The Survey Manager feature allows you to create anonymous, non-graded surveys, using the same question types as the Blackboard Test Manager. In surveys, correct answers are not identified and a statistical analysis of the answers is provided. This feature can be used for course or instructor evaluations, or to gather demographic information. Instructors can use the Survey Manager to guide course curriculum by asking students questions on pacing, the need for clarification, etc.
There are two ways to go about creating a test or survey:
Option1:
- Click on a desired content area in which you would like to put a test, such as Assignments, Syllabus, Course Documents… etc.
- Hover over the Evaluate button and click on either Create Test or Create Survey.
Option 2:
- Under the Control Panel, click on Course Tools and then click on Tests, Surveys, and Pools.
Note: Option 2 is more efficient as it allows you to create a test/survey and then you can open the test/survey whenever you would like. Option 1 is less efficient because you have to create and open a test/survey at the same time. Option 1 is covered in the guides “Manage Tests” and “Manage Surveys”.
Managing Tests, Surveys, and Pools:
- Under the Control Panel, on the bottom left side of the page, click on Course Tools and then click on Tests, Surveys, and Pools.
- Click on whichever type of assessment you would like to manage (for this tutorial we will choose Tests).
Contents:
Importing a Survey/Uploading Questions
Viewing/Downloading Survey Results
1. In the Course Menu, click on the Content Area in which you want to add the test OR go to Control Panel > Course Tools > Tests, Surveys and Pools > Survey > Build Survey
The following guidelines illustrate the steps for creating a survey in a Content Area
2. Hover over Assessment and click Survey.
3. Click on the Create button.
4. Enter the survey name, description, and instructions.
5. Click the Submit button.
6. Hover over the Create Question button and then choose a question to add.
7. Follow the instructions below for the specific question types; and set the question settings.
8. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the OK button
1. In the Survey Canvas, on the ribbon at the top right is the question settings button.
2. Select the button, and go through the requirements listed; checking or unchecking requirements that you feel are most appropriate for the survey you create. These include whether to display images within the questions or how you wish the questions to appear to the user.
3. When you are happy with the setting select Submit; these settings can be altered after you have created all the survey questions.
Question Types
Multiple Choice
- Type the question into the Question Text field
- In the Options area choose the type of numbering for the question, i.e. ABC or 1,2,3; Select how you wish the answers to be displayed; and whether you wish a sequence or random order.
- In the Answer area choose the number of answers in the Number of Answers pull down list; this can be up to a maximum of 20. NOTE: You can have less than 4 answers; to reduce them click the Remove button next to the Answer.
- Type the answers into the Answer field. Note: when in survey function you do not need to select whether this is the correct answer due to it being a survey and gathering opinion.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.
True/False
- Type the question into the Question Text field; this question type is not recommended for surveys.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.
Multiple Answer
- Type the question into the Question Text field.
- Choose the number of answers in the Number of Answers pull down list; this can be up to a maximum of 20.
- Type the answer in the Answer field boxes
- To remove answers not required click on the Remove button next to the Answer.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.
Ordering
- Type the question into the Question Text field.
- Choose the number of answers in the Number of Answers pull down list.
- Type the answers into the Answer field in the Correct Order. Note: the order function does not work when creating a survey, this only works when creating tests
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.
Opinion Scale/Likert
1. Enter a question title and question text
2. Select options
3. You can choose how many answers there are on the scale
To choose less than six (6) answers simply use the remove button next to the answer window. You can also change the wording of the answer text by editing it in the text editor window
Matching
- Type the question into the Question Text field.
- In area 2 options, choose the format you wish the answers to be displayed; and in area 3 choose the number of questions in the Number of Questions pull down list.
- Type the questions into the Question field(s) and for each question type in the answers in the Answer filed(s) .
- Choose the order number you wish the answers to be displayed.
- Type in feedback for both the Correct and Incorrect answer(s).
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.
Fill in the Blank
- Type the question into the Question Text field; this question type is not recommended for surveys.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.
