Understanding Blackboard Test Feedback Options

Contributed by Henry Newkirk, Instructional Designer II (HSH)

This short article discusses one aspect of the Blackboard test grading feature that allows instructors to provide students feedback. The test feedback options can often be confusing because instructors can provide (3) feedback annotations to students in (3) different areas. The (3) areas are:

• Response Feedback: instructors can provide Response Feedback for each question on the test or quiz. Both instructor and student would have to review the complete test to see the comments.
• Grading Notes: are located at the end of the grading test page. Any comments entered into this section will be available in the Grade Center: Grade History. Instructors assume that their feedback on individual questions would appear on the Grade History; this is a misconception.
• Feedback to Learner: comments in this section at the end of the test grading page can be seen by the instructor on the Grade History page

Instructors can download the Grade Notes and Feedback to Learner comments from the Grade History page. Please keep in mind that if students take a test at different times, you can make a limited amount of feedback available until all students submit the test. Once you have graded and provided your feedback, you can go to where the test is deployed. Use the Test Options page to set the options to allow students to see all the feedback you have annotated. You may select several options on this page in the Show Test Results and Feedback to Students section. Students can access their grades and Feedback to Learner comments on the My Grades link. To the left of the grade, there will be a speech bubble. Check on the title of the test; the Review Test Submission page appears. On this page, students will review all comments made for each question on the test.

For more information on test feedback options, please consult Blackboard's help information on results and feedback options, or contact the IDT team to schedule a session with a member of our staff.