Academic Application: Respondus 4.0

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Overview

What is it?

Respondus 4.0 is a quiz authoring tool that allows faculty to create and manage exams outside of the LMS. You can build tests question-by-question within the application, or convert exams written in a Word document and publish them directly into Brightspace. Respondus also supports imported publisher test banks and includes equation editors, web links, and multimedia.

Important: Respondus 4.0 is a separate product from Respondus LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor. You do not need Respondus 4.0 to use LockDown Browser or Monitor for your exams.

Who is it for?

Faculty: Create, import, and manage exams offline, then publish directly to Brightspace courses. Import publisher test banks.

Students: Students do not use Respondus 4.0 directly. They interact with the exams once they are published in the LMS.

Access / Download

Visit the Brightspace: Use Respondus 4.0 to Create a Quiz for Brightspace article for information on how to downoad Respondus 4.0 (login required)

Authentication

Villanova campus license. License key provided by Academic Technologies.

LMS Integration

Brightspace (D2L),

Cost

Licensed by Villanova for all faculty

Availability

Windows only. License key renews annually.

Vendor

Respondus, Inc. https://web.respondus.com/

Managed By

Learning Technologies, Academic Technologies, University Technology Services

Key Features & Use Cases

For Faculty / Instructors

Import from Word: Convert exams written in Microsoft Word into Brightspace-ready tests using a simple formatting structure. Visit https://web.respondus.com/tech-tip-importing-word-files-with-respondus-4-0/ for information on how to format a Word document for import into Respondus.
Publisher Test Banks: Import thousands of Respondus-compatible publisher test banks; free to instructors who adopt a participating textbook.
Question-by-Question Authoring: Build exams directly within Respondus using its built-in editor, which includes equation editors, web links, and multimedia support.
Direct Publish to the LMS: Publish exams and pools directly to your course. Media files are uploaded automatically.
Batch Publish: Publish assessments and surveys to multiple courses in a single step.
Print or Export: Print exams directly from Respondus, or save to MS Word or rich-text format for paper-based testing. Note: in Brightspace quizzes can also be printed directly form the quiz menu in Brightspace without needing to be imported into Respondus 4.0.
Manual Upload Fallback: If the direct publish fails, export the exam as a file and manually upload it to Brightspace.

Getting Started / Quick Start

Installation & Setup

Visit Brightspace: Use Respondus 4.0 to Create a Quiz for Brightspace to get the download link and installation key (login required).
Download the installer and run it. Use all default settings during installation.
When prompted for a profile, select Brightspace.
Enter the license key from the Institution Page when prompted. The key renews annually: check back each year for the updated key.

Creating & Publishing an Exam

Create your exam in Respondus (question-by-question or by importing a formatted Word document). See the attached Respondus 4.0 User Guide for formatting rules.
To publish: go to Preview & Publish. Publish to Brightpsace. Ensure you are running the latest version first (Help> Check for Update).

How-To Guides & Related Articles

Installation & Quiz Authoring

Related Respondus Products (separate tools)

Best Practices & Tips

Always check for updates before publishing. Go to Help > Check for Update. You need version 4.0.8.09 or newer. Outdated versions will fail to connect to Brightspace.
Format your Word document correctly. Respondus requires a specific formatting structure to import questions from Word. Review the attached user guide for the exact format. Incorrect formatting is the #1 cause of import errors.
Use the manual upload as a fallback. If automatic publish fails, export the exam as a .zip file and manually upload it through Brightspace’s Test Manager.
Don’t confuse Respondus products. Respondus 4.0 (quiz authoring) is completely separate from Respondus LockDown Browser (exam security) and Respondus Monitor (proctoring). You do not need one to use the others.
License key renews annually. If you see a license expiration error, go back to the Brightspace Institution Page and enter the current year’s key.
Mac users: Respondus 4.0 is Windows-only. Use a virtual machine with a full Windows installation (VMware, Parallels, or VirtualBox). Do not use emulators like WINE or CrossOver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Respondus 4.0 on a Mac?

Not natively: Respondus 4.0 is Windows-only.

Where do I get the download and license key?

Visit the Brightspace: Use Respondus 4.0 to Create a Quiz for Brightspace KBA to get the license key (login is required)

My license key expired. What do I do?

Visit the Brightspace: Use Respondus 4.0 to Create a Quiz for Brightspace KBA to retreive the most recent license key (login is reqiured).

Do I need Respondus 4.0 to use Respondus LockDown Browser?

No. Respondus 4.0 is for quiz authoring (creating exams). Respondus LockDown Browser is for exam security (locking down the testing environment). They are separate products that work independently.

My exam won’t publish to Brightspace. What should I try?

First, check for updates (Help>Check for Update). You need version 4.0.8.09+. If automatic publish still fails, use the manual upload method: export the exam as a .zip file from Respondus and import it through Brightspace’s Test Manager.

Can I import questions from a Word document?

Yes: this is one of Respondus 4.0’s key features. However, the Word document must follow a specific formatting structure. Visit Formatting a Word Document for Import into Respondus for information on how to format your Word document for import.

Training & Resources

Vendor Information

Respondus 4.0 Resources: https://web.respondus.com/webinars/

Villanova KB

Browse all Respondus knowledge base articles: https://villanova.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/2759/UNIT/KB/?CategoryID=25453

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