Quizzes - Classic or New?

Decisions, Decisions

Now that we know that quizzes can be a great way to do formative and summative assessments, we have a choice of which type of quiz to use.  Currently, there are Classic Quizzes and New Quizzes Links to an external site. in Canvas.  When you add a quiz, you will be prompted to choose.  So which to choose?

Choose Classic Quizzes if

• you have quiz questions that will need to be manually graded.
• you want to do a survey.
• you want to offer partial credit on questions.
• you use question banks.
• you like things the way they are.

Classic quizzes have been around for a long time.  We're all used to using them.  There's just something about using something that is familiar, especially in these times.  It's one less thing to worry about.

Choose New Quizzes if

• your questions are all automatically graded.
• you don't need to use question banks already created for a classic quiz.
• you want to try ordering or hot spot questions.
• you don't need the "to-do list" notification to grade something.

New quizzes have some cool features, but since it is created by a third-party developer, it doesn't really sync well with things we're used to like being notified that we have something to grade.  So, if you have questions that you need to manually grade, you will not get that reminder on your homepage that you have something to grade.  You can still use the Speedgrader to grade, but you'll have to get there through your gradebook.  Also, you cannot share quiz banks between classic and new quizzes.

At some point, we'll all have to go to New Quizzes unless Canvas decides to scrap it altogether.  Canvas has put together a comparison chart between the two quiz formats Links to an external site..  If you want to try something new, go for it.  Just be aware of its limitations.