This tool creates an answer box that’s meant for longer, written answers such as sentences, paragraphs, and essays. When you use this feature on your activity, your students will be able to write long responses. When you’re grading these types, the box becomes a scrollable window.

To set up an Open Answer question type, choose ‘Insert’ on your toolbar or click down on your activity.  Click, or Click and Drag 

The Tools menu will pop up. Select 'Open Answer' from the left column.

Your mouse will turn to cross-hairs and the top of the toolbar will tell you to ‘Click in the activity to add a(n) Open Answer.  Drag your mouse across your screen to create an Open Answer Box. 

Once the Open Answer is on your activity, your toolbar will look like this. 

Choose, 'Edit...' and this pop-up will appear:

Number of Points: Although our Open Answer item type cannot be auto-scored, you can assign a point value to it! You can make each Open Answer worth anywhere from 0-10 points. When a student submits an assignment, their Open Answer questions will say, 'Teacher Scored' and you will have the option to set the score when grading. Once you do, the points will be added into the total auto-score. 

Rich Text: If this option is selected, students will have access to a rich text editor for this Open Answer. This will allow them to use different fonts, sizes, styles, and alignments to complete their answer. If it is not selected, students will enter their answer using a standard, plain text editor. 

Starter Text: Whatever you type into this box will be seen by your students when they get to the question but will disappear as soon as they start typing. Type in your starter text and select, “Save Changes” when you are done.

From your menu bar, you can set a border color or choose no border, enable the rich text, choose the font your students will type in, the font size, the text color and set the item points. 

Teacher Notes: User the "Teacher Notes" field to store scoring rubrics or other information. Your students will not see this text. It will be shown to you any time you click an Open Answer question in a student's submission.

Open Answer Tool Explainer Video 

Here’s a quick video explaining how to use the feature:

Grading Open Answer Questions

Open Answer questions are not auto-graded. After your students complete their submissions, you'll have to review them and assign points to each Open Answer question. Open each student submission, click the student's Open Answer response, then click "Set Score." Enter the point value, then click "Save."