Adding Questions and Configuring Scoring

Questions are the individual evaluation indicators that observers use during observations and performance reviews. You can create questions with different answer types and configure point values for scoring.

Question Types

Single Answer Questions

Standard questions where observers select one answer choice. Most common for rubric-style evaluations.

Multi-Answer Questions

Checkbox-style questions where observers can select multiple answer choices. Useful for documenting multiple observed behaviors or strategies.

Countable Questions

Numeric input questions where observers enter a count or quantity. Often used for tracking specific classroom elements like “Number of students engaged.”

Creating Questions

Requires Form Manager role

1. Navigate to System Admin → Observe → Questions
2. Click Add Question
3. Enter the question details:
   • Text: The evaluation indicator or question text
   • Required: Check if observers must answer this question
   • Allow Multiple Answers: Check for checkbox-style selection
   • Include N/A: Add a “Not Applicable” option
   • Countable: Check for numeric input questions
4. Click Save

Adding Answer Choices

After creating a question, add the answer choices observers will select from:

1. From the question detail page, click Add Choice
2. Configure each choice:
   • Text: The choice label (e.g., “Exemplary”, “Proficient”, “Developing”)
   • Value: Point value for scoring calculations
   • Display Order: Controls the order choices appear to observers
3. Repeat for each answer choice
4. Click Save

Question Properties

Required Questions

When marked as required, observers must provide an answer before completing the observation. Use this for essential evaluation criteria.

Multiple Answer Support

Enable this for questions where multiple behaviors or strategies might be observed simultaneously. Each selected choice contributes its point value to the total score.

Countable Questions

These display as number input fields during observations. The entered number is multiplied by any configured point values for scoring.

Adding Questions to Form Sections

Questions must be attached to form sections to appear in observations:

1. Navigate to the form section
2. Click Add Question
3. Either:
   • Select an existing question from the dropdown
   • Create a new question inline
4. Configure the question’s placement:
   • Display Order: Position within the section
   • Weight: Relative importance for scoring (if section uses weighted scoring)
5. Click Save

Scoring Configuration

Point Values

Each answer choice can have a point value that contributes to the observation’s overall score. Common scales include:

• 4-Point Scale: 4 (Exemplary), 3 (Proficient), 2 (Developing), 1 (Beginning)
• 3-Point Scale: 3 (Exceeds), 2 (Meets), 1 (Approaching)
• 2-Point Scale: 2 (Yes/Present), 1 (No/Absent)

Question Weights

Within form sections, you can assign different weights to questions to emphasize their importance in scoring calculations.

1. Navigate to System Admin → Observe → Sections
2. Select your form section
3. Click Weighted Values
4. Assign weight values to each question
5. Questions with higher weights contribute more to the section score

N/A Options

Include “Not Applicable” choices for situations where a question doesn’t apply to the specific observation context. N/A choices typically have no point value and don’t count toward scoring.

Rubric Integration

For sections configured as rubrics, you can link answer choices to rubric performance levels:

1. Create rubric markers in your form section
2. When adding answer choices to questions, select the appropriate Rubric Marker
3. This creates visual alignment in the rubric view during observations

Best Practices

Question Design

• Write clear, observable indicators rather than subjective judgments
• Focus on specific teacher behaviors or classroom elements
• Use consistent language across related questions

Scoring Setup

• Align point values with your organization’s evaluation standards
• Consider whether higher or lower numbers represent better performance
• Test scoring calculations with sample observations before deployment

Answer Choice Organization

• Order choices logically (typically from highest to lowest performance)
• Use consistent terminology across all questions in a form set
• Keep choice text concise but descriptive

Questions form the foundation of your evaluation instruments. Well-designed questions with appropriate scoring lead to meaningful observation data that supports professional growth conversations.