Using Respondus to import Word exams into Canvas

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’ 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

  1. Once your Word document has been formatted correctly, open Respondus 4.0.  
  2. From the Start tab, select Import Questions.
  3. Change the Type of file menu to Microsoft Word (DOC) (See Fig. 1).
    Figure 1: DOC file type
    Figure 1: DOC file type
  4. Use the Browse button to find the Word document you want to import.
  5. Name your new Respondus document (See Fig. 2).
    Figure 2: Enter new document name
    Figure 2: Enter new document name
  6. Select Preview and make sure there are no errors or warnings.
  7. Select Finish to import the questions into Respondus.
  8. Switch to the Preview + Publish tab and switch to Publish on the left site. Select Publish Wizard (See Fig. 3).
    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.
    publish wizard options
    Figure 3: Publish Wizard
  9. Select Next. You will 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. 4).
    popup prompting the user to login in the browser
    Figure 4: Login prompt​​​​​​​
  10. Enter your UM System email address and password, and then complete multi-factor authentication.
  11. When you have completed authentication, you will be asked to authorize Respondus LockDown Browser to access your Canvas account. Select Authorize (see Fig. 5).
    Canvas prompt requesting authorization of Respondus LockDown Browser
    Figure 5: Respondus Lockdown Browser authorization prompt
  12. You will then be brought back into Respondus 4.0, where you will see a popup. Select OK to continue (see Fig. 6).
    Prompt to continue with the process
    Figure 6: Popup to continue
  13. 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. 7).Figure 3: Publish Wizard
    Figure 7: Publish Wizard
  14. Select Next.
  15. Select the Canvas site you want to publish to and select Next (See Fig 8).
    Figure 4: Selecting the Canvas course site
    Figure 8: Selecting the Canvas course site
  16. When the publish completes, select Finish.
  17. The new quiz should now be available in your Canvas site. You will need to adjust the settings for your new Quiz to control aspects such as availability and time limits. See the What options can I set in a Quiz help article for information on adjusting your quiz settings.
  18. Remember, you must Publish your quiz in Canvas in order to make it available to your students.

Respondus 4.0 campus and vendor resources​​​​​​​

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Respondus 4.0 is a Windows-only software for creating and managing exams that can be printed to paper or published directly to Canvas Quizzes or question banks.