Using Respondus to create Blackboard assessments

Here is a quick tutorial explaining the basics on uploading and converting a Respondus text file into a working Blackboard online exam!
Please note that some screens have highlighting arrows pointing out important details you need to pay close attention to as you import your test
(these arrows are NOT on the actual Respondus/BlackBoard screens). This is a "basics" tutorial for Respondus/Blackboard use. For a more detailed
explanation provided by Instructional Technology Services (with no images) click this HELP GUIDE link (note: you will need Adobe Acrobat viewer to see this guide).

***This tutorial has been updated to assist those with Respondus version 3.0.
If you do not have this version please contact a member of the TECHTEAM!
 

Starting out make SURE your test file is in the correct format. Read and follow these three steps carefully!!

1. You will first need to have your test in the proper format in a plain text (.txt) file. If your file was created in Microsoft Word click Save As... and save it as a PLAIN TEXT file (not .rtf format). You will likely get a message stating that formatting will be lost - that is okay! Click proceed to continue! Please get rid of any headers at the top of the page! The top of the page should be the beginning of the first question! No exceptions!

For best results I recommend creating the test in Notepad (or copying and pasting from MSWord). The file name needs to be like this, nurs243exam1.txt (one word, all lowercase and NO spaces, dashes or other non-alphabetical or numerical character).

2. Again, please note: DO NOT SAVE THIS FILE AS A RICH TEXT FILE (.rtf) FORMAT! Your file icon should look like a notepad after you've saved it! That way you can tell if it's been saved as a .txt file. Please observe the above example which is how your file should look using multiple choice and True/False questions.

One more time...Respondus will NOT import Rich Text Files into Blackboard!

 3.You CANNOT import matching or ordering questions from Respondus to Blackboard. It is recommended that for optimal success to import just multiple choice and True/False questions and then add matching/ordering/etc. questions to the test in Blackboard afterward. Also, do NOT start the test with a header at the top of the page either! Follow the example above and double-space in between questions and the answer key. All question and answer numbering should be followed with a period then a space (example: 4. What is the...). Save the file as a (.txt) plain text file next; if you are saving from MS Word you may get a screen warning of "formatting changes." CLICK OK!! Be sure to CLOSE the file because Respondus cannot import it if it's open!
 
2. Then open up Respondus and the main screen will appear looking like the screen above. Make sure the Current Personality option is set to Blackboard 6.3+. Next, click the Import Questions button to begin the importing process.
 

3. Now you will get the main import screen above. Follow these directions CAREFULLY!

a. Type of file: Text file in Standard format (this should be automatically selected! It means that you have a .txt file saved with the correct question/answer formatting).

b. File name: (browse your computer and select the name of the .txt file to import).

(note: there is a new Image Folder selection...you probably won't be uploading graphics or images so ignore this!)

c. Create a new document, named: (give your test the same file name or what test number this is, test1, or test3 (no spaces).

d. Type of file to create: (select the Quiz button).

e. Use the Preview button to check for problems: (click on the Preview button). The Preview results window will then show you each question wording corresponding to it's correct number.

f. If the formatting is correct you will get a No warnings message in the bottom window. If you receive any "warnings" you will need to close Respondus, open your .txt test file, and review it for any problems (check numbering and spacing!!), re-save it and close it. Then open up Respondus and re-follow the steps and try to Preview it again.

NOTE: The below is a common 'warning' that indicates Respondus assigned a name for each of the questions found in the Short Name box of the Preview results section:

Warnings and Notes:
- x duplicate names were changed by adding a '2' (or 3,4...)

If you receive this warning please proceed onward to letter g!! Respondus saves each question as an "individual file" and it is telling you that at least two questions start out with the same wording. No big deal!!

g. Press the Finish button to complete the process. (Click the Finish button).

 
4. Now you should get the pop-up screen above telling you File Saved. Click OK in that screen.
 
 

5. After you have clicked OK then you will see the Edit Questions screen above.

You can edit questions here along with changing the point value (see arrow at the 5. Point Value area) for each question (you can also wait and wait and edit them in Blackboard after they are imported there). If you WANT to edit them here then click on the linked Short Name question you want to edit. Click on Modify Question, change the point total, Save the question, and close that window and click on the next question (remember, you can also change point totals after the questions are imported into Blackboard and it will take about the same amount of time. You cannot change the point total for all questions at once!!!

