Today we have a special Technology Enhanced Items Showcase post that covers several question types at once—showing you how to author flourishing multi-step questions.

Craft a two, three, or four part question that’s thematic (covering multiple standards/learning objectives) or satisfy each detailed component of a given standard.

Introducing Multipart!

In a white paper entitled “Technology Enhanced Items for Formative Assessments in Dialogic Curriculums,” researchers state some of the most important benefits of the Multipart question:

The multi-part item is an item comprised of two or more interdependent questions. Each question may address a different standard. Moreover, the item types for the questions may vary. For example, part one of a two-part item might be a multiple choice item whereas part two could be a constructed response item…The multi-part item tends to demand a high depth of knowledge because the student must coordinate multiple cognitive processes typically involving high level cognitive functions.

*Text Entry, Text Dropdown, Numeric Entry w/ Units, Multiple Choice, Advanced Numeric, and Expression Evaluator are all showing in this article.

#### See Multipart in action!

Overview

TEI Multipart

Standards & Learning Objectives Covered

Grade 7 » Expressions & Equations

Solve real-life and mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.EE.B.3
Solve multi-step real-life and mathematical problems posed with positive and negative rational numbers in any form (whole numbers, fractions, and decimals), using tools strategically. Apply properties of operations to calculate with numbers in any form; convert between forms as appropriate; and assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies.

Use variables to represent quantities in a real-world or mathematical problem, and construct simple equations and inequalities to solve problems by reasoning about the quantities.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.EE.B.4.B
Solve word problems leading to inequalities of the form px + q > r or px + q < r, where p, q, and r are specific rational numbers. Graph the solution set of the inequality and interpret it in the context of the problem.

What You Want Students To Do

Answer multipart—or multistep—questions built from different question type widgets (e.g. Multiple Choice; Multiple Selection; Advanced Numeric; Expression Evaluator; Numeric Entry w/ Units, Text Entry, and Text Dropdown).

Pedagogical Value

In this example we’re crafting an assessment that addresses several standards (and features several question types).

An important strength of Multipart is you can craft an assessment that tests several different cognitive processes. For example, you can first ask students to provide an analysis of information and then provide evidence for their conclusions.

Notes

Used in both ELA and Math assessments. Be creative with the seven different questions types that function as widgets.

Multipart gives you a robust space to place all your text and question widgets within a scrollable area. Notice that you need to prepare your text—and then place the widgets (answer boxes) in several locations such as: at the end of a question; within a sentence; or below a question.

Navigating this space is easy. Simply click outside of the widget, or answer areas, and hit enter so your cursor will appear below your finished question sets.

# Creating a Multipart Question

Below I’ll cover step-by-step how you can create a Multipart question to add to your technology-enhanced assessments. *Click each image for an enlarged view.

*The question examples for each section are covered below.

#### Step 2

From your dashboard click on the main menu button (≡) to access Assessments. From there, click on + New Assessment and then Create New Assessment.

Make sure you’re on the correct subject and grade level—and then select the standard you’d like to create an assessment for. In this example you’ll start by selecting the following: Math – Common Core; Grade 7; Expressions & Equations; and 7.EE.B.3.

#### Step 4

After clicking Create, choose Multipart from the interactive question types list.

Notice that the default Multipart question area is large. All the text for your question, and each question widget, will reside in this area.

#### Step 6

We’re going to start off with a multi-step rational number world problem (using Numeric Entry w/ Units followed by a Multiple Choice question) to satisfy 7.EE.B3.

Start by entering your question text:

Joanna is visiting Florence, Italy for the first time. She wants to visit the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia (to see Michelangelo’s David). She learns that the currency exchange rate is the following: 1 Euro equals 1.12 US Dollars. Both Museums cost 23 Euros, but Joanna can only spend $45 USD. ​What will Joanna receive if she exchanges$45?

Now you want to place your cursor right beside the question mark and select the Numeric Entry w/ Units widget.

Once you’re in the widget you’ll see the answer boxes appear, along with the correct answer and unit fields. In this example the correct answer is 40.18 Euros.

*In the unit field I selected custom, entering “Euros” and “Dollars.” Lastly, select Euros as the correct answer.

#### Step 8

Next add a Multiple Choice question to have your students answer one more question for 7.EE.B.3

Use your cursor to move down from Question #1 (Part A) and type the text for Question #1 (Part B):

Which of the following can Joanna do?

A. Go to both museums.

B. Go to only one museum.

C. Go to neither museum.

*Remember to mark your correct answer and then click the Save button.

Now you can view both parts of your first question for 7.EE.B.3—and get a sense of how to use the cursor and scroll bar to navigate Multipart (you also get a feel for where to place your answer boxes depending on the text/format of the questions you craft).

#### Step 10

Now it’s time to craft your second question with Expression Evaluator. In this example we’re using:

​212 more than 13 times the number n is equal to 303.
​Write an equation to represent this statement and find the value of n.

​Write an equation:

The number is:

After entering this text, click on Expression Evaluator widget. I choose Expression Evaluator here because students can enter equations in the answer field and you can set the Math Toolbar + Evaluation Settings.

For the second part of this question (“The number is:”) I’ve selected Text Entry to show how easy the widget is to use. Text Entry can also be utilized for ELA assessments where you place the box within a sentence.

For example: George [] was the first president of the United States of America.

#### Step 12

Here’s our third and final question:

Solve for x:

13/4x > 2

I’ll start off with Text Dropdown (allowing students to select from the equal, greater or less than symbols before giving the final value of x). Simply enter in all of your choices and make sure to designate the correct answer.

Finally we find ourselves on the last part of Question #3.

I’m using Advanced Numeric here because it checks for math equivalency, i.e. 1.5 = 1.50 = 3/2 = 1 1/2 etc. This helps for when  your student enters the fraction as a decimal; remember to give them as much instruction as possible concerning how they enter their answers.

Final Words

We’ve made it through Multipart together! As daunting as the question type can be to author, you can truly create something special to support student learning.

And, don’t worry, we have authoring videos coming very soon!

A quick note about various options at the bottom of Multipart:

1. Make sure to allow your students to access Scratchpad to demonstrate their work.
2. You can also edit the point value for this assessment.
3. Don’t hesitate to provide a solution example.
4. Hints are always good!
5. Math Toolbar is an Expression Evaluator option that goes a long way depending on the students’ skill level.
6. Evaluation Settings is an Advanced Numeric + Expression Evaluator feature.
7. Set the difficulty level (serving as an internal note).
8. Add more than the originally selected standards/learning objectives.

Finally, here’s a preview of the Multipart question, featuring the six different question types: