Migrating Blackboard Tests with Respondus

If you have a test with a large number of unsupported questions or tests which have been created using other systems, they can be migrated, using Respondus, an external piece of software.

1 Migrate test using Respondus
2 Useful Links

Migrate test using Respondus

Respondus aids the creation and management of quizzes and exams (tests) for use within Virtual Learning Environments. The following workflow describes how to use Respondus to convert and migrate tests created in Blackboard Learn original to Ultra.

Respondus is a Windows ONLY application. When migrating a quiz, the user needs to be enrolled as an Instructor in both the source and destination module.

Before you begin, watch the video below which guides you through installing the Respondus software onto your device.

Instructions to install Respondus

Respondus can be downloaded via this link >> . The installation password for Respondus is available by contacting Blackboard Helpdesk:

E-mail: blackboardhelpdesk@ulster.ac.uk
Telephone: 02895367188

Video showing Respondus Installation

Connect to the server

If you have not used Respondus before you will have to set up a connection to the Blackboard server.

Start Respondus and select the Retrieval + Reports tab.
Select the Retrieve Questions button.
Select Add new server and from the drop down list select Blackboard 7.x – 9.x.
An Add New Server Settings window will open.
Select the No, I want to enter the server setting manually radio button.
Select the Next button. The Blackboard Server and Course window opens.

Copy and paste the url of Blackboard Learn login page - https://learning.ulster.ac.uk/webapps/login/ - into section 1 of the Blackboard Server and Course window.
In your browser go to a course you have instructor rights to, then copy the address in the browsers address bar and paste it into section 2 of the Blackboard Server and Course window .

This is a critical part of the process, it must be the address of a module you have instructor rights to.

Select the Extract>> button , Respondus will use the information you have given to fill in several of the remaining fields.
Insert a suitable name in the description field (‘BB Learn” is used in this example).
Insert your Username (e number) and Password ( this is your active directory password).
Select the OK button.

Retrieve the test questions

Once you have created the Blackboard Server link as shown above, the Retrieval and Reports window will now open. The title comes from the description you entered earlier (BB Learn in the example above).

Select Retrieve Questions from the left hand menu.
In Group or Section Template, use the drop down box to select the title of the Blackboard module you will be retrieving the quiz from.
Select the Quiz radio button.
Use the drop down menu to select the quiz that you want to migrate.
Enter a name for the file (in this example 'Practice Class Test').
Select the Retrieve button, a pop up box will confirm that the file was saved and the Retrieve status changes to completed.

The quiz is now in Respondus where the unsupported questions can be converted, ready to migrate into Ultra.

Convert the unsupported test questions in Respondus

Use the Edit menu to create or edit questions. In the view panel below the questions, edit the format of a question, e.g. select multiple choice to replace jumbled sentence format.

Migrate the new quiz from Respondus into Blackboard Learn Ultra

Select the Start tab.
Change the Current Personality to Blackboard 7.x – 9.x.
Select the Preview & Publish tab
Select the Publish to Blackboard from the left hand menu.
Select the Publish Wizard button.
Select Publish to Single Course and select Next.
Select the Blackboard course (module) from the drop down list Choose the Ultra Course to publish to.
Select the Next button.
Select where you want to place the quiz within the Blackboard module.
Select the Next button. The Publish Wizard now opens a window which will confirm the status of the import. Once completion is confirmed, select ‘Finish’.
Log into Blackboard.
Go to the area where you imported the test.
A successful import message will be generated when the test has been migrated.

There may be times when you wish to upload new questions and tests in word to Respondus. Refer to the or contact the Centre for Digital Learning Enhancement for support to do this.

Blackboard Ultra staff support