Building Moodle quizzes quickly

There are various options for creating Moodle quizzes more quickly than using the online Moodle quiz creation tool. Options include:

Buying test banks from textbook publishers and then importing them to Moodle

Buying question banks from textbook publishers: http://newsletter.respondus.com/january-2013/easy-publisher-test-banks

Search test banks: 

• Respondus: http://www.respondus.com/products/testbank/search.php

Asking students to contribute question

See: http://docs.moodle.org/24/en/Question_creator_role

Creating questions offline then importing them to Moodle

The different Moodle quiz import options:

Comprehensive information on importing questions into Moodle: http://docs.moodle.org/23/en/Import_questions

Moodle recommends using Moodle XML format, as it allows the most comprehensive quiz data to be imported.

Importing questions from native Moodle format or from text files:

Comprehensive formats:

Both of these formats support multiple-choice, true-false, short answer, matching, missing word, cloze, numerical and essay questions.

They may not support calculated, drag and drop, algebra, regular expression or random matching questions - this needs to be confirmed!

• GIFT format: Use a text file to export and import many Moodle question types with feedback, marks etc. Images are not supported. Find out how to format the text file here: http://buypct.com/gift_reference.pdf Enables multiple-choice, true-false, short answer, matching, missing word, numerical and essay questions to be imported or exported via text file.

There are many tools to create GIFT format files: 

• • Tools for creating GIFT files: http://bit.ly/109aA6o
  • Excel to GIFT: https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=45245
• Moodle XML format: A very comprehensive format for import and export of many question types, that also supports images.

Create Moodle XML format files using:

• • Java based program for Windows, Mac and Linux: http://www.nashcc.edu/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=248&func=startdown&id=1864
  • Word toolbar (open the .dot file): http://www.finemetronome.com/moodle/
  • VLE Tools: http://vletools.com
    • See how to add images to your questions using VLE tools: http://www.slideshare.net/tjuly/adding-images-to-moodle-quiz-and-import-via-xml

Simple formats for specific question types:

• Aiken format: a simple format for importing multiple choice questions from a text file.
• Embedded answers (Cloze): imports passage of text with questions such as multiple-choice and short answer embedded within it.
• Missing word format: This format is only used for multiple choice questions and short answer questions, similar to GIFT. Currently has problems with MCQs - not recommended!

Questions

• Do GIFT and Moodle XML support the import of images? GIFT doesn't, but Moodle XML does.
• Do GIFT and Moodle XML support Latex? It seems that Moodle XML supports this (though it might just export the image - it would be better if it exported the LaTeX code so it is editable). I'm not sure if GIFT supports LaTeX - needs confirming.
• Do GIFT and Moodle XML support calculated questions? It sounds like Moodle XML format supports calculated questions, but this needs to be confirmed. Not sure about GIFT.
• Will QTI be supported by Moodle at some point? In the near future it looks like no, it won't. The import/export is no longer supported and QTI 2.1 is yet to be formally released by IMS.

Importing questions from other Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) and Quiz software into Moodle:

The following Moodle quiz import types allow you to import from other VLEs and quiz software:

• Blackboard: for importing questions from Blackboard version 5 "POOL" type export format.
• Blackboard V6+: supports all Blackboard export formats via zip file (includes images) or dat file.
• Examview: imports quetions from Examview 4 XML files. For Examview 5+ Blackboard format may be used.
• Hot Potatoes: imports Hot Potatoes questions into Moodle. Hot Potatoes is a freeware suite of applications that create interactive multiple-choice, short-answer, jumbled-sentence, crossword, matching/ordering and gap-fill exercises. Hot Potatoes is available from: http://hotpot.uvic.ca
• Learnwise format: imports multiple choice questions saved in Learnwise's XML format.
• WebCT format: imports multiple-choice and short answer questions saved in WebCT's text-based format.
• Examview: imports quetions from Examview 4 XML files. For Examview 5+ Blackboard format may be used.
• Respondus: As of Moodle 2, Respondus is no longer supported as a quiz question format. In order to import from Respondus a plugin would need to be installed on UCL Moodle.