Welcome to QGen, H-ITT’s Question Generation program!
QGen allows you to easily create question statements, multiple choice answers and include a picture for displaying within H-ITT’s classroom response software.
There are 5 easy steps to using QGen for the first time:
- Start a New class (only needs to be done once for each class).
- Start a New Test question set (one question set for each presentation).
- Add a question statement, and include a picture if desired.
- Add multiple choice answers to the question.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 as many times as you need to enter all question material.
Help Topics:
Starting a New Class : From the pull down File menu select New, and type in a class name in the Class Name box. Typically the name should coincide with the class or subject being taught, such as “First period Physics 101” or “grade 6 math” etc.
Starting a New Test : First select the Class that you want the Test question set created for by using the pull-down menu in the Class Name window. Then click in the Test name window and type in a name for the Test question set. Typically the name should coincide with the Test subject content, such as “Chapter 1 quiz” or “math fractions” etc.
Editing an existing Test : First select the Class and Test that you want edit by using the pull-down menu in the Class Name and Test name windows. Any edits that you need are performed the same as when you create a new Test. Simply click in the desired box (either the Question or Answers ) and edit the text as desired.
Database : All class data you create and save are stored in a database located in the same directory where you installed QGen. Your Test question sets are generated from this database and exported to a directory you specify when you export test. See also Organizing Classes and Tests.
Saving a Test question set : When you have completed entering all questions and answer selections for your Test, save the Test to the database by pressing the Save Test button at the bottom right.
Export : When you have completed and saved a test question set, you can export the data by pressing the Export XML, or Export PPT buttons at the bottom right. Exporting will prompt you for a location to save these Test files. The default directory is the last directory saved to, so if you are exporting the test files to a different class than the last export, make sure you browse to the correct class folder. QGen automatically creates the Test file name and includes the class name and test name in the form “class name_test name”. See also Organizing Classes and Test files.
XML file types: Are used with the Acquisition application of the H-ITT CRS software to display as a slide. In Acquisition, under the Slides pull down menu, select “Open Slides File”, select H-ITT XML file type and browse to the exported QGen test file you created. The XML files generated with QGen are formatted with the picture (if included) in the top left position, and the question and answer selections just to the right of the picture. If a Picture is not included, the question and answer selections begin at the left margin with the question on top. The preview window in QGen allows you to see the layout so you can adjust font type and size for the best audience visibility when being displayed.
PPT file types : Can be used in both H-ITT CRS and H-ITT show. In H-ITT Acquisition program, under the Slides pull down menu, select “Open Slides File”, select PowerPoint file type and browse to the exported QGen test file you created.
Using H-ITTShow, you can either Author the QGen pages to interact with the keypads, and paste in Status and Results clips, or copy and paste the organized QGen page information onto a pre-authored Popin.
Organizing Classes and Test files : Each Class should have it’s own directory that will contain all exported Test question sets and pictures that were created under that Class. When the first Test question set is completed for a new class first save the test to the database. Then export the test either using Export XML, or Export PPT. A window will popup allowing you to specify a directory to save the test. It is recommended that you create a NEW FOLDER and name it the same as the class name you used when you created the new class. All subsequent tests for this class should be saved to this same directory. Selecting the location for the class folder is up to you.
Generate a Question : After you select a class and a test, create questions by pressing the Add Question button, and enter the question statement in the highlighted box. You can type in or copy and paste text into this box.
Include an Image (Picture) : Double-click on the box under the heading “Image Path” in the same row as the question that you want to include a picture. A window will appear, Select your image file type and then browse to the picture file and click OPEN. QGen will make a copy of this image and place it in the same directory that your tests are
exported to. QGen will “re-size” large images for approximately 1/3 the page width when exporting to Powerpoint.
Image file types are GIF (*.gif); JPEG (*.jpeg, .jpg); PNG (*.png); TIFF (*.tiff, *.tif).
Generate Answer selections : After you have generated a question, click on the Add Answer button and type in (or copy and paste) an answer selection. You can add up to 10 answer selections by pressing the Add Answer button for each answer. The answers are always associated to the highlighted question indicated by the question number appearing in the left most column of the answer selections window. You can easily review each question/answers by clicking on a question, and only the answers for that question are shown. Edit an answer selection by double clicking in the desired answer box and edit as needed. Delete an answer by clicking on the question, right mouse click and select delete.
Preview your QGen page : A preview of how your questions will appear in the exported file is shown in the bottom left window. This allows you to choose font size and style for best visibility when being displayed.
Font style : Change the font style by clicking on the desired question or answer and select the desired font style from the appropriate Font pull down menu.
Font size : Change the size by clicking on the desired question or answer and move the size slider bar. Moving the bar left makes the font smaller, moving it to the right increases the font size.
Setting default Fonts : You can set the default font style and size by highlighting the question or answer and pressing the button “make these the Default settings”. All subsequent text entered after setting the default will use this default.