Essay
- Type the question into the Question Text field; this question type is not recommended for surveys.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.
From Question Pool
Any and all questions that have been added to any and all tests and surveys in a course can be reused when creating a new test or survey.
- From the Test/Survey Canvas section click the Find Questions button
- Search for questions to reuse using the Browsing Criteria section
- Select which question(s) you want to use by checking the box next to the question(s)
- Click Submit and your selected questions will be added to your Test/Survey
Viewing Survey Results
Survey completion and attempt details can be found by accessing the ‘Full Grade Centre’ in Blackboard from your Control Panel. Once in your GradeCenter you need to locate the ‘Survey Column’ (automatically created) where you have set up your survey. Green ticks against student names in that column indicate that they have completed the survey. Selecting ‘View Grade Details’ from the drop-down menu in the column cell for a student who has completed the survey will provide you with further survey details for that particular student.
To view the survey statistics, in GradeCenter click on the contextual menu in the entire survey column (select the chevron against the Survey column name) and select ‘Attempt Statistics’. You can also download the survey results.
Downloading survey results in Excel format
1. In GradeCentre identify the survey column and select Download Results from the column menu
2. Click the Click to download results button
3. You will then have the option to Open or Save the data.
Deploying a Survey
When the survey is completed and ready to be deployed for students, go to the location/course area in which you would like the survey to be added.
1. Click on Assessments > Survey
2. Under the Add Survey menu select the Survey you previously created and click Submit.
3. On the next screen under – 2) Survey Availability select the setting of your choice
Please note that unless the Make the Link Available is set to Yes the survey WILL NOT display for students.
To set specific display dates for students use the Display After/Display Until boxes.
Due Date you have the option to indicate by when a survey should be submitted. Please note that this date does not affect the availability of the test you set up under Test Availability.
Survey Feedback check what should display once a student has completed a survey.
Survey Presentation select how the survey should display while students are taking it.
Once the survey has been completed by students, you can view results in the Grade Center. Go to Control Panel > Grade Center > Surveys.
Editing a Survey
To edit a survey once it has been deployed click on the arrow icon 
next to the survey name.
Select Edit the Survey to edit the survey questions and Edit the Survey Options to change survey availability and feedback.
Importing a Survey/Uploading Questions
If there is an exported survey you would like to reuse click on Control Panel > Tests, Surveys and Pools > Surveys > Import Survey.
Generally we do not advise using this method of adding surveys to Blackboard since it requires the file to be in a very specific format in order for it to upload correctly and usually creating a new survey within Blackboard is easier and more efficient.
Watch this 
on using MS Excel for uploading test/survey questions.
In addition to creating or reusing questions you can also upload them. Uploading questions is not recommended due to the difficulty of creating files in the correct format in order for them to upload correctly to Blackboard.
Clearing a Survey Attempt
Go to the survey in the Grade Center, click the arrow icon and select View Grade Details for the submission you want to change.
Then click the Clear Attempt button (bottom right of window). You will receive a prompt asking if you want to “delete this attempt.” Click OK and the submission will be deleted. The Grade History tab however will keep a record that this was done although the submission and all recorded answers were deleted.
FAQ
Q: I have created a survey, but the students cannot see it.
A: Make sure that you have added the survey to a Content Area using the Create Survey function. Surveys also need to be made available in the Survey Options section before students can access them.
Q: How do I add an image, URL, or file to my question?
A: If you would like to add an image, URL or file to your question, click on the Question Settings, at the top of the test canvas page. From there you can choose to provide feedback to individual answers, add images, files and URLs to questions, add images and files to answers, and add categories to questions.
Q: I would like to add a new question between question 4 and 5. How do I do this?
A: Create a question as you normally would and once you’re done, drag and drop the question where you would like it to be place in the ordering.
Q: I finished creating my survey and saved it. Now I want to make a change and add more questions. How do I do that?
A: Click on the arrow icon 
next to the name of the test. Select either Edit the Survey or Edit the Survey Options.