How To Use The Built-In Spreadsheet Editor

Summary

This article explains how LockDown Browser’s built-in spreadsheet editor works.

Respondus LockDown includes a built-in spreadsheet editor. This tool allows for the implementation of spreadsheets into exams without allowing access to the desktop environment. No copies of the worksheet are saved locally after the test is submitted.

The built-in spreadsheet editor is not a perfect stand-in for Microsoft Excel. It contains many of the same functions found in Excel, however, it does not include any statistical analysis plugins. The tool is ideal for assessments where students are asked to create reports (e.g. balance sheets, income statements, or similar reports).

A sample sheet is available here.

How To Use Spreadsheets With Blackboard Exams

This process is also covered on Respondus' knowledge base.

  1. Create an Essay Response question in your test or question pool.

  2. Provide the question text, then click the Attachment button and upload a spreadsheet.

    A Blackboard question with an excel spreadsheet attached.
  3. Save the question, then save the exam or question pool.

  4. In the exam, when students click the attachment, the spreadsheet tool will open in a new window. Students can make changes to the sheet and save their work. When finished, they will be provided a URL to paste into the response field. The instructor can view each student’s individual worksheet by going to the URL provided in the question response.

The .csv file type is not supported. Please convert this file type to .xls/.xlsx before attempting to use it with LockDown Browser.