Before importing or creating questions using the GIFT/AIKEN formats you first need to activate an ad hoc Plugin that we have created, called GiftAiken.

To install and activate the GiftAiken Plugin, log in as an Administrator and, from the Homepage click on the Plugins icon. Find the Gift/Aiken plugin (1) and activate it by clicking on the switch (2) (the switch becomes green and the text black).

Once the Plugin is active, whenever you click on Add content (3) on a Course's page, you will see a Gift/Aiken format option on the dropdown list (4).

On the Gift/Aiken format page, pick your preferred format (Gift or Aiken) from the Format type drop-down menu (5). Continue to the Import to unit drop-down menu (6) to choose if your question(s) will be imported directly to a unit and, if yes, which unit it is. Type or paste your questions into the Data area.

Note: You can import more than one question at the same time. To do so, just leave a blank line after each question.

To confirm that your input is correct and see a preview version of your question(s), click on the  Preview (7) button. If you're done, click Import (8) to complete the operation.

You can delete, edit and reassign a question to a different unit anytime.  

For more on how your text should be formatted for each question format, see the two appendices below.

Appendix 1 - AIKEN

AIKEN is a simple format that supports multiple choice questions with a single correct answer. The inputted text for each question must occupy a single line. Each answer must be preceded by a single letter, followed by a period or a bracket. The correct-answer line, in the end, must begin with "ANSWER: " followed by the correct answer's starting letter. You can also add an explanation explaining your answer which must begin with “EXPLANATION: ”.

Here are some examples:

Pick the odd one out
a. Europe
b. Asia
c. Greenland
d. Australia
EXPLANATION: Greenland is a country not a continent
ANSWER: c

Which number completes the series 1, 5, 21, 85, ...?
A. 149
B. 253
C. 341
D. 405
ANSWER: C

Appendix 2 - GIFT

GIFT (General Import Format Technology) is a more advanced format that supports an array of question types. Many eFront question types can be imported using GIFT. Please note that eFront may not accept all GIFT features. Also, not all eFront question types and features can be imported using GIFT. Here is a list of question types that can be imported to eFront using the GIFT format. 

Multiple-choice

Each option must be preceded by a "tilde" character (~). The correct answer(s) must be preceded by an "equals" character (=). 

Here is an example:

Pick the odd one out {
~Europe
~Asia
=Greenland
~Australia
}

Note: You can have more than one correct answer.

For simple true-or-false questions, you have to type the question followed by "{TRUE}" (if the statement is true) or "{FALSE}" (if the statement is false). You can also use the shorter versions "{T}" and "{F}".

Here is an example:

Grant is buried in Grant's tomb.{FALSE}

The sun rises in the east.{TRUE}

Fill-the-gap

For fill-the-gap questions, you have to type the full sentence (question) with the missing words (answers) enclosed inside curly brackets ({}), preceded by an "equals" character (=). 

Here is an example:

The {=quick} brown {=fox} jumps {=over} the lazy {=dog}

Drag-and-drop

For drag-and-drop questions, you have to type the question and then enclose the correct answers inside curly brackets ({}). Each option must occupy a single line. It must be preceded by an "equals" sign (=) and followed by its matching option with a "hyphen" (-) and a "greater-than" (>) character between them.

Here is an example:

Match the capitals {
 =England -> London 
 =Germany -> Berlin  
 =Greece -> Athens
}

Free-text

For free-text questions, you have to type the question followed by empty curly brackets ({}).

Here is an example:

Write about the Spanish civil war {}

Note: No options for accumulated points are supported on imported free-text questions. These can be added later by editing the imported question in eFront.