Advanced Hotspot Quizes

May 07, 2013

Problem: Storyline Hotspot Quizzes seem to only allow one correct answer.

Application: I want to simulate connecting dots.

  • I need to allow for multiple correct hotspots (2 points)
  • I need to create branching scenarios based on those correct hotspots (3 points)

Is there a way to create a quiz with multiple correct hotspots & branching questions while submitting results to an LMS?

16 Replies
Steve Flowers

Hi Nicholas -

You could do this with another question type as an invisible tracker. For example, setting up a true false question and hiding the guts of the question with an overlay the background color of your activity. Then, using state event logic, you could set your question to True or False based on the selected objects.

This would submit to the LMS something like this:

Connected dots 3 and 5 (meaning they understand X):

True (answer correct)

Then it's a matter of configuring the triggers for your selected objects to branch to the right spot.

You could also use other question types but it gets dicey for grading with multiple permutations. If you use an "It's right" or "It's wrong" logic, that lets you account for all the ways it could be right and wrong (albeit you won't be able to track exactly what they did right or wrong except by tracking the branch path activity completion). 

Tim Slade

Hmmmm. I like the simplicity of the last example Steve posted (the one with the invisible boxes allowing for multiple hotspots). But of course, if you need multiple combinations of correct answers, I think the way to go is the true/false question he first mentioned. 

Nicolas, if your able to get this to work, I'd love to see the final quiz!

Rob Blankenship

I am on night shifts this week so my brain is not super sharp...but I was wondering if you could build variables that would store connection 1, connection 2, connection3, conection4, etc...  Then for each time they get a right connection the variable connection1 would be true which would trigger another layer, or questions to test the next, etc...  You then set the answer to be true if the variables connection1 - 4 are true to be true...  Sorry do not have time to try to build this out, but an idea that might get you what you want.

onEnterFrame (James Kingsley)

I'm with Steve, when we need to score these types of interactions we usually put them "on top" of a true/false question. 

I am not entirely clear about the puzzle and points.. but if you saying that within the same interaction a learner could earn 2 OR 3 points then use a multiple choice question. Assign points to each choice and then have your logic "trigger" the appropriate choice. 

Kevin Thorn

Hey Nicholas,

Echoing others that I'm not totally clear on the scope of what you're wanting to do with selecting a combination of dots. 

That said, I tried to come up with a solution that's simple yet easily manipulated to add variable scoring and branching as well as duplicate the structure for any combination of dots.

Instead of the hotspot approach, I used a circle shape and its "selected" state. Still using the Pick Many Freeform interaction Stephanie showed above.

This approach allows you to either evaluate any combination of selected dots and/or tie variables to those selected states for points and branching. 

You can either evaluate your branching from the interaction itself or move your conditions based on those selections to either the Correct or Incorrect feedback layer. Or, even tie those conditions to the feedback layer "Continue" button for branching. Hard to know for sure without a fully understanding how this is supposed to behave. Several different ways to go I think.

Hope this at least kick starts you in some kind of direction.

Simple demo here.

.story attached.

Nicholas Ng

Wow. Thank you for all the responses. I am going to try all your suggestions.

Here is some more background on the question:

Lets say we have a picture like this:

The user must place three points by clicking the image. Points will connect and become a triangle:

There are only 3 correct points, that can be pressed in an order for a correct operation.

Branching is necessary so that each graphic follows the user interaction while still ensuring that all three points have been pressed.

I hope this makes more sense.

This example may seem useless to many applications but to my software simulation training it is essential.

Steve Flowers

Using states and / or variables you should be able to control the flow and order of the selection. The attached isn't exactly right as it lets you click circles out of order, but the logic attached should give you some ideas. By using "blocker objects" in layers or states, you should be able to enforce proper order. In this quickly assembled example, start at the top and go clockwise. 

Daniel Brigham

Steve Flowers said:

Hi Nicholas -

You could do this with another question type as an invisible tracker. For example, setting up a true false question and hiding the guts of the question with an overlay the background color of your activity. Then, using state event logic, you could set your question to True or False based on the selected objects.

This would submit to the LMS something like this:

Connected dots 3 and 5 (meaning they understand X):

True (answer correct)

Then it's a matter of configuring the triggers for your selected objects to branch to the right spot.

You could also use other question types but it gets dicey for grading with multiple permutations. If you use an "It's right" or "It's wrong" logic, that lets you account for all the ways it could be right and wrong (albeit you won't be able to track exactly what they did right or wrong except by tracking the branch path activity completion). 

Steve: In case there's ever a moment you doubt it I'm here to tell you...you rock. --Daniel

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