Create an Item Resource – SAS Help Desk

An item resource is a passage, illustration, map, graph, etc. that can be used as a prompt for constructed response or multiple choice questions.

1. Click the Create Assessment Items button under the Create an Assessment Item section to generate a custom item resource (utilizing the SAS step-by-step process), which can then be linked to an assessment item and added to an assessment.

assessment center page with create an assessment item icon highlighted

2. The item resource creation process is outlined in a section-by-section progress display along the left hand side of the page. The future sections are locked until the current section has been completed. All required steps within a section must be finished before the next section becomes accessible.

create an assessment item page displaying instructions and progress steps with general information step highlighted

(To access custom item resources and/or assessment items that you have previously created, click the View My Created Items button. Please refer to the Create an Assessment Item help section for more information).

3. Start the General Information section by giving the resource a title in the Resource Name/Item Name field. Note that the Author field is pre-populated with your name.

Hint: To help keep your My Created Items bank organized, consider using a standardized naming convention for item resources that is as consistent and specific as possible.

ELA Example: 7-Anne Frank Diary Excerpt #1

Math Example: 4-Equivalent Fractions Word Problem #1

assessment item section of the general information step with resource name/item name field highlighted and arrow pointing to author field

4. Select Resource as the item type. To attach this item resource to an assessment item, please see Steps 12 and 13 below (once the creation process is complete).

assessment item type section of general information step with radio button for the resource option selected and highlighted

5. Select the Grade Level for the item resource by clicking the desired radio button.

grade level section of the general information step with the radio button for ninth grade selected and highlighted as an example

6. Select the Subject Area for the item resource by clicking the appropriate radio button. If the desired subject area is not displayed among the options, select No Subject Area.

subject area section of the general information step with the radio button for business, computer and information technology selected and highlighted as an example

For a subject area with sub-categories, click the drop down arrow associated with it and make your selection.

subject area section with the drop down arrow for the arts and humanities option highlighted

subject area section with the arts and humanities sub categories displayed with the radio button for the music option selected and highlighted

7. Select the Course (if applicable) for the item resource by clicking the desired radio button.

course section of the general information step with the radio button for civics and government selected and highlighted as an example

8. Note that no alignments are required for item resources, so the Alignment section is excluded from the resource creation process.

create an item resource page displaying the grayed out alignment step

create an item resource page displaying instructions and progress steps with alignment step grayed out and highlighted

9. For the Content section of the item resource creation process, add your resource in the Item Resource text box. Use the toolbar above the text box to edit/alter the text (as needed).

Hint: In addition to text, you can insert graphs, tables, charts, etc.

question/stem section of the content step with the text box highlighted

10. Once you have finished composing your item resource, double check that all necessary fields are completed and accurate. Then, click the Complete button at the very bottom of the page.

highlighted save button

11. To return to the Assessment Center landing page, click the Finished Adding a Resource button. To create an assessment item that will be connected to this item resource, click the Create an Aligned Assessment Item button. See the Create an Assessment Item help section for guidance.

resource completed popup window displaying instructions and both the finished adding a resource button and the create an aligned assessment item button

Hint: Your finished item resource will now appear in the My Created Items bank of the Build an Assessment section. To locate and/or edit the resource, please refer to the My Created Items help section.

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