Respondus Lockdown Browser For Windows
Respondus Lockdown Browser (RLDB) with Respondus Monitor offers online proctoring of tests taken in Blackboard. Students should install it well in advance of any exams that require proctoring.
Students should always use the most up-to-date version of RLDB. To do so, students can click on the i button in their toolbar to display and check for updates to this version of RLDB.
Features
Respondus Lockdown Browser’s key feature for online assessments is restricting students from accessing other web pages or opening additional applications on their computers; it’s one of several that makes this software integral part of an online testing environment. But it has several other useful capabilities.
Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor also provides additional protections against third-party publisher applications like Pearson MyLab, WebAssign and McGraw Hill Connect if they have been associated with test questions by instructors. Students won’t be able to click or use search functions without first breaking out of the locked testing environment.
This browser restricts students’ ability to print or copy text onto clipboard, take screenshots, turn notifications on, or send messages. When using their own computers for online assessments, students are responsible for downloading and installing the appropriate Respondus Lockdown Browser version for their operating system; otherwise loaner laptops with preinstalled Respondus software can be obtained through the Technology Support Center.
As with any piece of software, Respondus Lockdown Browser contains bugs in some versions. Students experiencing any difficulties should reach out to their instructor immediately as soon as any issues arise with using Respondus Lockdown Browser for an entire course rather than just for one exam.
Instructors requiring their students to use Respondus Lockdown Browser should first offer them a practice quiz prior to assigning graded tests that require the Respondus Lockdown Browser. Instructors should also ensure their students have access to the latest version; students can do this by opening their browser, selecting “About” from the toolbar, and clicking on ‘Check for Update.’ A newer version may then be downloaded if required.
Installation
Software created to detect cheating in online and proctored exams has many features designed to combat it, including video and audio recording of test taker’s computer, industry-leading webcam analytics to detect suspicious behavior, locking technologies that restrict email, chat, remote devices, virtual machines and screen capture applications; it also disables print functions and blocks access to websites other than those hosting tests; compatible with various learning management systems including Blackboard Learn and Canvas.
Respondus students can install the Lockdown Browser free by following the instructions on its website, whether for Windows and Mac computers or a Chromebook version (beta). After installation is complete, students can log into their course to take any exams that require Respondus Lockdown Browser.
Respondus Lockdown Browser will be provided automatically when an instructor creates a quiz in their LMS that requires it. When clicking to take the quiz, a link to Respondus Lockdown Browser is automatically provided in a new tab; once opened it will prompt for closure of any other programs so as to create the most isolated environment possible for testing; any open programs may prevent proper functioning of the quiz.
Once inside a test, students cannot close their browser or navigate away from it unless authorized by their instructor; any attempt will cause their browser to notify them they have violated test protections and could result in breaching. It is therefore imperative for students to follow the instructor’s instructions and complete their quiz without issue.
If the student experiences any problems while taking their exam, they can use the built-in help feature of their browser to resolve them. This will open a chat window where an assistant can work with them to troubleshoot any issues they are experiencing; for instance, if their browser indicates an inability to connect to Respondus server they can work with their assistant to make sure all their anti-virus and firewall settings are correct.
Use
Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor provide online proctoring to prevent cheating during exams. Students should install this software prior to any exam that requires it; instructors often create one-question practice quizzes using this system so students can test out its functionality prior to an actual examination. If students experience any difficulties using it, they should contact their instructor as soon as possible so he or she can address the issue immediately.
Once installed, this software takes over a computer and locks its operating systems, restricting students from printing, copying, going to another URL, or accessing other applications while an assessment is in progress. It blocks keystrokes for stopping, refreshing or going back and temporarily disables standard menu and toolbar features – leaving only back button available during an assessment session. When testing is complete it can be reactivated as well as updated automatically upon its release of a new version of itself.
Students logging in to Canvas in order to take a quiz that requires Respondus Lockdown Browser must click on the link next to its title that states “Requires Respondus Lockdown Browser.” If Respondus has never been installed before, a pop-up window will ask permission before downloading and installing it; if this window doesn’t close automatically after giving this permission, students may not be able to start their exam and may need to temporarily shut down other programs, reboot their computer, or change their password before continuing the exam.
The system also allows students to add links within a quiz by right-clicking on questions and selecting the option “Add a Link.” This feature can help add hyperlinks for reference or video clips relevant to a question, although instructors must remember these links aren’t secure and may malfunction during exams.
While Respondus Lockdown Browser does help reduce some forms of cheating, it is not a foolproof solution. Students can still find online tutorials which show them how to bypass its security and cheat during exams and tests that require Respondus Lockdown Browser. Furthermore, this software violates privacy standards by recording students’ screens, making the learning experience less flexible than traditional classroom environments.
Troubleshooting
Many universities, institutions and online courses require their students to use Respondus Lockdown Browser when taking exams or graded quizzes. This browser prevents students from accessing other websites or applications on their computers during assessment to keep an eye out for cheating while maintaining integrity of testing environment. Furthermore, teachers can review webcam recordings afterwards for review by teachers if any problems arise when using Respondus Lockdown Browser; however some students experience issues when trying out this browser.
One common issue occurs when students attempt to open the browser and are prompted to close any programs running on their computer, prompting the browser to hang or crash and necessitating manual shutdown of all running applications on the computer. Software may misidentify that there is an application running when there actually isn’t one; in these instances, the user should access their Task Manager and manually close any such software that might appear. Students can access their Task Manager either by clicking the icon in the lower-right corner and choosing “Task Manager,” or via MacOS by hitting Command+Space and typing “Activity Monitor,” both methods displaying all processes that LDB has identified as active.
As well as these issues, other potential factors could cause your browser to stop functioning properly, including an incorrect MAC address, an outdated software version or antivirus software. By updating or correcting these factors, issues should go away; by disabling antivirus software altogether, the problem should also go away.
Before taking an official exam or quiz in Respondus browser, students should practice taking one in order to familiarise themselves with its software and address any potential issues. WiFi signals may cause errors to arise during an exam; wired connections provide more stability. It’s also advisable that students check if their browser needs updating as this could prevent malfunction.