How To Generate Randomized Set Of Questions Using Open edX Studio

In the realm of education, assessments play a crucial role in evaluating student comprehension and gauging their progress. However, repetitive question sequences can lead to rote memorization and limit the effectiveness of assessments. To address this, Open edX Studio offers a powerful tool – randomized question sets – that can transform the learning experience.

Open edX is a powerful platform for creating and managing online courses, and one of its unique features is the ability to generate randomized sets of questions for assessments. This feature is particularly useful for creating unique quizzes and exams which ensures that each student receives a slightly different version of the assessment. In this blog post, we will walk you through the process of generating randomized sets of questions using Open edX Studio.

Before moving to the steps it is essential to verify the permissions related to the libraries. If your course is configured with content libraries and you have permission to access a library containing the content you wish to utilize, you can make use of that library's resources to create randomized assignments for your students.

To create randomized assignments that make use of components from content libraries, you must have at least User-level access to the libraries that you want to use. If you do not have access to a library, members of your course team who have Admin access to that library can grant you access.

Steps To Generate a Randomized Set of Questions for Unit

Follow the given steps to generate a randomized set of questions for a unit in OpenedX Studio.

Step 1: Create a New Library

To initiate the process, click on the "New Library" button in the studio. This will create a library dedicated to containing questions that will be randomized.

To establish a library within OpenedX Studio, you'll need to provide the following information:

• Library Name

  Enter a unique and descriptive name for the library

• Organization Specify

  The organization associated with the library. This could be a university, company, or other entity responsible for the library's content. The organization field is not editable once the library is created.

• Library Code

  Provide a unique code that identifies the library. This code should be concise and avoid spaces or special characters. The library code is also not editable after creation.

Once you've entered these details, click the "CREATE" button to finalize the library creation process. Subsequently, the library is ready for the storage and organization of course content.

Step 2: Add Components For Randomization

The library serves as a versatile repository that allows you to incorporate a diverse range of components that will be subjected to randomization. These components can encompass a variety of question formats, such as multiple-choice, true/false, open-ended, and more. Additionally, you can include other pertinent content, such as explanatory text, images, or videos, to further enrich the learning experience.

Step 3: Create Common Problem Types in the Library

Fill the library with the questions and challenges you want to incorporate into the randomization procedure. Be certain that the questions are properly structured and sorted into appropriate categories within the library.

Step 4: Add the Library to the Course's Content Outline

To seamlessly integrate the question library into the course's structure, locate the course's content outline section. Within this section, you'll find the option to add the library you've meticulously curated. This integration serves as a bridge between your question repository and the course's framework that enables effortless access to the question bank throughout the learning modules.

Step 5: Add Library

To incorporate the library element into the corresponding section of your course content outline, utilize the 'Library Content' functionality.

Step 6: Add Randomized Questions to Units

Now, you can incorporate randomized questions for each unit by choosing the library you've generated. Specify the number of questions you want to display for a single unit. You can also explore additional customization options if available.

To modify the randomized content block, press the 'Edit' button.

Step 7: Verify Library Content

Before proceeding further, it's a good practice to review your library to ensure it contains the right questions and content.

Step 8: Publish Randomized Section Content Block

Once you've configured the randomized questions within the course units, remember to publish the section that contains the block. This action will enable students to access the randomized questions.

Note: Randomized questions will only appear without duplication when the randomized block is added within a single unit. If multiple units utilize the same library, there is a greater chance of encountering repeated problems.

Step 9: Configure Default Settings for Randomization Variables

Establish the default frequency for randomizing variable values within a problem. Unless you plan to implement a Python script to recognize and randomize values in most course problems, it's recommended to set this setting to 'never'. Acceptable values are 'always', 'onreset', 'never', and 'per_student'.

Step 10: Check the LMS Learning Side

On the learning side of your LMS (Learning Management System), students will find the randomly generated questions presented in a non-sequential order, as per your randomization settings.

That's it...! You have successfully generated randomized sets of questions for your unit using Open edX Studio.

Conclusion

Randomized question sets within Open edX Studio offer a valuable resource for educators aiming to enrich the educational journey. By incorporating elements of variation and unpredictability, these sets foster deeper comprehension, encourage critical thinking, and actively engage learners. Embrace this functionality to reshape assessments into dynamic and interactive learning experiences.

If you want to build your own set of random question units or build eLearning software for your university or institute, contact the open edX development agency, CodeTrade, where you can hire dedicated Open edX developers who can work within your time zone. CodeTrade assures you of timely delivery and attainable outcomes to meet your specific needs.