Creating Random Multiple Versions of Canvas Questions
Patrick Thompson
Warrington College of Business

2. Random Canvas Questions
The setting
Exams are proctored online so external software (Excel) can be used.
Students pick start time from 2 to 10 pm.
Hundreds of students so we want many variations of the exam.
Random Canvas Questions

3. A typical Canvas formula question
Terms in [ ] will be randomly generated.
Random Canvas Questions

4. Variable definition and formula calculation
Can use many statements to compute correct answer for “key”.
Random Canvas Questions

5. The limited list of Canvas helper functions
For many tasks you may need to compute the correct answer outside Canvas.
Random Canvas Questions

6. Using the “if” function
X = if( Check2, 0, 1 ) The result X is equal to 1 if Check2 is zero. X is equal to 0 if Check2 is anything else.
Random Canvas Questions

7. Using an external data set
Students will work with a randomly-assigned column.
Random Canvas Questions

8. Assign the task in a question
Random Canvas Questions

9. Check version # and compute answer key
The last formula “picks” the right answer for the randomly-generated version.
Random Canvas Questions

10. A variation on this theme
You can use a question where the answer needs to be chosen from a list.
Use numbers 1, 2, 3, ... for the answers instead of A, B, C, ...
The “logical arithmetic” can be used to compute a different correct answer for each version of the question.
Random Canvas Questions