Hot Potatoes Tutorial

Jamie Fowler
Mathematics Teacher
Cascade High School
jfowler@mccsc.k12.in.us

Table of Contents
What is hot potato?
Getting Started
JCloze
JMatch
JQuiz
JCross
JMix
The Masher
Changing Settings
Helpful Tips
Math Symbols
Inserting Images
Adding Hot Potatoes to Moodle as a Hot Potato
Combining Different Hot Potatoes on Moodle

What is it?
Hot potatoes es un programa gratuito que te permite crear

cuestionarios o pruebas. Adems Moodle puede cargar

estos cuestionarios y aadir las calificaciones del libro de
grado de Moodle para usted.
Hay 5 opciones en Hot Potato
JCloze
JMatch
JQuiz
JCross
JMix

Index

Getting Started
You will first need to download and install the Hot Potatoes program on your

computer. Go to the following link to download.

http://hotpot.uvic.ca/index.php#downloads
Once installed, open the
program and you should
see this window. From
here you can choose
which type of quiz you
want to make.
Note: The Masher allows you to
combine different types of
quizzes that you have already
created.
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Tool Basics

All Hot Potatoes have the same basic buttons on the tool bar as seen here

Inserts a
web page
directly
into your
Hot
Potato

Create
your
own
title to
the
activity
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Turn your
Hot
Potato
into a
web page

Insert
pictur
e
found
on the
web

Change settings
like directions,
student
feedback, and
appearance

Insert
Pictur
e
from
file**

Insert
a web
link

Insert a link to
a file ex:
might have a
document you
want students
to read

**Be sure image file is saved

in same folder as the Hot
Potato you are making.

JCloze
Create open response

questions with one or

many specific answers.
This is essentially a fill
in the blank quiz.

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Creating JCloze
When you select

JCloze you will

see the following
screen
Create your title
In the main space
add your quiz by
typing text,
inserting images,
and adding web
links
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Example: Making a JCloze math quiz

Suppose you want to make

a quiz for students to solve

an equation.
First type in the equation.
You can insert equations as
an image or use codes for
special characters. (See
section on Inserting Math
Symbols.)
Notice that the answers are
typed in.
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Example: Making a JCloze math quiz

Then, to make a blank

where the students will

enter the response,
highlight the text you want
removed and click on the
Gap button at the bottom.

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Example: Making a JCloze math quiz

You will then be able to

add more correct

responses. Try to think of
the different ways a
student may type in the
answer or that they may
switch the order of the
answers.
Once you click OK the
gap text will be red and
under lined
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Example: Making a JCloze math quiz

Continue to enter your

questions and answers

until you are finished.
(See adding hot potatoes
to Moodle to finish)

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JMatch
create a matching

response test.
With Hot Potatoes the
students are able to
either
Select the answer from

a drop down menu

use the mouse to drag
the answer over to the
vocabulary word or
image.
OR you can make this
into a flash card option
(not graded)
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Creating a JMatch
When you select JMatch

you will see the following

screen
Create your title
In the main space add your
vocabulary words (or
pictures) on the right and
the answer you want it to
match with on the left.
When the quiz is published

it will automatically
jumble the right hand
items.
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Example: Creating a JMatch Art quiz

Save your images that you

want to use in the same

folder as your Hot Potato
JMatch
Create your title
To add an image, be sure
you have put your curser in
the correct box and then
click on the insert image
button
Note: It is best to add the

image as a Web URL. (See

inserting images)
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Example: Creating a Jmatch Art quiz

Continue to add items

to the left and the

answer on the right.
Hot Potato will
automatically jumble
the answer responses.

