Creating Questions in the CPS Software

Creating a Class Database

Run the CPS software by going to Start > All Programs > CPS > CPS.
From the File menu, New Database.
Name your New CPS File and save it in a location where you can easily remember and locate it.

Tip

Select a name that will differentiate this database from any other courses you teach and use CPS in. (e.g: CM3601 and ME3811).
Repeat Steps 1-3 for each class you teach

Creating a New Lesson for your Class

After you have created a new Class Database, from the Prepare tab, select Lessons & Assessments.
Select your new Class Database in the left-hand frame and then click New > Lesson.
A CPS Lesson Attributes dialog box will appear. Enter in your Title, Description and any Unique Identifiers you might have.
Select OK to save and create your new lesson.
Repeat Steps 1-4 for each lesson you wish to create for your course database (e.g. Class 1, Class 2, etc.).

Adding Questions to your Lessons

Select a lesson in the left-hand window of the Lessons frame.
Click New > Question.
The CPS - Question Author window will appear.
Select the Question Type you would like to create in the pull-down window shown in the image below. The default option is a Multiple Choice question with five answer choices (A-E).
If you would like to insert images into your question or answer choices, select an option from the Template drop-down below the Question Tyle drop-down.
Type in your question and answer choices.
Select which letter correlates to the correct answer.
Click the Save button when you are finished with the question.
To add a new question from the CPS - Question Author window, click the New button. Use the forward and back arrows, if necessary, to scroll through your questions.
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When you are finished adding questions, click the Close button

Exporting Lessons to Other PC's

If you create questions on your office or personal computer and do not have a laptop, you can save class databases on the network or on a disc and easily open them up on a computer in an E-Classroom or on any ATC laptop.

Locate your class database file on your PC (Step 3 from the first section, Creating a Class Database, on this page).
Create a copy of the file and move the copy to the portable location (e.g. network drive, USB key, CD-ROM, floppy, E-mail to yourself, etc.).
Run CPS on the E-Classroom or ATC laptop.
Go to File and Open Database.
Browse for your copy of the database from the portable location.

Caution

Need to go from a PC to a Mac or vice versa? Follow the instructions on Importing/Exporting CPS Databases Between PCs and Macs.

Maintained by itweb@wpi.edu
Last modified: Apr 02, 2008, 08:47 EDT