How do I import questions from Microsoft Word to a Canvas Quiz?

Respondus 4.0 is a Windows only desktop application.

Respondus 4.0 allows you to import various question types such as multiple choice, true or false, essay and matching. Refer to the Respondus 4 user guide for a full list of question types. This guide will focus on the process of importing and publishing multiple choice questions specifically.

Overview

Getting your quiz questions from a Word document to a Canvas Quiz takes a number of steps:

1. Formatting questions
2. Installing the Respondus 4.0 software
3. Importing questions into Respondus 4.0
4. Editing questions in Respondus 4.0
5. Publishing questions to your Canvas LMS subject

Formatting questions

The questions must be organized in a format that is acceptable to Respondus and the file must be stored in one of the following formats:

• Microsoft Word (.doc and .docx)
• Plain text (.txt)
• Rich text (.rtf)
• Tab/comma delimited (.csv).

The file must be formatted into what is called The Standard Format for Importing Documents. The Standard Format has required and optional elements.

Installing the Respondus 4.0 software

Respondus 4.0 is a Windows only desktop application.

Respondus 4.0 is a University-wide licensed application and is available for downloading from the Company Portal. Refer to the downloading software via company portal knowledgebase article for the instructions on how to install University-managed applications and software.

Importing questions into Respondus 4.0

1. Under the Start tab, navigate to the Current Personality dropdown menu and select Canvas.
2. Click Import Questions.

3. The Import Questions window will display. Select the Type of file you are importing and select the appropriate file from your device.
4. Select Create a new document, named option and in the text field, enter a name. This will be the title of the Quiz or Exam when uploaded to Canvas.

5. Click Preview to preview the questions that have been imported to Respondus, along with any warnings that may require fixing, including formatting issues in the import file.
6. Once you finish previewing the questions, click Finish.

Editing questions in Respondus 4.0

You can edit the questions that you have imported to Respondus if necessary.

1. Click the Preview + Publish tab.
2. Click Preview the File.

3. Check the number of questions listed at top left and ensure it is correct.
4. Review each question and the answer choices. Once you finish reviewing a question, click Next to move to the next.
5. Click the Modify Item button to make changes to the question. Note: You can also add images, equations, tables and so on to the question via the Toolbar.
6. Click Close when reviewing is complete.

Publishing to Canvas LMS

1. Click the Preview + Publish tab.
2. In the left menu, click Publish.
3. Under Publish to Canvas, click Publish Wizard.
4. Select Classic Quizzes in the next window.

5. When publishing to Canvas LMS for the first time, you will have to manually add the Canvas server.

If you have published questions to Canvas LMS before, you will only have to check the pre-filled server details and can move to step 7. Ensure that the pre-filled server name is canvas.lms.unimelb.edu.au and server type is SSO.

• Click on the Canvas Server dropdown menu and select Add new server.

5. When prompted, select Yes, check for preconfigured server settings and click Next.

6. In the next window:
   • Enter CANVAS_PROD as the server name
   • Enter your University of Melbourne username and password for the login information
   • Click Next
7. A browser window will open, prompting you to log in to your learning system. Click OK to continue.

8. The Canvas Authorisation window will open, prompting you to log in via Single Sign-On (SSO).
9. Once you have successfully authenticated, Canvas LMS will ask for authorisation of the Respondus request, click Authorise.

10. You may be prompted to complete the SSO authentication and Respondus authorisation again to finish the Server Connection Test. Proceed to the end with the authentication and authorisation. This step may not be required if you have published to Canvas LMS before.
11. Next, for the assessment type, leave it as Graded Quiz. Select to create a new quiz name that will be published to Canvas LMS and click Next.
    Note: Ensure to choose Graded Quiz as the assessment type if you want to include images in the questions.

12. A list of Canvas subjects that you have permission to publish will display. Select the subject you wish to publish the Quiz to and click Next.

13. Once publishing is completed, a status window will display confirming the completion status. Click Finish.
14. Go to the Quiz in your Canvas subject and verify all the questions, answers, point values and so on, before using the Quiz

Reviewing the Question Bank in Canvas LMS

When publishing the questions to a Graded Quiz (selected as the assessment type in Respondus 4.0), Canvas creates a companion Question Bank for the Quiz. You can use this Question Bank the same way as any other Question Bank you create in Canvas. Refer to the how do I create a question bank in a course guide for further information.