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Example: Creating a Jmatch Art quiz

With Hot Potatoes you

can publish the quiz so

that students are able to
Select the answer

from a drop down

menu
use the mouse to drag
the answer over to the
vocabulary word or
image.
OR you can make this
into a flash card
option (not graded)

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JQuiz
Create different types of

questions
Multiple choice
Short Answer
Hybrid
Multi select

The hybrid is a unique option

where students are able to type in

a response and then after a certain
number of attempts, the question
will transform into a multiple
choice question. (this option will
not be presented in this tutorial)

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Creating a JQuiz
When you select JQuiz

you will see the following

screen
Create your title
Select the type of
question you would like
from the drop down menu
Also, for all types, if you
need more than 4 choices,
click on the up arrow next
to the answer column

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Example: Making a JQuiz for History

Multiple choice
Enter your question in the

space next to the Q.

You can insert images
into this space as well.
Then, enter the answer
choices and check the box
next to the correct answer
If you want you can enter
in specific feedback for
each response (this is
optional)

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Example: Making a JQuiz for History

To add another

question, click on the

up arrow next to the
Q
The title will be the
same and the question
type will be the same
as the last question
You can have different

types of questions
within a single JQuiz

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Example: Making a JQuiz for History

Short answer
Hot Potato will try to

find the nearest match

among the specified
correct answers, and
signal to the student
which parts of their
answer are right and
which parts are wrong.
The score for each
question is based on the
number of attempts the
student makes before
getting a correct answer
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Example: Making a JQuiz for History

Multi select
After entering your

question, enter the

answer choices and
place a check in the
boxes next to the
correct answers

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JCross
Create a cross word puzzle

using the words and the

clues you want

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Creating a JCross
When you select JCross

you will see the following

screen
Create your title
You will then need to have
a list of words and clues
prepared that you wish to
enter
Note: It is helpful to have

a word document or web

page with your vocabulary
list so you can copy and
paste the clue text
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Example: Making a JCross SAT Vocab

First add a words in the

grid
You can enter the

words into the grid

manually
OR you can enter your
list of words and let the
computer fill the grid
To have the computer

do the work, Click on

Manage Grid and then
Automatic Grid
Maker

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Example: Making a JCross SAT Vocab

The automatic grid

maker allows you to

enter a list of words
Once you have
entered your words,
click on Make the
Grid Button.
If you dont like

where a word is
placed you can try
the auto grid maker
again or manually
change it.
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Example: Making a JCross SAT Vocab

Once your words

are in the grid,

click on the Add
clues button to
enter the clue text

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Example: Making a JCross SAT Vocab

You will see the

following screen to enter

your clues
Notice that ACROSS

words are on top and

DOWN words are on the
bottom
Highlight a word and

then type or copy and

paste your clue into the
box below your word
Click Ok to save your

clue
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JMix
Create a jumbled

sentence or set of
events that need to
be reordered. With
JMix you can either
Click on the words

to put them in
order
use the mouse to
drag the words in
order

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Creating a JMix
Create a title
Add the words of your

sentence into the box

titled Main Sentence

Index

Example: Making a JMix Grammar

Then add alternate

sentences that can also

be made from your
main sentence.

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Example: Creating a JMix grammar

With Hot Potatoes

you can publish the

quiz so that
students are able to
either
Click on the

words to put them

in order
use the mouse to
drag the words in
order
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The Masher
Once you have created

different Hot Potato quizzes,

you can Mash them
together into one big quiz.
Note: Moodle does not

know what the masher is

and so you will need to use
the quiz maker to combine
different Hot Potatoes. (See
Combining Different Hot
Potatoes to Moodle)

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Creating a Masher
This is the screen you will

see for the Masher.

You MUST have created

the quizzes you wish to

mash first.
Be sure the Output folder

at the bottom is where you

have saved all your
quizzes for mashing

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Creating a Masher
Click on the Add Files button

and you will be able to choose the

files you wish to add.
Most Hot Potatoes have one form
but the ones that have different
options, you will be able to select
that format here.
JMatch
Standard
Drag and Drop
Flash cards

JMix
Standard
Drag and Drop

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Creating a Masher
Once you have added

all your quizzes, click

on Build Unit button

Index

Changing Settings
There are

different settings
you can change
using the
configuration
button. All Hot
Potatoes have
essentially the
same options.

Index

Changing Settings Titles and instructions

Here you can

change the sub

title and
instructions if
you need to
create more
content specific
instructions or a
clearer
explanation of
how to complete
the activity.
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Changing Settings Prompts and Feedback

You can change how

to program responds
to a students answer.
This response
should be generic
for the Hot Potato
and not specific to
any one question.
For certain Hot
Potatoes you can
specify the
computers
response.

Index

Changing Settings Buttons

You can include or

exclude certain
buttons that
normally appear.
For example, you
many not want
students to get
hints and here is
where you turn
that option off by
Unchecking the
box next to Hint.

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Changing Settings Appearance

You can change

the colors for

background as
well as the font
style.
Note: It is

easier to
change the font
by going to the
Options
menu and then
click on Font
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Changing Settings Timer

If you would

like for there to

be a time limit
on the quiz you
can set that
here.

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Changing Settings Other

These settings

change for each

Hot Potato and
allows you to
set more
specific options.

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Changing Settings Other, Custom, and CGI

The Other settings

change for each Hot

Potato and allows you to
set more specific options.

Index

Custom and CGI you will not to do anything with because

Moodle will allow you to report grading without making
any changes here.

Helpful Tips
Images
It is best to insert your image from a web URL. (See

Inserting Images)
Dont put spaces in the file name the internet doesnt
always like spaces.
Save your images in the same folder as your Hot Potato
When working in Hot Potato, you will not see the image
appear but rather a long line of text which is HTML code.
Dont erase any of this code or the image wont appear
correctly

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Helpful Tips
File Names
Dont put spaces in your Hot Potato file names the

internet doesnt always like it.

Use a short name that is also descriptive.
Example: Instead of picture1.jpg use MonaLisa.jpg

Special Characters
Quotation marks need to always be a double quote
Using the < at the beginning of a line will confuse the

program. Hot Potatoes uses HTML (website code) and that

symbol is used in HTML to begin what is called a tag. You
can use tags within Hot Potato and this is often necessary
with typing math equations. (See inserting Math Symbols)
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Inserting Images
There are two ways to

insert images
As a file from your

computer
As a Web URL
The easiest way to

insert your picture is to

start by inserting it as a
file from your computer

Index

Inserting Images
You will be able to choose

the file name from your

computer.
Be sure the file is saved in

the same location as your

Hot Potato.
Then preview your image

and set the size you want

for your image to appear.

Index

Inserting Images
You will see the

following text appear

for your image.
Now, to change your
image to a Web URL,
be sure you have
uploaded your picture
into Moodle

Index

Inserting Images
Click on Files in

the Administration
options
Then, click on the
image file name after
it has been uploaded.

Index

Inserting Images
When you click on

the image name, a

preview of the file
will appear. You
will need to
highlight the URL
with your mouse and
then copy (hit the
Ctrl and then C keys
on keyboard)

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Inserting Images
Now, go back to

your Hot Potato on

your computer and
replace the image
name with the URL
you copied.
(highlight the image
name with your
mouse and then copy
(hit the Ctrl and then
V keys on keyboard)
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Math Symbols
The easiest way to add math symbols to a Hot Potato is by

using HTML code. I have found this web site to be

helpful
http://barzilai.org/math_sym.htm

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Inserting a math Symbol

Suppose we want the

angle symbol in our

Hot Potato.
Using the website we can
look for our symbol
We see that the angle has
the code
&#8736

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Inserting a math Symbol

We then enter the code

into our Hot Potato where

we want it to appear.
So in my example, I want
to have the angle symbol
and then the name of my
angle.

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Inserting a math Symbol

The result of entering the code looks like this.

