This KB article will get you started with generating test questions and question banks using the generative AI Design Assistant in Blackboard Ultra. The AI Design Assistant can offer suggestions for test questions that you can later edit to ensure accuracy and relevance. The AI Design Assistant can be used for both formative and summative assessments.

In this KB article, note that the first set of instructions are for adding questions to an individual test.

The second set of instructions towards the bottom of this page are for creating a question bank.

Tips When Using the AI Design Assistant:

• Test questions are generated based on course context whereas Question Banks are based on a Document you specify in your course site.  
• The more information you provide in your descriptions, the more likely you’ll see accurate and salient AI generated content.
• Always check AI generated content for accuracy and appropriateness.
• You can make edits to all AI generated content as well as reject part or all of its output.

Instructions for AI-Generated Questions by Individual Test:

Step 1:

In the test creation panel, click the plus (+) icon on the horizontal purple line and then select Auto-generate question from the menu.

Step 2:

Offer the AI Design Assistant parameters so that it can generate better results for you. 

• Enter a description to narrow the focus of the questions.
• Adjust the complexity of the questions. (Complexity refers to learners’ educational levels. A complexity level of 7 will typically meet the target ranges for undergraduate lower division, 8 for undergraduate upper division, and 9 for Master and early Ph.D levels per this guide).
• Select the number of questions.

You can select from the following question types:

• Essay
• Fill in the blank
• Matching
• Multiple choice
• True/False

The "Inspire me!" question type suggests a variety of question types that give you multiple options. Visit the “Question Types” topic to learn more about different types of questions in Learn.

Once you’ve entered your parameters, click the black Generate button on the left.

Step 3:

Once the test questions are generated, click to select the questions you wish to keep. 

Next, click the black Add (number of questions) to Assessment button to save them to the Test.

Step 4:

After the questions are added to the test, click the three ellipses next to the test questions you wish to edit. 

Instructions for AI-Generated Question Banks for Use Across Multiple Assessments:

Question Banks are sets of questions you can use across multiple assessments. The AI Design Assistant can build question banks based on an Ultra Document to gauge your students’ comprehension of the document’s topic. Visit the “Question Banks” topic to learn more about how to create and edit Question Banks.

Step 1:

In the Content area of your course site, navigate to an existing Document in Ultra which will serve as the content from which the question bank will be generated. 

You can identify a Document in Ultra by the icon below.

Step 2:

Click to open the document. At the bottom you will see the option to Generate question bank.

Step 3:

Offer the AI Design Assistant parameters so that it can generate better results for you. 

• Adjust the complexity of the questions. (Complexity refers to learners’ educational levels. A complexity level of 7 will typically meet the target ranges for undergraduate lower division, 8 for undergraduate upper division, and 9 for Master and early Ph.D levels per this guide).
• Select the number of questions

You can select from the following question types:

• Essay
• Fill in the blank
• Matching
• Multiple choice
• True/False

The "Inspire me!" question type suggests a variety of question types that provide multiple options. Visit the “Question Types” topic to learn more about different types of questions in Learn.

Once you’ve entered your parameters, click the black Generate button on the left.

Step 4:

Once the test questions are generated, click to select the questions you wish to keep. 

Next, click the black Add (number of questions) to Assessment button to save them to the Question Bank.

Step 5:

After the questions are added to the test, click the three ellipses next to the test questions you wish to edit. 

To Manage Question Banks

Navigate to Details & Actions and click Manage banks to access your Question banks. 

To Add Questions from a Question bank

Edit an existing test or create a new one. Click on the purple plus (+) icon to add questions to the test. Select Reuse Questions. You can select from individual questions not associated with a question bank and/or you can select question banks from which to select questions.

See separate Knowledge Base articles to learn how the AI Design Assistant in Ultra can assist you with generating learning modules and their associated images, and with generating rubrics.