Configuring a Long Answer
Set up a long answer's prompt, character limit, and attempts in its Configure dialog, and why to turn its Scoring off while grading isn't available.
Not available yet. Long answer isn't in the studio's widget list right now: we're holding it back until you can read every learner's response in one place. This page applies to a long answer a lesson already has — see Long Answer Widget.
A long answer lets learners write a free-form response. Its setup lives in a dedicated Configure dialog with room to work, instead of being squeezed into the narrow right sidebar.
Long answer isn't graded yet. You can read each learner's response on their attempt page. The dialog includes settings for AI grading, but AI grading isn't turned on, so Berdee saves those settings without using them. A note at the top of the dialog says the same. See Long Answer Widget for what the widget does today.
Opening the Configure dialog
Select a long answer on the canvas. A floating ⚙ Configure button appears just above it.
Click ⚙ Configure to open the dialog. Alongside the settings you'll see a live preview of the widget — a simple framed box with your prompt and the placeholder text — so you can see roughly what it will look like on the canvas while you edit. From top to bottom the dialog has:
- Scoring — whether the long answer counts toward the score, plus the AI grading settings, which aren't used yet.
- Content — the prompt, model answer, key ideas, character limit, attempts, and placeholder.
Setting up the content
Work in the Content section:
- Prompt — the question shown to the learner, such as "Explain why the seasons change." This is what they're answering.
- Model Answer — a reference answer for AI grading. AI grading isn't turned on, so nothing uses it yet. The learner never sees it.
- Key Ideas — concepts a strong answer should mention, also for AI grading and also unused for now. Add one per line with Add Key Idea, and remove any with the trash button.
- Max Characters — the longest response a learner can type (1–5000). Use it to keep answers focused.
- Max Attempts — how many times a learner may submit (1–5). It applies whether Scoring is on or off.
- Placeholder — the hint shown inside the empty text box, such as "Type your response…".
Scoring: turn it off
Scoring is on by default, so the dialog opens with the shared on/off, points, and group controls at the top. Turn Scoring off with the switch in the Scoring header. Its Points never reach a score either way — a long answer counts 0 of 0 whether the learner answers or leaves it empty — but while Scoring is on, it is never a _correct_ answer, so a scene rule that needs every answer right can't be met while it's there.
While Scoring is on, the dialog also shows AI Model, Show Reasoning, and Grading Mode (holistic or rubric, with Add Criterion). These are settings for AI grading. They're saved, but nothing uses them yet. Editing the rubric doesn't change the long answer's Points.
Saving your changes
Nothing you change in the dialog affects the widget until you save it. The canvas keeps showing the last saved version while you work.
- Save applies your Content and Scoring changes to the widget.
- Cancel throws the changes away and leaves the widget as it was. Pressing Esc, clicking the ✕, or clicking outside the dialog does the same thing. If you've made changes, you'll be asked to confirm before they're discarded, so an accidental click can't lose your work.
What stays in the sidebar
Only Content and Scoring move into the Configure dialog. Style & Layout — the background, text, and border colors, fonts, font size, border radius, and cursor — still lives in the right sidebar, the same as every other widget. So do the long answer's behaviors/triggers, visibility, and position.