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Adding Hot Potatoes to Moodle as a Hot Potato

Once you have created

your quiz you can

place it into Moodle.
Select the unit or week
where you want your
quiz to appear and
click on Add an
Activity and then
selecting Hot Potato
Quiz

Index

Adding Hot Potatoes to Moodle as a Hot Potato

You will

need to
upload your
Hot Potato
into Moodle.
Click on the
Choose or
upload file
button.

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Adding Hot Potatoes to Moodle as a Hot Potato

Be sure to save

the file in the

main screen.
Do Not create a

folder to save
your Hot Potato
into. This can
cause problems
when it comes
to having
pictures
appearing
correctly.
Choose the Hot

Potato

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Adding Hot Potatoes to Moodle as a Hot Potato

You then have some control options.

Set a time frame when

the quiz can be
accessed by your
students.
Set a password so they
can only access the
quiz with the given
password.
Set the number of tries
the student has to take
the quiz for a grade.
Change the maximum
points awarded that
will go into the Moodle
grade book.

Index

Click here when finished to see

your quiz

Adding Hot Potatoes to Moodle as a Hot Potato

Now your

quiz is ready
for students!

Index

Combining Different Hot Potatoes on Moodle

Although The Masher combines

different Hot Potatoes, Moodle

doesnt recognize it. However,
using the Moodle quiz maker you
can combine your Hot Potatoes.
Not every Hot Potato will look the
same in the quiz maker as it does
as a Hot Potato Quiz but it is a
nice way to combine different
types if you want to do that.
Quiz maker works best with

JMatch, JCloze, and JQuiz.

If you want to use JCross or JMix,
I suggest just adding those as a
Hot Potato quiz.

Index

You can add a JCross but it will just show the definition
and the student will need to fill in the vocabulary word.

The JMix will have the words listed and the student will
need to type in their response rather than be able to move
the words with the mouse.

Combining Different Hot Potatoes on Moodle

Select the unit or week

where you want your

quiz to appear and click
on Add an Activity and
then selecting Quiz

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Combining Different Hot Potatoes on Moodle

Name your quiz or

test
You can also give
the test a
description or some
instructions.
Then decide what
settings you would
like to place on the
overall test
Once you have
changed all your
settings click on
Save and Display

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Combining Different Hot Potatoes on Moodle

Currently

there are no
questions in
your test.
Click on
Import to
add your Hot
Potatoes

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Combining Different Hot Potatoes on Moodle

Check the

button next to
Hot Potatoes
Format

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Combining Different Hot Potatoes on Moodle

Click on Choose

or upload a file
Be sure to save

your Hot Potato

in the main
folder. Also, be
sure you upload
your any picture
files that you
need for your
Hot Potato.
You only need to

select the Hot

Potato file for this
screen.
Index

Combining Different Hot Potatoes on Moodle

Click on Choose or

upload a file
Be sure to save your

Hot Potato in the

main folder. Also,
be sure you upload
your any picture
files that you need
for your Hot Potato.
You only need to

select the Hot Potato

file for this screen.
Then Click on
Import from this
File

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Combining Different Hot Potatoes on Moodle

You will then

get a preview
of your Hot
Potato.
Click on
Continue to
finish upload.

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Combining Different Hot Potatoes on Moodle

Repeat this process for

each Hot Potato you

want to have in the
same test.
The uploaded Hot
Potatoes will all be
listed in your question
bank
You will then need to
click on Quiz to add
the questions you want
and put them in the
order you want.
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Combining Different Hot Potatoes on Moodle

Check the

boxes next
to the
questions
you want
and then
click on
Add to
Quiz

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Combining Different Hot Potatoes on Moodle

The test

questions will
appear on the
left. You can
use the UP and
DOWN arrows
to change the
order
Once you are
satisfied with
the order you
can preview the
test by clicking
on Preview
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Combining Different Hot Potatoes on Moodle

Now, if the question

still dont look the way

you want (especially
the pictures), or if you
want to change the text
directions you can
click on the edit icon
and make changes.
Note: If you make

changes, you will

need to refresh the
browser before you
will see your
changes.
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