Create a Hot Spot Item – DnA & ISE

This lesson provides step-by-step guidance on creating a Hot Spot item in the Item Bank. This item type allows Hot Spots to be overlaid on an image. These Hot Spots will be selectable responses to an indicated prompt. These items are automatically scored.

Where to Start

Select Assessments.
Select Browse Item Bank.

Create a New Item

The Create Item and Hot Spot item type buttons.

Select Create Item.
Use the dropdown menu to select Hot Spot as the item type.

Hot Spot Items

An example Hot Spot item, with the Item Stem labeled as step 5, the Hot Spot color dropdown labeled as step 6, Response Outline labeled as step 7, the image upload space labeled as step 8, the Hot Spot drawing tools labeled as step 9, a Hot Spot being edited labeled as step 10, a Hot Spot selected as the correct answer labeled as step 11, Clear All labeled as step 12, and Image Dimensions labeled as step 13.

Type in the Item Stem. The item stem is the beginning part of an item that presents a problem to be solved, a direct question, or an incomplete statement to be completed, as well as any other relevant information.
- To insert a line break in the Stem, use shift-return (or shift-enter, depending on the keyboard).
Use the dropdown to select what color the Hot Spot area will be: blue, red, yellow, or grey.
Use the dropdown to select what color the Response Outline will be: blue, red, or yellow.
Upload an image to be the background for your Hot Spots.
Select the desired shape tools to create Hot Spots.
- Select the rectangle to create regular rectangle shapes by selecting and dragging the cursor.
- Select the indented rectangle to create irregular shapes by plotting the corners of the desired shape.
- Select the circle to create circular shapes by selecting and dragging the cursor.
Using the desired tools, plot Hot Spots over the background image. Hover over a placed Hot Spot to reveal handles to move and reshape the Spot, and the red trash can icon to delete the spot.
Deselect any shape tools, and select one of the Hot Spots to indicate it as the correct answer. It will be marked with an outline in the Response Outline color selected.
Select Clear All to remove all Hot Spots.
Alter the size of the background image using the Image Dimensions fields. Plotted Hot Spots will be resized alongside the image.

Supported image formats include .png, .bmp, and .jpg. For best results, choose an image file that can be used at its native resolution. Resizing the image can result in image distortion, so use with caution. Be sure to upload your image prior to creating the Hot Spots.

Drafted items are automatically saved.

Item Details

The item settings menus, with the Standards icon labeled as step 14, Passages labeled as step 15, Tags labeled as step 16, and the Settings and Properties menus labeled as step 17.

To link Standard(s) to the item, select the Three Pages icon.
To link a Passage to the item, select the Book icon.
To add Tags to the item, select the Tag icon.
Additional Settings are available to edit per item, such as allowing for Multiple Correct Answers, and Enabling/Disabling Teacher Instructions and Rationale.

Users must link at least 1 standard when creating an item. If attempting to publish an item without standards, an error message will appear asking for standards to be aligned before publishing again.

Item Preview

Select Item Preview to see a preview.
You can select to preview the item from a Student or Instructor Role.
Test the item by selecting a response.
Select Check Answers to verify the answer key. Correctly selected answers will appear with a green checkmark, correct answers that were not selected will appear with a red X, and incorrectly selected answers will appear with a red outline and a red X.

Publish Item

The Done menu, with Done labeled as step 22, Publish labeled as step 23, Save Draft labeled as step 24, and Discard labeled as step 25.

When you've completed creating/editing your item, select Done.
To make your item available to use in an assessment, select Publish.
To save an item that isn't ready to be published, select Save Draft.
To delete the item, select Discard.

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

Next Steps

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