Hotspot Questions

Available from version 8.5

Feature release date: 09/05/2022

Summary

The Hotspot Question Item type allows users to create an interactive question where the candidate is presented with an image and can be asked to identify a specific area or subject in the given image. Multiple areas of an image can be set up to be selected as separate hotspots.

This new Item type expands the list of available question types that can be used in Written Exams delivered using Practique. The addition of this Item type does not impact other areas of the system.

When presented with a question in an exam, the candidate will click on the part of the image that they think satisfies the question. If their point selection falls within the boundary outlined in the creation of the item then it will count as correct. Any point selected outside of the previously created boundary will be incorrect.

How to create a Hotspot Question:

From the main menu, click Items.
Click + Create New Item.
From the dropdown menu, select Hotspot Question and fill out the Item information as required.
After clicking Create Item it is possible to add further information to the item, including the addition of any required Blueprinting.
Go to Resources.
Add the required image as a Resource to the Item and Save. You can choose an existing Resource from the Resource Library or upload a new one.
Click on the Item tab.The first Hotspot is automatically added. Click Empty to change the name of that Hotspot. The text entered here (name of the Hotspot) will be seen by the candidate as the objects to identify in the image(s).
Scroll down; the ability to add hotspots appears below the image.
The first Hotspot is automatically added. Click Empty to change the name of that Hotspot. The text entered here (name of the Hotspot) will be seen by the candidate as the objects to identify in the image(s).
Click Edit.
To create the selection, you click within the image to create which join to create a path. When the polygon is completed, click Save. The lines of the polygon must not overlap. Clicking on an existing point will delete that point, and the polygon will automatically join the two points on either side. Shift+Click may be used to move existing vertices of the polygon. Practique attempts to create vertices in the correct order automatically (radially from the centre of mass of the polygon) and this works well for most simple polygons. For complex concave polygons it may be necessary to create the vertices and then use Shift+Click to move them to the correct place afterwards.
You can add multiple Hotspots by clicking Add new Hotspot and repeating the above steps.
Once all required Hotspots are added, you can then proceed with the review and approval of the Item.

The below video demonstrates how to create a Hotspot Question with a more complex subject area and demonstrates point manipulation:

Candidate View of Hotspot Question

The below video shows how a candidate will interact with a Hotspot question in an Exam:

Notes:

If a candidate wants to alter their answer, click on the button with the coordinates of their first answer.
Only single slice/static images can be used in Hotspot Questions. DICOM images can be used, but they must have only a single slice.
Hotspots are weighted as a single mark per correctly selected Hotspot. This can not be changed.

Tips: Opportunity to add any best practice tips/tricks

Troubleshooting:

If the lines of the polygon selection overlap, then instances of blank spots may occur and cause a seemingly correct identification of an area in the image to count as incorrect. Please ensure your polygon is a closed shape with no overlapping area to avoid this.