Adobe Captivate Advanced Actions - Multiple Choice Scenario

[lizd92216036]

Hello!

I'm attempting to use conditional advanced actions to create my own multiple choice question in Captivate. Let's say I have a question with four possible answers. All of these answers will be assigned different point values ranging 1-4. However, I want my learner to only be able to select one answer. You cannot use the multiple choice question slide, because to have partial scores, you must select the multiple answers option. So I'm building it from scratch...I also want the condition to be true that if Learner Joe selects answer A, that he could change his mind and select answer B.  Essentially I want the statement to be true that "If A is selected, B is not" I'd want this to be true for C and D as well. Here's my outline below.

A= 2 point; B=3 points; C=4 points; D=5 points

Example of Conditions for A: If A is selected, the LearnerScore = 2; If A is selected, B is not selected; If A is selected, C is not selected; if A is selected, D is not selected.

Variables:

V_num_score (the value of the learner's score starting at 0)

SelectedAnswer_A (variable to show if A has been selected. If the variable = 1, then the answer has been selected, if the variable is = 0 then it is not selected)

So, I've worked out to do a standard advanced action to assign the points to my score variable, but I cannot figure out how to make it conditional that if I've selected answer A then the rest will be deselected thus nulling any points they could account for. And I don't know how to correlate my SelectedAnswer_A variable with the button to choose a in the first place.

I hope this is clear, any help is appreciated!

[Lilybiri]

Will this score be transmitted to a LMS? I warn you: if you have 4 different scores for this question slide, the total score that will be included in the quizzing system variables (like cpQuizInfoTotalQuizPoints) will be the sum of the scores you defined:

  2 + 3 + 4 + 5 = 14 pts

That total score is used to calculate the percentage acquired by the user. If you need to report the score, this is the real problem. I could help you with the other issues, but want first to be sure that you don't need that score to be included in a reporting score.

[lizd92216036]

I think that I'll just manually show them their score at the end of the activity, and the activity can be "graded" on a completion basis. By saying "manually" I just mean I'll have a text caption that says "Final Score: $$v_num_score$$" to show their final tally.

I'd love your input on the other issues if you think you can help!

[Lilybiri]

It depends how you want to let the learner choose an answer. That could be using the checkboxes interaction, or just by clicking a shape filled with the answer. The last scenario could be the easiest. I strongly recommend to add a Submit button, so that the user will be able to change his selection before clicking the Submit button.

1. Create 4 shapes with the answers, and set them to be used as buttons; I will label them SB_answer1, SB_answer2....4.
2. Nice bonus would be to add a custom state to the Inbuilt states (normal, rollover, down) which I will label 'Selected', to allow the user to see which answer is selected at this moment. That can simply be a color change for the shape and/or the label. If you check the option 'Retain state when returning...' this will also be frozen when the user comes back, keeps its answer.
3. For the shape buttons create a shared action:
   1. Change state of SB_answer1 to Selected     the shape button and the state are parameters
   2. Assign v_score with 2        the literal (2) is a parameter
4. Assign this shared action with the appropriate parameters to the 5 shape buttons
5. For the Submit button: you will only have to freeze all shape buttons, which is done in Captivate by the Disable command:
        Disable SB_answer1
         Disable SB_answer2
         Disable SB_answer3
         Disable SB_answer4
   
   I'm sorry, disabling is not (yet) possible for a group, hence the 4 necessary commands
   
   

If you want several questions of this type, let me know, because in that case there will be a need for an extra variable and the need for a conditional action, but in this scenario no need for conditions.

[lizd92216036]

That's helpful, but the problem that I'd still have in that scenario is that my learner can still select multiple answers. I need the learner to have the capacity to switch between answers if they change their mind, but be limited to submit just one answer for a score. and all the answers have varying point levels. What would you do to compensate for that?

I also see that you've said I could change the state of the shape button, but it's been my experience that you cannot use "change the state of" with buttons. I can only access that when causing changes to objects. Is that changeable?

[Lilybiri]

OK.  Radiobuttons learning interaction could help in that case, but a user reported that it is not working in Edge.

You can disable the other shape buttons when one has been clicked, but you'll need a Clear button in that case if the user wants to change his mind. Shared actions will not be possible now, you need advanced actions for the shape buttons:

• Change state of SB_answer1 to Selected
• Assign v_score with 2
• Disable SB_answer2
• Disable SB_answer3
• Disable SB_answer4

For the Clear button:

• Assign v_score with 0
• Enable SB_answer1
• Enable SB_answer2
• Enable SB_answer3
• Enable SB_answer4
• Change state of SB_answer1 to Normal
• Change state of SB_answer2 to Normal
• Change state of SB_answer3 to Normal
• Change state of SB_answer4 to Normal

[lizd92216036]

I'll try this and see if it works. I'm not sure if i'll be able to use a clear button, because we were hoping to just have it so that if you click A then B becomes deselected, but this is a good work around.

I am still curious about combining the standard and conditional action! let me know if you have an answer for that. and thank you so much for all your help!

[Lilybiri · Accepted solution]

That is what will happen, but the user cannot change his mind in that case before submitting.

If you use the radiobuttons widget, only one option can be chosen. In that case the score has to be attributed with the Submit button and you'll need a conditional action with 4 decisions.

I have tons of examples on my blog about combining a standard with a conditional action. The standard action is one decision with a condition that is always fulfilled (no need for an ELSE part):

   IF 1 is equal to 1

       Do this

Here is the link to one example on the blog:

Custom Failure Messages/Attempts - Drag&Drop - Captivate blog

You'll see that the first decision is a standard action with that type of condition.

Beware: the sequence is very important in conditional actions.

[lizd92216036]

Thanks for all your help! I think this will get me where I need to go. If I find anything else I need, I'll come back

[lizd92216036]

I also would love to know how to combine a standard action with a conditional action. I think if I could do this, I'd be able to work around my problem! I want to click a button that first triggers a standard action and with the same click a subsequent conditional action. Is that possible?