During the summer semester of 2023, staff from the Center for Integrated Professional Development and the Office of Technology Solutions were made aware of an issue with one of the 14 Canvas quiz types.

Both calculated questions in Sakai (ReggieNet) and formula questions in Canvas allow faculty to use variables, number ranges and formulas to configure advanced math quiz questions, resulting in test questions with different numbers for each student. 

The Issue:

Sakai calculated questions allow for multiple variables and more than one formula within a question, while Canvas formula questions allow for multiple variables, but only one formula within a question. While calculated questions using only a single formula appear to migrate from Sakai to Canvas without issue, calculated questions using multiple formulas do not migrate and cannot be built from scratch within Canvas. 

Sakai: Allows questions with multiple variables and multiple formulas

Canvas: Allows questions with multiple variables and one formula

Migration Issue: Unable to migrate questions with multiple formulas from Sakai to Canvas. Questions cannot be built in Canvas. 

What is being done to find a solution:

A variety of solutions were attempted to provide multiple formula questions in Canvas, but were not successful.

Currently, staff from the Center for Integrated Professional Development and the Office of Technology Solutions are working with ISU faculty members who use calculated questions. These faculty members are evaluating and testing 3rd party programs that purport to support multiple formula math questions to determine whether any will provide a long-term resolution of this issue. They are also exploring whether there may be any temporary workarounds in the interim. 

Future solution: Possible 3rd party program or temporary workaround being tested for a future solution.

How to Get Help

Instructional assistance and knowledge for Canvas is available through the Center for Integrated Professional Development by phone (309) 438-2542, or email at ProDev@ilstu.edu.

Technical assistance and knowledge for Canvas is available through the Technology Support Center at (309) 438-4357, by email at SupportCenter@IllinoisState.edu, or by Live Chat at Help.IllinoisState.edu.