Qualitative direction questions in online assessment using a compass clock face

The ability to interpret, select, use and construct appropriate diagrams is fundamental for the study of physics and other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Despite the importance of using and constructing appropriate diagrams in STEM, the ability to incorporate freehand drawing, or similar capabilities, into online formative and summative assessment is largely unavailable to educators. This paper reports on a new compass clock face question type that can be easily implemented within the quiz feature of any learning management system. This question type has many features of a freehand drawing response for testing particular concepts. Online examination questions from a first-year undergraduate unit at the author’s home institution are presented as examples.