Equation Editor

Creating a Text Entry Question With the Equation Editor

To create an interactive item question, begin by creating a new test in Aware or navigating to an existing test. The equation editor is only available for text entry questions. The TEA suggests text entry for use in mathematics, reading, language arts, and science assessments, but text entry is available for any assessment. Text entry follows the TEA’s examples and may be used in conjunction with text, images, and tables. 

Note: Creating an interactive response question eliminates the possibility of printing the test. A reminder message will appear when an interactive response question is added to an assessment. Eduphoria recommends having two separate tests: an online version created purposefully with interactive questions and a paper-based version for standard testing. 

1. Select Interactive Item Types from the options. 

2. Select Text Entry from the available question types. 

3. Construct the Text Entry question. Use the Add Placeholder Response button to indicate where the text entry box should be located. Don’t highlight any text to create a placeholder item; otherwise, the equation editor won’t work. Select the Continue button to move forward.

4. Select a text box in the Question Preview. Under Settings for Selected Field, choose Elementary Math Editor or Secondary Math Editor in the drop-down menu. Input the correct answer using the selected equation editor, and add multiple correct answers if needed. You can use both equation editors on a single question. However, you can only apply one equation editor to a single text box field. 

Note: For automatic grading to work correctly, the test author must use the equation editor to input the correct response.

The default Text Editor is for a standard text entry question and will not be used for an equation editor question. Alternative text can be applied anywhere Latex is used for math. Alternative text is available on questions, answer choices, and resources. Alternative text functions like a content clarifier and can be added from a Questions tab, not from the Test Editor. 

Per the TEA’s standards, the Elementary Math Editor is intended for grades K-5 and contains the following capabilities:

Numbers 0-9 Fraction Decimal Less Than Greater Than Multiplication Division Addition Subtraction Negative Sign Parenthesis Equal Sign

Per the TEA’s standards, the Secondary Math Editor is intended for grades 6-12 and contains the same capabilities as the Elementary Math Editor along with several additions:

x y z Pi Square Root Superscript Less Than or Equal to Greater Than or Equal to Subscript

Note: When test authors or students click the multiplication symbol (x) in the Secondary Math Editor, it will appear as a center dot (⋅) in the text box.

5. When you have finished constructing your question and adding correct answers, select Create.

Student Experience 

Students will see the text entry question during online testing. The equation editor will appear once they click on a text box.

Students will need to use the equation editor to input their answers. Keyboard functionality is possible but limited to the following keystrokes for both equation editors:

• Left
• Right
• Up
• Down
• Tab
• 0-9
• + 
• - 
• . 
• ,
• =

Data Analysis

Question Type is available as a column for data views, located in the Responses folder.

This column will show the question type and in which question number the type is located.

Interactive questions will be indicated in data analysis next to the scores for each of those questions. The examples below show questions with three interactions. Teachers may view the exact question in the Enter Answers screen and modify student answers if needed. The Enter Answers screen will have the Math Editor selection designated in Test Authoring. 

Note: A text entry question that uses the equation editor will have the same scoring options as a regular text entry question, which includes Correct/Incorrect, Point per Task, and Partial Credit (0-1-2).

In a test, it is possible for a teacher to overwrite student-generated text to change an incorrect answer to correct. However, leaving the student text and using the Mark as Correct button maintains the integrity of the data. If the Mark as Correct button is incorrectly selected, teachers can select the Unmark Correct button that will appear to revert the changes.

If a teacher has marked a question correct for a student, then the data view for Student Individual Responses will be updated. The field will be color coded as blue.