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Data tables
From Qedoc
Data tables are a way of rapidly integrating large amounts of formally organised data into a quiz using the Qedoc Quiz Maker. In programmatic terms, they are the equivalent of creating multi-dimensional arrays for randomly inserting variables into questions. In educational terms, it is like having lists, and choosing a different random item from the list to put into the question every time it is displayed.
Data tables constitute advanced use of the Qedoc Quiz Maker. It is advised the start with the basics first and work up to data tables. However for any seriously large and efficient quiz making, data tables are considered essential by all authors who have tried them.
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What does a data table achieve?
Let's start with an example.
Suppose you want to create a vocabulary training quiz. There are two ways you could it: the hard way, and the easy way.
- The hard way: you type in the same question for every single vocabulary item you wish to test.
- The easy way: you create 1 template question, plus a table of corresponding vocabulary items. You then leave it up to the programme to merge the table and the template, creating 100's or 1000's of questions by itself.
You can think of this by analogy with the "mail merge" function of popular office software. You create a single letter, and then merge it with a table of addressees to create hundreds or thousands of personalised letters. It's easier than typing each individual letter.
More ideas:
- Tables of historical dates or people
- Tables of scientific data, such as the periodical table of elements
- Tables of country data for geographical quizzes
- Any other kind of learning material which lends itself to tabularisation
How to create a data table
See: data table creation tutorial.
How to use a data table
Once you've got a data table, it doesn't actually do anything by itself. You have to tell your questions how to use the data table.
See: data table implementation tutorial.
Import and export of data tables
Data tables are best used when the data in them is exported and imported between the Qedoc Quiz Maker and an office application, such as Microsoft Word or Excel. Imports and exports are in a simple CSV format. Very large amounts of data can be moved in this way. Tables can be created, maintained and edited in an office application, and transferred to the Qedoc Quiz Maker each time an update is required.
Images in data tables
Images and other media items can easily be referenced in data tables.
It is a three step process, and the steps can be taken in any order.
- Write the filename of the media item into any cell of the data table - e.g. myImage.jpg, or mySound.wav. That's all. Just the filename.
- Add the media item to the media bank. Make sure that the filename known to the media bank matches the filename in your data table.
- Anywhere in a quiz where a media item filename might be expected, you can then insert a data table reference instead. In other words, where the filename "myImage.jpg" would display the image, you can write {dtx_y_....} (a data table reference) instead. The phrase where a media item filename might be expected is important: you can't just write a media item data table reference anywhere and hope it will turn into an image - it has to be somewhere that a media item filename would have been expected.
Example modules which make use of this feature:
