Lockdown Browser For Students
Respondus lockdown browser and monitor programs are required in many NC State courses for online exams to reduce academic dishonesty. They restrict web search results, apps, desktop functions and any other features which might encourage academic dishonesty.
This browser cannot be closed or resized and keystrokes, screen capture and function keys have been disabled; this can lead to problems for some computers.
What is Lockdown Browser For Students?
Browser lockdown is one of the basic solutions to protect e-learning integrity. Unfortunately, however, it may not be the most efficient or safe solution; hackers could potentially gain entry and cause computer breakdowns without proper management. Therefore, using other proctoring technologies with browser lockdown will provide greater protection.
Lockdown software prevents students from accessing other sites during an online test by displaying it full-screen and disabling browser functions such as back, forward, refresh and stop buttons. Furthermore, it disables keystroke recording, screen capture function keys and right-click menus as well as restricts ability to enter web addresses; cannot open additional tabs (unless hyperlinks to external content are embedded within questions)
Students cannot copy or paste text, images or video clips into their responses to questions. Furthermore, printing is disabled as is accessing other applications or devices (except a wired internet connection – mobile hotspot and phone data connections are not recommended).
Instructors can enable a feature that enables students with disabilities to access external content by selecting an option in the admin interface. This option enables students with disabilities to navigate an online exam using either keyboard navigation or standard screen reading methods; however, this feature has an impactful negative impact on application security and should only be implemented as necessary.
As with any exam, students should prepare for technical issues by making sure their device has a fast internet connection and is disconnected from other devices or mobile hotspots. Furthermore, students should ensure they have an alternate method for submitting the test such as printing it out or using USB drive as backup.
Students can download and install Respondus LockDown Browser onto their computers; or instructors may require this for a particular exam. Once installed, students simply follow these step-by-step instructions to launch it – once done so, their instructor can assign a link and monitor their work remotely.
How to Use Lockdown Browser For Students
Lockdown Browser can help students take any test, quiz, or assessment that requires it. If an instructor marks such an exam as needing Respondus LockDown Browser use only, students will see a note next to its name in CarmenCanvas or Blackboard Learn indicating they must utilize this tool; any attempts made using an ordinary web browser will result in an error message being displayed instead.
Before taking an exam that requires Respondus LockDown Browser, students should ensure their computer meets the minimum system requirements listed by their vendor and close any programs which might interfere with using it. Once these tasks have been accomplished, students should download Respondus Lockdown Browser install package via link provided by their instructor or institution and follow prompts provided to set up and run LockDown Browser.
Once students launch the browser, they will find themselves facing a screen that resembles what would normally appear when taking an exam or quiz in Schoology, except with several features disabled or removed – such as menus – only back, forward, stop and refresh buttons will remain accessible to them. After they have configured this browser to their preferences they may commence taking their exams.
Students taking an examination are restricted from printing, copying, accessing other applications or visiting websites during an exam session. At its completion, Lockdown Browser must be closed by verifying their identity by recording video of themselves in class or lab as proof.
Once an instructor has marked a test or quiz as requiring Respondus, they can set submission settings so students must use the Respondus Lockdown Browser during proctored exams in either Course Materials page view or within Assessments page view. To do this, click the gear icon next to its name, select Edit from the options that appear, then submit Settings using either Submission Settings from drop-down menu on Assessments page view or Settings from Options menu in Course Materials page view.
What Is Respondus Monitor?
Respondus Monitor is a webcam feature of LockDown Browser designed to assist instructors with verifying students’ identities during exams. Faculty can activate this building block by creating a quiz in Blackboard and selecting “Require Respondus Monitor for this Exam” under Proctoring section, forcing all students taking the exam to utilize LockDown Browser with webcam for this section of their examinations.
Students taking assessments with Monitor enabled are restricted from printing or copying pages, accessing other applications on their computer, exiting their browser, or leaving until their assessment has been submitted for grading. Furthermore, browser toolbar functions are limited to forward, back, refresh, stop functions; students cannot navigate other web pages nor change screen resolution or background colors without first seeking authorization from instructor; also they cannot change browser size until assessment completes; browser fullscreen display keeps all student focused until completed with assessment complete – depending on instructor settings a calculator may appear in toolbar as an additional safeguard against exit until submission for grading.
This tool records audio and video, enabling instructors to monitor student behavior or conduct oral exams with greater ease. Recordings can be stored for up to a year on a server and watched back by instructors to identify possible problems; additionally they may request their college dean or department chair review the video too.
Note: A live proctor will still be needed to monitor students as they take exams using this tool and detect any instances of cheating. For optimal performance, students are advised to download and take a practice quiz with this software before taking high stakes exams using it – this will allow them to get acquainted with its tools, identify any issues they encounter and become familiar with its process. It would also be advisable for them to have a reliable Internet connection (not mobile hotspot or phone data) when taking tests online using this tool.
Starting in Spring 2022, Respondus service will become GDPR compliant; however, each licensee institution is responsible for upholding and abiding by this policy within their courses(s). Universities serve as controllers of personal information collected through Respondus.
How Does Respondus Monitor Work?
Respondus Monitor is an automated proctoring service that utilizes student webcams to record their activities during online, non-proctored quizzes. Designed to deter cheating and detect suspicious behaviors such as using multiple devices simultaneously or viewing another student’s screen or paper during tests or accessing additional unintended material such as notes without authorization, Respondus Monitor can be enabled by instructors by selecting “Require Respondus LockDown Browser” from Canvas’ left menu.
Students entering an exam will see a new tab open in their browser prompting them to download software. Installation usually takes only minutes; students should install their Lockdown browser and plugin well ahead of any quiz or test so as to have enough time to resolve any issues prior to starting an online quiz. It is important to remember that using Lockdown prevents students from using other applications on their computer during an online quiz in Canvas such as screen capture programs; right-mouse functions, copy/paste commands, right mouse functions etc from working properly as well.
Students taking an exam must abide by any additional instructions from their instructor, while this plugin records facial expressions and movements of students during an exam session. It can also record audio/video files that facilitators can watch later. In addition, milestone events and milestones such as when students select “Don’t show this alert again” on face detection alerts can be flagged for analysis by facilitators.
Respondus Monitor recordings are stored on its own servers and can only be accessed by instructors and TA’s teaching that course. Videos do not feature in export packages or archive packages and must be watched using Respondus Monitor’s dashboard built into Blackboard system to view.
Students using Lockdown browser exams can access typical Blackboard/Tests functions such as Exceptions (for test availability and time), Auto Submit and more during online quizzes. The browser is accessible to students with disabilities who rely on screen readers or text-to-speech accessibility programs – Mac version works with VoiceOver while iOS plugin supports Apple JAWS/Windows-Eyes screen readers. Furthermore, students may access external websites like e-books or government websites through it.