Skip to main content

Create a Number Line Item

  • Updated

This lesson provides step-by-step guidance on creating a Number Line item in the Item Bank. This item type allows for students to respond to a prompt by directly interacting with a number line, plotting points, segments, and rays. This question type is automatically scored.

Where to Start

The Assessments navigation tile.
  1. Select Assessments, and select Browse Item Bank.

Create a New Item

The Create Item and Number Line item type buttons.
  1. Select Create Item.
  2. Use the dropdown menu to select Number Line as the item type.

Settings

An example Number Line item creation screen, with the Settings tab selected and labeled as step 4, and the Properties table labeled as step 5.
  1. To determine what fields are included in the Number Line item, select Settings.
  2. Use the toggles to include or exclude the Teacher Instructions, Item Stem, and Rationale fields.
    • By default, Teacher Instructions is toggled off, and the Item Stem and Rationale are toggled on.

Teacher Instructions and Item Stem

An example Number Line creation screen, with Teacher Instructions labeled as step 6, and Item Stem labeled as step 7.
  1. Enter Teacher Instructions, if applicable.
    • These instructions only appear for instructors, and are not visible to students during administration.
  2. Enter the Item Stem, if applicable. The stem typically tells the student what to plot on the Number Line (e.g., a particular value for a point, or the solution to an inequality for an open or closed ray).
    • To insert a line break in the Stem, use shift-return (or shift-enter, depending on the keyboard).

Set Up Number Line

An example Number Line item creation screen, with the Min and Max Values labeled as step 8, Tick Interval labeled as step 9, Label Interval labeled as step 10, Width labeled as step 11, the Arrows checkboxes labeled as step 12, the preview number line labeled as step 13, and the Title labeled as step 14.
  1. Select the desired Min and Max Value for the Number Line.
    • The default Min and Max Values are -1 and 1.
    • The Tick and Label Intervals will automatically change to match the scale of the Min and Max Values, but can still be manually altered.
  2. Select the desired Tick Interval unit and associated value.
    • The Tick Interval determines the distance between tick marks on the Number Line, in the chosen unit.
    • Available Tick Interval units include Integer, Unit Fraction, and Decimal.
    • The default Tick Interval is set to a Unit Fraction of 1/4.
    • Unit Fraction and Decimal Tick Intervals can be used when the difference between the Min and Max Values is 25 or less; e.g., -12 to 12, or -5 to 20.
    • Integer Tick Intervals can be used when the difference between the Min and Max Values is 3 or more; e.g., -1 to 2, or 0 to 3.
    • The upper and lower limits of Tick Intervals are determined by the Min and Max Values, as well as the width of the Number Line in pixels, in order to maintain legible units.
  3. Select the desired Label Interval value.
    • The Label Interval determines the distance between labeled tick marks, in the chosen unit.
    • The Label Interval must be a multiple of the Tick Interval, and is expressed as a whole number, fraction, or decimal, depending on the chosen Tick Interval unit.
    • The Label Interval updates automatically with changes to the Min and Max Values, and the Tick Interval, but can still be manually altered. Ensure that the Label Interval is large enough to allow the labels to be legible, and prevent overlapping.
  4. Select the desired Number Line Width in pixels.
    • The default width is set at 500 pixels; the minimum width allowed is 200 pixels, and the maximum is 800 pixels.
    • The default 500 pixel width is compatible with most devices; wider Number Lines may be difficult to access with smaller-screened devices.
  5. Select the Arrows checkboxes to include or exclude the right and/or left arrows at either end of the Number Line.
  6. A preview of the Number Line displays, and updates in real time as changes are made to the Number Line Setup.
  7. (Optional) Add a Title to display directly beneath the Number Line.

Define Tool Set and Correct Response

An example Number Line creation screen, with Available Tools labeled as step 15, Max No of Elements labeled as step 16, Correct Answer tools labeled as step 17, the number line for plotting the correct answer labeled as step 18, Undo labeled as step 19, Clear All labeled as step 20, and Rationale labeled as step 21.
  1. Select the Available Tools that students will be able to use to plot their answer on the Number Line.
    • Tools selected to be available to students are highlighted in a grey box, and appear as an option under Correct Answer.
    • Tools that are not selected do not appear for students during administration.
    • Use the Select All button to select all tools, and None to deselect all tools.
    • Available Tools include Point, Segments, and Rays, where the Segments and Rays include closed and open points options.
  2. Select the desired Max No of Elements that students will be able to plot on the Number Line.
    • The default Max No of Elements is 1, with a maximum of 20 elements allowed.
  3. Select the desired tool to begin plotting the correct answer on the Number Line. Select different tools to plot each desired element of that tool type.
  4. Plot the elements that constitute the correct answer on the Number Line.
    • Select on the Number Line to place the selected element.
    • When placed, segments appear as one Tick Interval long, with the left endpoint located at the selected location.
    • Select and drag any point or endpoint to alter and reposition elements.
    • Elements that overlap stack vertically above the Number Line to ensure legibility of individual elements.
  5. Select Undo to undo the last change made to the Number Line.
  6. Select Clear All to remove all elements added to the Number Line.
  7. Enter the Rationale for the correct answer, if applicable.

The Correct Answer Number Line must have at least one element plotted before the item can be published.

Item Preview

An example Number Line creation screen, with the Item Preview tab selected and labeled as step 22, the Role dropdown labeled as step 23, the item preview labeled as step 24, and Check Answers labeled as step 25.
  1. Select the Item Preview tab to see how the item will appear to students during administration.
  2. Use the dropdown to preview the item from a Student or Instructor Role.
  3. The item preview displays any included Item Stem, Available Tools, and the Number Line as set up; interact with the Number Line by plotting elements.
  4. Use the slider to Check Answers to verify the answer key. Correct elements will be shown in green, and incorrect elements will be shown in orange.
    • Elements will only be treated as correct if they are an exact match to the plotted correct answer. For example, the above ray with closed point is represented in orange as an incorrect answer, as the correct answer would be the same ray with an open point.
    • Missing elements are not shown in the Check Answers view; select Show correct answer to view the correct placement of any missing elements.

Publish Item

The Done menu, with Done labeled as step 39, Publish labeled as step 40, Save Draft labeled as step 41, and Discard labeled as step 42.
  1. When the item is complete, select Done.
  2. Select Publish to make the item available to use in an assessment.
  3. Select Save Draft to save the item, if it is not ready to be published.
  4. Select Discard to delete the item.

Once items are Published, they can be Locked, Edited, or Deleted.

Next Steps

Now that you have created a Number Line item, learn about Creating an Item Bank Assessment.

Was this article helpful?
0 out of 0 found this helpful
Return to top

Help us improve this article

Submit Feedback