Feature Updates: Stay informed about the latest enhancements to Respondus products. This section showcases new capabilities, tools, and improvements as they’re released, ensuring you get the most out of your Respondus experience.
Updated: June 10, 2025
Respondus Monitor will support switching to MS Excel during an online exam.
What to Know
– A new instructor setting for Respondus Monitor enables students to switch between an online exam and Excel.
– Screen Recording is required since the Excel environment is not locked down.
– The timeline for the proctoring results shows when Excel is used with corresponding video.
Notes:
– This option is not available for the iPad or Chromebook version of LockDown Browser.
– Excel for Web isn’t supported.
– The standard version of LockDown Browser (the one installed by students) will be updated at startup if the version doesn’t support the Excel feature.
– If using managed devices (e.g., testing centers), the LockDown Browser version must be 2.1.3.02 (Windows) or 2.1.3.03 (macOS) or higher.
– A practice test that uses Excel is highly recommended.
How it Works
Instructor
– From the LockDown Browser Dashboard, select Webcam + Screen, then Allow switching to MS Excel during the assessment option.
Advanced settings
– If providing students with a pre-populated Excel file, upload it to an appropriate location (often a content area for the course) and include a link to it within the exam. If a pre-populated file isn’t being provided, students can access Excel via the LockDown Browser toolbar.
– If students are required to upload their spreadsheet during the exam session, use a question type and/or file upload setting that enables this. Learn more here: Using Excel with Respondus Monitor.
– The proctoring results will include a “milestone” each time the student switches from LockDown Browser to Excel. The screen recording will show what the student did while outside of LockDown Browser.
Student
– Within the online exam, click the link to the spreadsheet file to open it in Excel.
– Minimize Excel to return to the online exam. Select the Excel icon on the LockDown Browser toolbar to return again to Excel.
– Periodically save your Excel file, especially after completing your work.
If applicable, follow the directions from your instructor to upload the saved spreadsheet file.
Handheld Device Detection in Respondus Monitor
Respondus Monitor automatically alerts teachers when students hold devices (like phones) during online tests.
If teachers want to allow certain devices (like calculators for math tests), they can:
- Go to the “Sensitivity” dropdown menu
- Uncheck “Handheld devices”
- Click “Apply”
This removes all handheld device alerts from the results and updates the Review Priority scores for the whole class.
The system works with webcams positioned in front of or to the side of students. It can detect devices even when only a small part is visible in the video.
