Canvas Lockdown Browser
Canvas Lockdown Browser is a custom browser created specifically to prevent students from visiting other websites or applications during an assessment quiz. Used alongside Respondus Monitor, which records student activity during exams to prevent cheating, Canvas Lockdown Browser keeps students focused and prevents them from exploring any other material on their computers during an assessment quiz.
Watch this insightful video for more details on how LockDown Browser and Monitor work together, or download this PDF as a quick Respondus feature checklist.
Respondus Monitor
Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor tool was designed to combat online exam cheating by restricting student access to other programs, web pages, applications and copy/paste features on their computers. Furthermore, this tool requires webcam identification purposes as well as alerting an instructor when any unauthorized actions take place during an exam session. While these tools cannot completely prevent cheating they can significantly decrease its likelihood by keeping students from leaving the test page early or moving onto new questions without saving answers first before submitting the exam for assessment.
When professors create exams in Canvas that use Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor tools, students are immediately aware when taking a quiz that the Respondus software is required for secure testing environments. Faculty can add a note in the quiz settings stating this requirement for secure testing environments; should any student not use Respondus software when taking exams, results may be withheld or another attempt may be required – an instructor may even require redoing it all!
Students need to download and install this tool prior to taking their quiz; this process will inform them of any other applications running that need closing down. They should run through a practice quiz prior to their graded assessment to test out their computer and internet connection and identify any potential issues before meeting with Respondus support for assistance resolving them.
Students can access the browser by clicking on the “LockDown Browser” link in their course navigation menu, or by searching their course list and selecting an action link that links directly to a quiz requiring it as part of a requirement for that quiz.
Students may opt to add Respondus Monitor plugin to their Firefox browser for extra protection during exams and quizzes, enabling instructors to detect suspicious activity immediately. The Respondus Monitor records student screens during quizzes or exams and reports back any anomalous behavior to instructors immediately.
LockDown Browser
LockDown Browser Enabled’ is an exciting new Canvas feature which blocks students from printing, copying, or accessing any outside tools during a quiz activity. In addition, this feature also allows instructors to live proctor assessments via webcam and/or other software; both classic and new quizzes in Canvas support this functionality and your instructor may take advantage of this tool to simulate an in-person proctoring environment online.
LockDown Browser is a custom browser created to lock down testing environments within Canvas and prevent students from printing, copying or accessing other applications or websites during exams. Students must take quizzes configured with LockDown Browser as this test cannot be converted for use with regular browsers.
To take a quiz that requires LockDown Browser installation and completion, login with PennKey and navigate to your Canvas course site. A list of quizzes with “LockDown Browser Required” in their course menu should appear; select it to enter an exam. Students will be prompted to install LockDown and complete a practice quiz prior to being allowed to take an actual exam.
Once their exam is over, students can view their results and class details through Canvas SpeedGrader. Instructors may review test-taking data using Respondus Monitor dashboard (an independent application).
Instructors using the “LockDown Browser Enabled” features are encouraged to include detailed instructions for installing and using the browser in their course syllabus. In addition, additional resources like videos, guides, and sample syllabus wording from Respondus website may also be helpful for faculty.
The “LockDown Browser Enabled” option in Canvas can be used with either classic or new quizzes and is the only sure way of guaranteeing that students take their exam using a locked browser instead of their normal browser. When taking a LockDown Browser enabled quiz, students will not be able to access other information or applications on their computer and must close all other programs prior to taking the exam.
Taking a Quiz in Canvas
Instructors can customize quizzes with various settings, such as timer – If an instructor sets their quiz with a time limit, students will see a pop up that informs them their time is running out when taking it, preventing them from closing browser tabs or browsing to other websites during that countdown period. This feature is key if an instructor wants to ensure all their students submit their quizzes before time expires.
Instructors can choose whether students can use calculators during quizzes, whether they can go back and review answers before submitting it, and if they may close their browser once finished. Furthermore, professors may enable a question bank for quizzes that allows students to search from a pre-established list; this option can help create quizzes related to textbook chapters or other sources.
Respondus Monitor allows faculty to restrict students’ ability to access certain information and applications on their computers while also recording their actions during an exam, providing teachers with valuable insight for review afterward. Respondus Monitor is best used when simulating in-person proctored exams but can also be utilized for online courses.
Faculty should prepare students for taking an RLDB exam by including test policies in their syllabus or course instructions. ETS offers a quick start guide with examples of appropriate syllabus language that should be included.
When students are ready to take an exam, they should login to Canvas and click on a quiz activity requiring RLDB. After downloading and installing it, they will then need to open only this browser when signing into Canvas to take their exam. If they experience issues completing it or lose power or their computer shuts off while taking their quiz, they should reach out directly to their instructor for help immediately.
Additional Resources
LockDown Browser is a custom browser that secures testing environments in Canvas by restricting student activity such as printing, copying and accessing other URLs or applications during assessments. Furthermore, it prevents them from closing a Canvas quiz until after submission for grading has taken place; combined with Respondus Monitor it adds another level of exam integrity for students taking exams in non-proctored environments.
LockDown Browser extension will be deployed through an LTI (Learning Tool Interoperability) integration directly within Canvas, rather than installed directly onto student machines. Students will access it from a USF-specific link available through Canvas Quiz page or the HELP button on instructor homepage and can install through USF link provided to install LockDown browser extension via LockDown link for their course; LockDown can then be used on any Chrome web browser-enabled device – including iPads!
Once installed, students should follow their instructor’s directions for using LockDown Browser. They may need to disable other non-essential programs for the exam such as instant messaging or screen capture tools before continuing with an assessment test. It is also recommended that they keep LockDown Browser active until all assessments have been taken and marked complete.
After students complete exams, they may exit and return by clicking on the HELP button on their instructor’s page or Canvas’ HELP button. Their instructor can then access an exam log that records details about what activities happened during an exam session in LockDown Browser.
Respondus Monitor, part of LockDown Browser software, extends its capabilities by enabling instructors to observe students during exams. When enabled on a test in Canvas, Respondus activates webcams on students taking exams as well as records their activities during assessment sessions allowing instructors to ensure that only appropriate students are taking an assessment session and no outside assistance may be providing assistance during assessment sessions. Respondus enables teachers to ensure only authentic candidates take exams without receiving help from others and is an important way of keeping an instructor aware that all requirements have been fulfilled during assessment sessions.
Respondus Browser, Monitor and Instructor Live Proctoring work together to provide all students taking an online exam an equal playing field. Each of these pieces of technology offers additional layers of protection in an exam environment that’s hard to replicate in classroom settings.