A Shortcut Key question allows users to answer by pressing a key or combination of keys on their keyboard.
In this tutorial, we'll look at how to create a shortcut key question.
Step 1: Create a Slide and Convert It to a Freeform Question
To create a shortcut key question, you must first add a non-question slide to your project. You can start with one of the basic layouts, a template, a screen recording that you’ve inserted as step-by-step slides (Try mode or Test mode), or a slide imported from PowerPoint. Be sure to add a text box or caption to your slide with instructions for your users or the question that you want them to answer as demonstrated in the following image:
After designing the slide to look the way you want, do the following:
- Go to the Insert tab, and click Convert to Freeform.
- Select Shortcut Key, and click the OK button.
The Shortcut Keys question editor will automatically open, where you can specify the correct response.
Step 2: Define the Correct Key or Combination of Keys
When the Shortcut Keys question editor opens, select the Key or Key Combination field, and press the key or combination of keys for the correct response.
Be sure to thoroughly test your shortcut key questions in your published output. If you select keys or key combinations that are common shortcuts in browsers (ALT+D, CTRL+T, etc), you may experience unexpected behavior.
Step 3: Enter the Score
- Choose one of the following from the Score selector on the toolbar:
- By Question: This is the default, and it allows you to assign points to the correct and incorrect answer.
- None: This omits any scoring info from the question. It also removes the need for correct/incorrect feedback. Storyline creates a single feedback message (which you can of course edit) rather than having separate correct/incorrect feedback messages.
- If you chose By Question for the Scoring option, now enter values in the Points area of the question editor.
Step 4: Make the Question Required or Optional (Unscored Questions Only)
If you are building an unscored question, use the Require selector on the toolbar to choose User may skip or User must answer. (For graded questions, the Require selector isn’t available, since graded questions require an answer.)
Step 5: Choose Your Options for Feedback and Branching
In Storyline, you can show your learners feedback after they answer a question—and you can also branch learners to different parts of your course based on their answers. Here's how:
- Choose one of the following from the Feedback selector on the toolbar:
- By Question: This allows you to set up question-based feedback and branching. For a graded question, you can show different feedback for a correct vs. incorrect answer. For an unscored question, there’s just one feedback message for the question overall.
- None: Choose this if you don't want any feedback to display and if you don't need to branch the learner to a different place in the course based on how they answer.
- If you opt to display feedback, you can edit the feedback text in the Feedback area of the question editor, which appears at the bottom of the question editor (if you chose Feedback By Question). Or, when you return to the Normal View of your slide, you can make the changes to the feedback layers that Storyline creates for you. To learn more about layers, see this tutorial. To change the visual design of your feedback layers, check out this tutorial.
- For graded questions, you can also include Post-Quiz Review feedback. This feedback appears during the quiz review, if you provide your learners with a Result Slide that includes a "Review Quiz" option. In the Post-Quiz Review field at the bottom of the question editor, enter the review feedback you want learners to see.
- Now let's talk about branching. By default, Storyline will take the learner to the next slide in your course once they answer your question. But if you want to take them somewhere else in the course, you can do that. Click any More button in the Feedback area, and use the Branch to the following selector to choose the destination.
Step 6: Assign the Number of Attempts (Graded Questions Only)
By default, Storyline gives learners one attempt at your question. But if they answer incorrectly, you can give them the opportunity to retry. Use the Attempts selector to choose the number of attempts, or set it to Unlimited if you want learners to keep trying the question till they get it right. (The Attempts selector doesn’t appear on unscored questions, since those don’t have a right or wrong answer.)
Some things to keep in mind:
- If you allow multiple tries, Storyline adds a "Try Again" section to the Feedback area on the question editor. This is the feedback that’ll appear if a learner answers incorrectly. You can make changes to the feedback here on the question editor. Or, when you return to the Normal View of your slide, you can make the changes to the to the “Try Again” slide layer that Storyline creates for you. To learn more about layers, see this tutorial.
- If you want the "Try Again" messages throughout your course to look a certain way, you can make changes to the Try Again feedback layout. For more details, check out this tutorial.
Step 7: Return to the Normal View of Your Slide
When you're done setting your options on the question editor, click Save & Close. This closes the question editor and returns you to the Normal View of the slide.
If you chose to provide feedback on this question, or if you chose to include a post-quiz review message, you'll see separate layers for each of these in the Slide Layers panel, and you can edit those layers if you like.
Step 8: Assign a Result Slide
You can display quiz results at any point in your course by using a results slide. When you create a results slide, you can tell Storyline which questions in your course you want it to use for calculating the results. Find out more about how to create a results slide here.
If you've already added a result slide in your course, you can assign the current question to it like this: in Normal View, find the Question panel at the right edge of the slide workspace. Use the Results slide selector to choose the results slide to which you want to connect this question.
How Do I Edit My Question Later?
If you need to make changes to your question later, you can go to your question slide and edit the content directly on the slide. If you need to change other things about the question that aren't visible on the slide (such as the scoring, number of attempts, or how feedback is handled), just click the Edit Shortcut Keys button in the Question panel that appears to the right of the slide workspace. This opens the question editor where you can make whatever changes you need. Click Save & Close when you're done.
You Might Also Want to Explore:
Adding Result Slides
Using Storyline's Basic Layouts
Using and Creating Storyline Templates
Adding Graded Questions and Survey Questions
Using Question Banks
Adding Screen Recordings
Importing from PowerPoint
Using Feedback Masters