Using MS Excel or Word With Respondus Monitor

When to Use?

Respondus Monitor supports switching to Microsoft Excel or Word during an online exam, allowing instructors to design assessments that allow students to work with real data sets in Excel or demonstrate writing, formatting, and citation skills in Word. This feature is especially valuable for courses in business, statistics, computer science, or writing-intensive disciplines. However, instructors should clearly communicate expectations and allowed resources in advance and should review Respondus Monitor recordings to ensure exam integrity.

Before incorporating MS Excel or Word into your Respondus enabled exams, please carefully consider the following limitations and requirements:

Screen Recording Is Required: Respondus Monitor does not lock down the Excel or Word environment. Therefore, screen recording must be enabled to preserve academic integrity. This increases Internet bandwidth usage, which may affect students with slower or unstable connections and could prevent them from starting or completing the exam.

Device Restrictions: This feature is only supported on Windows and Mac computers. Students using a Chromebook or iPad will be unable to access an exam that has the Excel or Word setting enabled for Respondus Monitor. Notify students in advance about these requirements and be prepared to offer accommodations if needed.

Lab Compatibility: GVSU computer labs do not currently support all of these features. Students taking the exam on campus must use their personal laptops. Faculty should not assume campus labs can be used as an alternative for students without compatible devices.

Excel and Word Desktop Application Required: The web-based versions of Excel and Word is not supported. Students must have the desktop version of Microsoft Excel or Word installed on their computers. Instructors are encouraged to provide instructions for downloading the Microsoft Office Suite through GVSU's Office 365 license and to confirm student readiness before the exam. A practice test that uses these settings is highly recommended.

Workflow Changes for Existing Excel Users: Faculty who previously used the built-in spreadsheet feature in LockDown Browser will need to follow a new setup process. This includes enabling screen recording and providing instructions for accessing Excel during the test.

Blackboard Ultra Limitation: If your exam requires students to submit an Excel or Word file, note that file uploads are currently not supported during Lockdown Browser exams in Blackboard Ultra. Plan to collect student work through an alternative method such as a Blackboard Assignment submission after the exam. Provide clear instructions to avoid confusion or missed submissions.

Procedure

How to Enable Excel or Word for an Exam

In the LockDown Browser Dashboard:

1. Select "Webcam + Screen" or "Screen Only" as the monitoring option.
2. Check the box for "Allow switching to another application during the assessment, and then Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word.
3. Click the [explain] link for more detailed setup information if needed.

Linking to an Excel or Word file

If your exam requires a pre-filled Excel or Word file:

1. Upload the file to a course content area (e.g., a folder or item in Blackboard).
2. Include a download link to the file within the exam.
3. When students click the link during the test, Excel or Word will launch automatically.

If no file is needed in advance, students can launch a blank Excel or Word file directly from the toolbar in LockDown Browser.

Student Test-Taking Experience

During the exam, students can launch Excel or Word:

• If the Excel or Word setting is enabled, a student is denied access to the exam if their computer does not have the desktop app for Excel or Word installed (Windows or Mac only).
• If a pre-populated Excel or Word document is uploaded and a link to the file is included in the exam, a student can open it by clicking the link. An icon for accessing Word or Excel will also appear on the LockDown Browser toolbar.

To return to LockDown Browser:

• Minimize the Excel/Word application or click the LockDown Browser icon on the taskbar (Windows) or dock (Mac).

Students should periodically save their work in Excel or Word during the exam; the file should be saved again when work is complete.

If required by the instructor, students can upload their saved file after the exam through the designated submission method.

Note for Mac Users

Students taking a test with LockDown Browser for Mac will prompted for permission to access the Documents folder. This permission is necessary so Excel/Word files can be downloaded and saved to the computer. The prompt will appear the first time an exam on that computer uses Excel or Word with LockDown Browser.

For additional information visit this Respondus Technical Support website.