At this point whether you've edited any questions or not scroll down the question list and make sure you have the correct number of questions in the Question List.

After verifying this then click on the Preview & Publish tab at the top of the Edit Questions window.
 
 
6. Now you will see the Preview & Publish screen above. Click the middle Publish to Blackboard button.
 
 
7. Next click the Publish Wizard button to the right.
 
 
 
 
8. Next click Publish to single course. If this is the first test you are publishing to this course then at the Blackboard Server section (#2) select --add new server-- and follow along below (or, if your Blackboard username or the name of a previous test for the desired course appears then select that and click Next>)
 
9. At the Publish to Blackboard screen above you will have to specify what Blackboard course you want the test file to go to (please read and follow along CAREFULLY!)

1. Server & Course If you are teaching, for instance, HP 335 and this is the first test you are uploading from Respondus to Blackboard for HP335 then you will need to specify server requirements (in other words, tell the test in Respondus how to get to your N243 page in Blackboard!). Click on the dropdown arrow and select -add new server-
See instruction number 8 on what to do next...

Just remember, you will need to do this for the first test of every new course that you are teaching!!

**Important note: If you have uploaded tests before in HP335 for the current semester then you would simply click the dropdown box and select an HP335 test that displays there (if the test displayed says HP335test1 or 2 you would still select because YOU WANT to send your new HP335 test to the same location this test is!!!!)
10. A Blackboard Server & Course window like above will now pop up. There are important pieces of information that you will need to copy and paste in Sections 1 and 2 and these are explained before each section. If you don't understand what it is asking then the following two slides will show you and explain where to get this information and where each needs to be pasted (please read the following carefully!)
 
 
11. Access Blackboard by going to http://bb.usi.edu and then clicking on the External access to USI Blackboard link and log in to Blackboard via this way like the above screen shows. NOTE: YOU CANNOT ACCESS THE REQUIRED PAGES BY LOGGING INTO MYUSI!!!
 
12. Section 1 wants you to go to the Blackboard Login Screen and copy the information in the address box of your internet browser. If you have Blackboard open then log out and click Login on the main introduction screen. This screen above will then appear which contains the information in the address line that you need to copy. Click inside the address line (the address will turn blue) and then either right-click your mouse and select Copy or select Control-C on your keyboard and paste in Section 1 by right-clicking inside the box and selecting Paste or select Control-V.
 
13. Section 2 wants you to go to the Control Panel screen (see above) of the course you have a test to import and again copy the information in the address box of your internet browser. Now login to Blackboard and go to the Control Panel screen (as shown above). This screen contains the information in the address line that you need to copy. Like we did in Section 1, click inside the address line (the address will turn blue) and then either right-click your mouse and select Copy or select Control-C on your keyboard and paste in Section 2 by right-clicking inside the box and selecting Paste or select Control-V

The Blackboard Server and Course window should now contain the information in Sections 1 and 2 (as shown in the following slide below).
 

14. The Blackboard Server and Course window should now look as shown above.
 
15. With the information in Sections 1 and 2 you will now need to do the following as shown by the arrows in the screen above:

At Section 3 note where it says Press Extract click the Extract>> button and the information from Sections 1 and 2 will fill in the Server information in the middle of the window.

Now look at the bottom of the window at the The information below must be entered manually: section
-enter a Description (which can be the class name or the test name).
-now click the Version dropdown menu and select Blackboard 5.5
-at the User name and Password sections type the username and password you use to login to Blackboard (you then may want to check Remember my User Name and Password if you don't want to keep typing this in!).

With all the necessary information provided (see above slide) then click the OK button at the top right of the window!
 
 

16. Now you will be back at the Publish Wizard screen:

1. Blackboard Server should display the description of the test you provided.

Now, click Next to proceed to the next screen.
 
 
 

17. The next screen first wants you to 1. Choose Course to publish to (click on the dropdown box and select your course).

2. Create new Exam should be checked with the name of the quiz entered in the text box aside of it. This name will also appear in the text box aside Create new Pool (you DO NOT need to check any of these buttons!).

3. Uncheck #3: the Additional options for Quiz/Survey boxes do NOT need to be checked (we can add point values, Settings, and Random Blocks when the test is in Blackboard).

