Hints structure

Structuring Hints

• Hints should clearly and concisely show the steps a student would do to solve the problem. Don’t reveal the answer until the final hint.
• Use a friendly, conversational tone in the hints. Use “we” and “let’s” rather than “you.” We’re all in this together!
• When referencing answer choices in hints, write out the actual answer choice. Don’t write “in the first answer” or “in choice A,” because the answer choice order can be randomized so each user sees them in a different order.
• The last hint should clearly state the answer to the question. Don’t create a line between the hints and the solution. Simply include the solution as the final hint. Students cannot move on to the next question without answering the question in front of them correctly. Therefore, in the final hint, students need to be able to access the correct answer to the question.
  • How to determine if your last hint meets this requirement: Can you get the question right just by looking at the last hint? If not, modify the last hint so you can get the question right by looking at it.
  • If the answer is a graph, show a graph in the last hint.
  • If the answer is a table, show a filled-in table in the last hint.
  • If the answer is multiple choice or multiple select, list the correct answers in the last hint.
  • If the question involves a special widget that has a static setting (examples here), then use the static widget in the final hint. Exception: Don’t use the static version of the multiple choice widget.
• Content on Khan Academy is organized in a progression based on prerequisites. If a student doesn’t know prerequisites, we will recommend that the student go back and master those prerequisites. As a result, hints should not delve into prerequisites in too much detail. Think about the level of the students for whom the exercise is designed.
• The last hint is automatically made bold in Perseus. Putting ** around the text will make only that section of text bold. Don’t use ** to separate a bolded section in the last hint, instead structure the hints so that only the answer to the question is in the last hint.