Brightspace Lockdown Browser
Brightspace integration of Respondus Lockdown Browser works differently from its Blackboard equivalent: students log into Brightspace as normal before clicking on an exam that requires it to access Lockdown Browser.
Exams will launch using a Lockdown browser where students will be prevented from printing, visiting unauthorized URLs and accessing other applications. They can record responses to quizzes with webcam recording functionality as well as record their webcam feed directly into it.
What is Lockdown Browser?
Respondus Lockdown Browser is a web browser designed to enhance online testing in Brightspace Learning Environment. When students take quizzes requiring Respondus Lockdown Browser, they are not permitted to print, copy, go to another website or access any applications on their computer without first first being locked into their quiz and waiting until its submission for grading.
Brightspace Respondus Monitor proctoring tool ensures students take their quiz in an uninterrupted, secure and monitored environment by recording students’ webcam footage when using this browser.
For easy viewing of quiz settings, click on the gear icon and choose “Settings.” Here, you can choose whether or not students must use Respondus Lockdown Browser; additionally, calculators may be allowed during a quiz if desired.
Once you are happy with your settings, click Save and Close to make the changes to your quiz. Alternatively, if desired (see image below), the Advanced Settings for Respondus Lockdown Browser section can also be hidden (see image).
Install and upgrade Respondus Lockdown Browser early in each semester to give you enough time to test it and seek technical support if necessary before your students use it for exams. It is advised to conduct a practice quiz with Respondus Lockdown Browser as part of this process to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Please be aware that using this tool does not meet all accessibility needs for students with approved accommodations, so it is recommended to seek guidance from Disability Access Center when using it with students who require accommodation. Furthermore, large courses reliant upon this tool might benefit from alternative assessment methods like open book assessments or low stakes tests that can easily be graded; this will reduce timed exams while giving more classroom flexibility.
How do I use Lockdown Browser?
Whenever your faculty creates a test in Blackboard requiring Respondus Lockdown Browser, students will be asked to download it before beginning. While similar to a regular web browser, Respondus Lockdown Browser prevents other programs from running on computers during an online test and prohibits copying or printing of test questions.
Students clicking the link to download a browser will be taken to a page which outlines its functionality and specifies system requirements, since only computers meeting those specifications will be compatible with this browser. It also checks for available updates automatically and displays an alert if any are present; users will then have an opportunity to update if needed.
Once downloaded, the browser will run in a separate window on student’s computers and log them in with their USC Net ID and Password to Blackboard; once authenticated they will go through identity verification process; during which their browser will block access to any applications or websites other than Blackboard itself – once their exam is over they should exit both programs on their computers as soon as they finish taking the exam.
Instructors can require Lockdown Browser in online tests by selecting Course Tools from their content area and adding Respondus Lockdown Browser as one of their Course Tools. Once added, instructors can click the Settings button next to it in order to specify that this browser be required for an exam on Macs, PCs and Chromebooks – or modify exam settings so students may take an exam using iPad.
Lockdown Browser will appear at the top of their screen just beneath their navigation bar when they access a quiz that requires it. They then follow instructions on how to use this browser to reach their quiz as normal; with one exception being Classic Quizzes may contain an icon featuring a rocket ship while New Quizzes do not.
What are the settings for Lockdown Browser?
Lockdown Browser helps deter cheating by restricting student access to certain websites and applications; students still use Brightspace Quizzes but cannot open files, visit other web pages, use calculators or print out test results. It also prevents students from using tools such as screen capture apps which record video or audio of exams for later review.
This tool can be integrated into all online courses offered through Blackboard and is compatible with iPads. It does not violate ADA requirements for accommodating disabilities and we encourage instructors to offer this resource to their students so as to guarantee equal access to testing materials for all.
To enable Respondus Lockdown Browser in a course, go to Activities & Assessments > Quizzes and check off Respondus Lockdown Browser.
Before taking an online quiz requiring Lockdown Browser tool, students will first need to download and install it from either the Start Quiz page of their quiz that needs it or in its Settings area. Once installed, Lockdown Browser will appear among available web browsers on their computer and will launch automatically when they select to begin an online quiz.
At least 512 Kbps is recommended when using Lockdown Browser as part of an exam, due to their reliability during high-stakes exams, when wireless, USB modem, laptop connect card or mobile hotspot connections may drop or interrupt connections that could hinder student performance.
Configure this tool to limit which external websites will be accessible during a quiz, making this option especially helpful for schools requiring their students to sign their exams and/or print them out before turning them in – helping ensure no changes were made prior to submission and disproving student claims that answers had been altered or time was cut short during their quiz experience.
What are the risks of using Lockdown Browser?
Students have reported that using a lockdown browser was less helpful than expected, increasing anxiety during exams and stress levels overall. Furthermore, students have reported difficulty using certain functions on their computers due to this software.
Lockdown browsers pose the greatest privacy threat for students. Students fear that these programs can be compromised and used for spying or hacking purposes; such concerns are particularly valid given Respondus and ProctorU have both experienced data breaches in recent times, with their systems becoming vulnerable and data being released publicly.
Lockdown browsers must also be careful to not interfere with assistive technologies like screen readers and voice-to-text software, which may necessitate hard shutdown of the computer before an exam begins if a student uses these tools during testing. In such instances, hard shutdown may take up to one minute.
Another issue related to lockdown browsers is students being unable to adjust browser settings or reboot their computers while in use, leading to issues during exams if either browser does not close correctly or there are Internet connection problems on a computer. When this occurs, it may be best to save and retake quiz later once all issues have been addressed.
Lockdown browsers may not be compatible with older operating systems like Windows XP and Vista, which may cause difficulties for students who use them during exams using this tool. Students should consult their instructors beforehand to ensure the browser will support their system before taking an exam via this method.