Topic outline
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Adaptive marking means that Moodle will give some marks for an incorrect answer, provided that the student has followed the correct process. This will be helpful when you have set up a question which includes answers which rely on other answers previously calculated by the student.
Adaptive marking is a step on from assigning different marks for composite answers, which we looked at in the last section, so we will use the same example as for the last section and expand it:
If a = (random number), b = (random number) and c = 10, calculate a + b, b + c and then add the two numbers together.
Watch out for this: This type of question is very complex, and there are a variety of things that can go wrong when it gets to the student's input. Make sure that you divide the question up as much as possible and try to stick to answers which are only dependent on one previous answer, not several.
If you don't need adaptive marking, it's best to use different parts for different answers - it's more reliable.
You can see the final version of the question embedded at the bottom of this page.
(We have included an .xml file of this question below. You can download this and import it into your course website question bank. Use it to develop your own basic formula questions.)
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Steps
1. Create and name the formula question.
2. Add random and global variables.
3. Add the answers. You will need to include the answers for all required responses, separated by commas.
4. Add the question text. You will need to define spaces in the question text for the various answers (and units.)
5. Assign grading variables and the grading criterion for adaptive marking, to be used in conjunction with the answer variables:
- For the grading criterion you will now need to change to Expert mode, and fill in the criteria manually - including the allowable error. (We'll ignore allowable error in this question, and cover it in the next example.)
You will need to set the grading criterion up so that there are two options for assigning marks.- The first expression (the first 'string') tells Moodle how to allocate marks if all answers are simply correct or incorrect (as for the previous example).
- The second string expresses how Moodle should mark if one/both of the first two answers are wrong, but the student goes through the correct process and gets the third answer right according to their own earlier answers.
Use the max () function and separate out the two expressions by using a comma, as you see below. Moodle will use the option which gives the highest mark.- You now need to add a new grading variable. This grading variable will represent whether or not the student has followed the correct procedure for this question, even if the answer is wrong because they are using their own earlier incorrect answers as a basis for their calculations. If this variable is true, then Moodle will follow the instructions in the criteria formula and give the student the assigned mark. If it's not true, Moodle will give the student no mark for that response.
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6. Write the text for the question, defining a space for the student's answer and the unit if needed. Make sure that you tell the student how the mark allocation will work.
7. Add feedback, and instantiate if you wish.
8. Save and preview your question.
You can see the final form of the example question embedded below. Try to put a wrong answer for a first question and then use that answer as the basis for the final question, to see how the question is marked.
Watch out for this: As the question setup gets more complex, it will become more important to test the question and test using both reasonable and unreasonable answers.
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You can import this question into your course question bank. You can then copy and adapt it.
Administration - Course administration - Question bank - Import - Moodle xml format - Choose the file - Import. (Watch a video on how to import the question into a course website.)
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