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How to Create an Image Map Question

An Image Map question asks learners to click a specific area on an image to identify the correct answer, ideal for visual learning. To create one, navigate to your topic, select Image Map under Interactive question types, enter the question, upload an image with alt text, define a clickable area (rectangle, circle, or polygon), optionally add a timer, provide an explanation, then save and activate the question.

Navigate to Your Topic

From Topics & Questions, click into the relevant topic and select the Questions tab. Click New Question.

Select the Question Type

Under Interactive, select Image Map and click Create Question.

Enter Your Question

Type your question in the question text field. For example:

ℹ️  Note: "Click on the area of this image where you can see a slip, trip, or fall hazard."

Upload Your Image

Click Select Image and upload the image file you want to use.

Once uploaded, you will be prompted to add alternative text (alt text). This is mandatory and is used by screen readers to describe the image to users with visual impairments.

⚠️  Important: Do not give away the answer in the alt text. Screen reader users will hear this description, but sighted users will not see it. Write a factual description of the image — for example, "A warehouse storage area with boxes stacked on shelving units" — without indicating where the correct area is.

Define the Clickable Area

Once your image is uploaded, mark the correct area that learners must click. You have three options for defining the shape of the clickable area:

ShapeUse when...
RectangleThe correct area is roughly square or oblong
CircleThe correct area is round
PolygonThe correct area is an irregular shape 

Click and drag (or click to place points) on the image to mark the correct area. When learners click anywhere within that area, their answer will be marked as correct.

Add a Timer (Optional)

You can set a time limit on the question by enabling the Question Timer.

When enabled, learners will see a countdown timer and must answer within the time limit. If the timer runs out, the question will be marked as timed out.

The valid range is 15 to 120 seconds.

Add an Explanation

Enter an explanation to help learners understand the correct answer and why. This is shown after the learner answers, whether they answered correctly or not.

Write the explanation so it makes sense in both contexts — avoid phrasing that only works if the learner answered correctly.

Save and Activate

Click Save Changes. The question will be saved in a suspended state and will not be delivered to learners until you activate it.

When you are ready, click Activate in the top right corner to make the question live.

To create a similar question, click Clone Question to create a copy you can edit independently.

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