The short answer question type is the default question type. Depending on how the question options are set, the short answer question type can perform two different tasks: student collaboration or teacher assessment. The students can reply to each other question option allows the teacher to determine whether students can see and reply to the responses of other classmates. By disabling this option, only the teacher (and co-teachers) will be able to see the responses and assess each student's response individually. However, by leaving this option enabled, students can reply to each other's responses, encouraging student collaboration through online discussion.

The second option for short answers, is students can edit answer. By enabling this option, students will be able to edit their responses after their submission. By leaving this option disabled, the following warning prompt will appear before confirming the student's submission: