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Respondus

The UO has a campus-wide license for Respondus. It's a Windows application that makes it easy to build Blackboard' exams and surveys. For a complete list of features, visit http://www.respondus.com. The current version (3.5) is available to UO people from this site.

Important note for existing Respondus users: The UO's site license for respondus runs through July 2008.  Starting August 1, if you wish to continue to use Respondus you will need to purchase an individual license.

Try Respondus 3.5 after you've experimented with the built-in blackboard quiz management tools. You'll find that it makes it much easer to create and administer online quizes!

Downloading and Installing the software

First, get your UO download username and password. Contact:

Next, click the following link and enter the download username/password:

Installing Respondus

The password-protected Blackboard site includes a copy of the program, additional installation instructions, and the annual "activation password" that you will need to specify the first time you run Respondus.

Upgrading

The Respondus password is good through July 31. You'll need to update it each year. You can get the current password by returning to "Installing Respondus" or by contacting CET Consulting.

When run, Respondus automatically checks for updates to the software. If it tells you that you need to install a software update, do so. The built-in software updating process sometimes fails. If it does, return to the "Installing Respondus" site to get the latest version.

Using Respondus

Unfortunately, the Respondus software is Windows-only (though it produces quizes that, like most Blackboard materials, can be viewed by your students using either a Mac or PC). Mac users who have Parallels or a similar virtual PC product can run Respondus in that environment.

Help is available:

  • In the Respondus program press the F1 key fpr context-sensitive help, or use the "Help" menu.
  • The Respondus User Guide (in Microsoft Word/ format) can be downloaded from Respondus or from our site.
  • Print and save a copy of the Respondus Quick Start Guide.

You can get instruction in using Respondus at CET Consulting. If you have questions or problems using the software, you should first consult the online help or Respondus User Guide. If they don't resolve your problem, direct your questions to one of the addresses listed above.

Respondus is especially useful in managing large test banks. You can create your own test banks, or can import them from Microsoft Word or a variety of other formats. The vendor also maintains the Respondus Test Bank Network, a large collection including more than 1500 test banks on a wide variety of topics. Most of these are provided by textbook publishers for use with a particular text. If you use that textbook, you can download the associated test bank for free, and save yourself many hours of work!

Our license with Respondus, Inc. does not permit instructors to obtain support directly from Respondus, Inc. If we can't solve a particular question or problem, we will contact Respondus, Inc. on your behalf.

Our license does permit you to install a copy of the Respondus software on a home computer. However, please note that you are not permitted to provide the Respondus software or the password information to anyone who is not an instructor, GTF, or staff member at the UO. You should use the Respondus software only for UO educational or academic purposes.

We hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity and that you find the Respondus software useful.

Maintained by: Azle Malinao-Alvarez, azle@uoregon.edu
Last Modified: 05/20/2008