Using Lockdown Browser
LockDown Browser prevents students taking Canvas “Classic” quizzes or Blackboard Learn quizzes from accessing any other URLs and applications during an assessment, acting similar to an exam proctor in stopping cheating during tests taken traditionally in classroom settings.
Instructors may require LockDown Browser and Monitor for online exams by adding this component of their course syllabus or Learning Module. Furthermore, instructors are advised to create a practice quiz so their students can gain access and take it independently.
What is Lockdown Browser?
With computer-based testing becoming more and more widespread, universities and other institutions are turning more frequently to lockdown browser software to protect the integrity of exams. Lockdown browsers limit desktop features, web search results, applications – everything which could lead to academic dishonesty – in an attempt to safeguard exams from academic dishonesty. While lockdown browsers don’t completely prevent students from cheating; rather, they simply make it more difficult.
Respondus Monitor software is installed on computers in our testing centers and computer labs at Yale, as well as being accessible on students’ personal laptops connected to the Internet. Once students access Blackboard tests in their browsers, they are not permitted to copy, print, access other applications or websites or close out of assessments before submitting for grading. In addition, instructors are able to view students’ screens during assessments in order to monitor for cheating attempts using Respondus Monitor add-on.
Though not 100% effective at deterring academic misconduct, software proctoring tools like video chat or live proctors have proven very helpful at discouraging academic dishonesty. Working around browser restrictions may prove challenging; any attempt at bypassing them can have serious repercussions for students who attempt to bypass them.
For more information about Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor, please visit the Instructor Resources page for videos, guides, sample syllabus wording and additional training for instructors. We strongly suggest instructors post this documentation within their course that requires their students to utilize these tools so they have time to review before taking quizzes or assessments.
Students seeking to install Lockdown browser should refer to the Instructions for Students document. Installation may take some time and be hindered by antivirus programs; we advise leaving yourself plenty of time before your quiz or exam starts. Once installed, students should follow steps 1-4 in the Instructions for Students in order to set their computer up for taking their quiz or test; additionally it is advisable that they bring a paper copy just in case any technical difficulties arise in an exam room and cannot be resolved through assistance provided by instructor or assistant proctors.
How do I use Lockdown Browser?
If your instructor has assigned Respondus Lockdown Browser as part of a test or quiz in Blackboard, follow these steps.
Respondus Lockdown Browser requires students to have a compatible computer equipped with webcam and high-speed internet connectivity; Chromebook users should refer to the Respondus Student Instruction Supplement for guidance. Once their computer meets these criteria, students can download and install Lockdown Browser before taking their test; when launched for the first time they will be asked for their USC NetID and password before going through an identity verification process; once successfully authenticated the browser will launch into Blackboard test environment automatically.
Once logged into Blackboard, students can locate their exam in the Course navigation menu. Exams requiring Respondus Lockdown Browser will display “Requires Lockdown Browser” on the left side of their screens; for exams that do not necessitate its use, students can make any necessary adjustments by clicking down arrow next to a quiz and choosing “Don’t require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam.
To ensure optimal results, students should close all other applications before beginning an exam. Once their test begins, students cannot leave or return until it has been submitted for grading; also no printing, copying, accessing other applications, or visiting websites will be possible during that time. To limit distractions further and ensure their exam ends smoothly they may turn off notifications and set an alarm or reminder so as to return when their exam has concluded.
Instructors can offer practice quizzes before real exams that utilize Respondus Lockdown in order to give their students time to familiarize themselves with its use, test out equipment and ensure everything runs properly if issues arise. Should there be any difficulties encountered during a practice quiz session, instructors can use it as an opportunity to identify these and address them prior to final exam day. Students needing additional resources can visit the Respondus Lockdown Browser Help Page for guidance and additional resources on browser use.
What are the benefits of using Lockdown Browser?
Lockdown Browser’s primary benefit lies in its ability to safeguard students against cheating during online tests. By locking down the testing environment, Lockdown Browser ensures students cannot print, copy, access other web addresses or applications on their computers while taking an assessment until it’s submitted for grading – this feature makes Lockdown Browser especially valuable in proctored settings, but home use with Respondus Monitor could also prove advantageous in high stakes situations.
Lockdown Browser does come with some disadvantages. Most notably, it cannot detect all forms of cheating; students could still take notes and pass papers among themselves without detection by Lockdown Browser. Furthermore, its installation requires admin rights and may make public computers difficult to use if internet connectivity drops suddenly. Finally, its vulnerabilities to hacker attacks increase as internet connectivity lapses further reducing performance on these public machines.
Another drawback of using online tests to administer exams is that students may take tests from different computers or mobile devices without instructors being aware. Instructors need to monitor student attempts on multiple devices so as not to penalise students for taking multiple attempts on one exam. Furthermore, some students have reported browser freeze-up during an exam which disrupts testing sessions.
Lockdown Browser has become an integral component of their classes for several reasons, leading many faculty to require its use in their courses. However, it’s essential that faculty communicate to their students that it may not provide full protection against academic dishonesty – rather, using other proctoring tools like webcams can increase security while decreasing stress for your students.
Lockdown Browser should be used by following the instructions of their instructor. Students should log into Canvas using their Andrew credentials, locate the quiz they must take, click ‘Launch LockDown Browser’ button to launch browser and once logged-in they will be asked for access code provided by instructor and can begin their exam.
What are the disadvantages of using Lockdown Browser?
Students of Lockdown Browser vary in their opinion on its usefulness; some find it unnecessary and intrusive, invading upon their privacy and potentially leading to data breaches or lawsuits; this concern is amplified when taking into account other test proctoring companies’ recent data breaches.
Lockdown Browser can also present challenges for students with accessibility needs. Since it only supports certain devices (laptops, tablet computers and some Android phones), assistive technologies like screen readers or voice-to-text readers may experience difficulty when trying to use Lockdown Browser.
Therefore, instructors must be ready to offer alternate assessment or proctoring options that ensure all students can take an equitable opportunity at taking exams with grades that accurately reflect their performance.
One drawback of Lockdown Browser is its inability to allow students access to other applications on their computers – such as email, instant messaging and software programs. Furthermore, the browser prevents students from printing text or images from other websites for assessments, which may prove an impediment for those with disabilities requiring such tools for assessment purposes.
Lockdown Browser has one major downside, in that it cannot be used on personal laptops or computers not located on campus, creating issues for students who must take tests at home or other off-campus locations. Therefore, professors are advised to provide access to an ungraded practice quiz or test that uses Lockdown Browser so students are acquainted with its use before assigning any graded assessments requiring its use.
Lockdown Browser may cause some students to feel uneasy, yet its use appears inevitable in proctoring online exams. Professors must ensure they communicate clearly with their students regarding any concerns regarding its usage so that students may feel more at ease taking assessments and focus on accomplishing the task at hand.