4. click the Next button to proceed...
 
 
...and you will see the test being uploaded in the Publish Wizard Status box (see above).
 
 

18. When it is finished uploading you should get the message Successfully completed (see above).If you do not receive this message you may need to go back and check the information you entered in the Blackboard Server and Course window or change the quiz's name (it may have illegal characters in it, which is why it's best to use lowercase letters and NO spaces, periods or dashes).

At this point, it is recommended that you minimize the Respondus window (don't close Respondus) in the event you have to reload the test to Blackboard. Go to the Control Panel - Test Manager section of the course you uploaded the test to.
 
 

19. At the Test Manager section you should now see the name of your test in the list which is now shown above as not Deployed. At this point if you need to change the point totals for the questions you can do so. See the following slide (16) for more instructions.

If point total adjustment is not necessary, you should at least REVIEW THE QUESTIONS AND MAKE SURE THE KEY WAS INSERTED CORRECTLY! Click the Modify button if you are ready to do so. If not, click OK to exit the Test Manager area.

If you are ready to deploy the test, you will now need to go to the area where you plan on making the test available (Course Documents? Assignments?) See instruction number 17 if you are ready to do so.
 
 
 20. When you click modify and are looking at the top of the test as shown above ou can now go in and modify the name and instructions of the test as well. You can enter or change the point totals for each question if necessary and please remember to doublecheck the questions and answers and make sure the right/wrong answers are marked correctly (if not, click Modify and change if necessary). When finished simply click OK at the bottom of the test.
 
 

21. You will need to go to the area where you plan on giving the test (Course Documents, Assignments) in the Control Panel area above. For example, in the Course Documents area you will need to click on Test in the Add category near the top (see below).
 
 

22. You will now see the Add Test window pop up with the test that you uploaded from Respondus (see arrow above). Click once to select the test and then Submit.
 
 
23. You will now see the options above to either Modify the Test or Modify the Test options. If you have doublechecked the test questions/answers/point values and are ready to make the test available then select Modify the Test options.
 
 
24. Next, above you will now see the first part of the Test Options page. Here you can rename the test (the name the students will see), give the link a color, give instructions, etc. to the students, and have the test open in a new browser window. Do not worry about adjusting the Smart Text/Plain Text/HTML options below the text box!
 

25. In part 2 above, you will now see additional options that you need to choose from.

a. Make the link available - click Yes so the link will be visible to the students at the specified time that you select.

b. Create an Announcement for this Test - (I recommend you) check Yes because this will automatically generate an Announcement when the test is activated and instruct the students where the exam link.

c. Allow multiple attempts - this will allow the students to re-enter the test after they have logged in. DO NOT CHECK THIS if you do not want the students taking the test multiple times (previous attempt scores will be erased). **Remember you will need to clear students attempts in the online gradebook if they are knocked offline.

d. Force completion - this forces the student to fully complete the test the first time it is activated.

e. Set timer - Choose date restrictions for visibility of the link to the assessment. Choose the date and times you want the test to activate and deactivate. Make sure you check both the Set timer and Display Until checkboxes!!

f. Password - this requires the students to enter a password to gain access to the test. Normally used if a student takes a test early/later than the rest of the students.
 

26. In part 3 above there are Test Feedback options you can choose from.

Score Only: After the test is completed your student will see the final score.

Detailed Results: This option will reveal the user's answers and the final score.

Show Correct Answers: This option will reveal the student's answers, the correct anwers, and the final scores.

Detailed Results, Correct Answers, and Feedback: This option allows your students to see their answers, the correct answers, question feedback, and the final score after submission.
 
 

27. In part 4 above there are Test Presentation options to choose from:

a. All at Once - This option presents the entire test on the screen (note: the student can possibly print out the test easily this way).

b. One at a Time - This option only presents one question at a time to the student. The Prohibit Backtracking option, when checked, will not allow the student to go back and change answers.

c. Randomize Questions - This option will order the questions differently for each student.
 
 
28. In part 5 above all that needs to be done (after all Test Options have been selected) is to click Submit.
 
 
29. Next, in the list of Course Documents items (or wherever you have placed the test) you need to place the test order at number one so it is the first option at the top of the page for the students. Click OK at the bottom of the page and that's all there is to it!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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