Using Respondus 4.0 to import Word exams into Canvas

canvas assessment respondus quiz

Respondus 4.0 can convert exams currently formatted in Microsoft Word (see the appendix in this guide) into Canvas format exams and publish them to a Canvas site.

NOTE: The Word document must first conform to Respondus’s own format. See the attached PDF for information on formatting the questions in your Word document.

Importing a Word file to create a Canvas quiz

Once your Word document has been formatted correctly, open Respondus 4.0.
From the Start tab, select Import Questions.
Change the Type of file menu to Microsoft Word (DOC) or whatever file type you are using (see Fig. 1).

Figure 1: DOC file type
Use the Browse button to find the Word document you want to import.
Name your new Respondus document (see Fig. 2).

Figure 2: Enter new document name
Select Preview and make sure there are no errors or warnings. Note that certain errors or warnings may be ignored; please see the guide for more information.
Select Finish to import the questions into Respondus.
Switch to the Preview + Publish tab and switch to Publish on the left site. Select Publish Wizard. You will be asked to choose between New Quizzes or Classic Quizzes (see Fig. 3). Most instructors in the UM System are still using Classic Quizzes. Please see Comparing classic quizzes vs. new quizzes for more information on the differences between the two quiz types. Once you have selected a quiz type, select Next.

Figure 3: Select Classic Quizzes or New Quizzes
If you have never created a server before, please follow the instructions here in step 9. If you have already manually created a server in the past, please proceed to step 10 below.
1. Select add a new server (see Fig. 4) and select Next.
  
  Figure 4: adding a new server
2. Fill out the details of the form that follows (see Fig. 5), then select OK. For item 2, enter the URL for any of your Canvas courses. Press Extract to generate the link for item 3. Be sure to give the server a unique name for item 4, so that you can distinguish it from any servers you may have created in the past. For item 5, enter your UM System username and password.
  
  Figure 5: Fill out the manual server settings
If you have already manually created a server in the past, please select that server and select Next (see Fig. 6).

Figure 6: Selecting a server
You will then be prompted to log in with your UM System credentials (the same ones you use to access Canvas). Selecting OK will bring up the login screen (see Fig. 7).

Figure 7: Login prompt
Enter your UM System email address and password, and then complete multi-factor authentication.
When you have completed authentication, you will be asked to authorize Respondus LockDown Browser to access your Canvas account. Select Authorize (see Fig. 8).

Figure 8: Respondus Lockdown Browser authorization prompt
You will then be brought back into Respondus 4.0, where you will see a popup prompting you to select OK to continue (see Fig. 9).

Figure 9: Select OK to continue
You may now select your assessment type, specify whether to create a new exam or replace an existing exam, and various other options (see Fig. 10), then select Next.
⚠️Note: The name of the quiz you create does not have to match the name of your Respondus file. This is the name of the quiz that will appear in Canvas.

Figure 10: Select assessment type, quiz name, and any other desired options
Select the Canvas site you want to publish to and select Next (see Fig 11).

Figure 11: Selecting the Canvas course site
When the publish completes, select Finish.
The quiz should now be available in your Canvas site. You will need to adjust the settings for your quiz to control aspects such as availability and time limits. See What options can I set in a Quiz? for information on adjusting your quiz settings.
Remember, you must Publish your quiz in Canvas in order to make it available to your students.