Building a Homegrown Math Placement Test Inside the Learning Management System (LMS)

The Mathematics Department at Framingham State University approached the Education Technology Office to revamp its approach to placing students into introductory math classes. The faculty wanted to develop a more accurate test to assess students' basic math skills and adjust to the test-taker's individual level. This way, students wouldn't have to waste time with tests that were either too easy or much too challenging. Additionally, faculty wanted the test to be easily accessible through the Learning Management System (LMS) so that students would not be required to navigate to another portal or create new login credentials. Using several features of the Canvas LMS, such as the New Quiz engine and Mastery Paths, the resulting placement experience was built and administered to approximately 400 students beginning in the summer of 2023.