Download Respondus Lockdown Browser Blackboard
If your course requires assessments that require Respondus Lockdown Browser or Monitor, students should download them prior to taking an exam and access them via the Details & Information panel for that assessment.
Once an assessment is loaded into the customized browser, students are not permitted to print, copy, navigate away from it or access other applications; additionally they cannot close it before it has been submitted for grading.
What is Respondus Lockdown Browser?
Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor are tools your instructor may require you to use when taking an exam or quiz in Blackboard. These tools create a secure testing environment, meaning once the assessment has been completed your computer will return back to its normal configuration and cheating can be prevented by blocking access to non-designated files and websites not authorized in the test.
Students can access the Lockdown Browser via their student portal by following a link found either in their course list or exam instructions for assessments that require it, then click a link during their exam to activate it. It can also be downloaded directly from CCRI Blackboard website in order to allow ample time for installation and familiarity before their exams begin.
Once installed, students won’t be able to print, access other websites, or use programs other than what was initially launched with. If any questions allow for the use of calculators, these will appear in the toolbar within Lockdown Browser allowing students to enter answers easily. During an exam or quiz session they cannot close out of Lockdown Browser until grading has occurred – they cannot leave either!
If an assessment requires Respondus, the Details & Information panel will show which tools are necessary to access submitted attempts. If a student does not possess these tools and attempts to view submitted attempts without them, an error message will appear stating they must download Respondus (UofL version) first before continuing. If needed, click this link (UofL Version).
Whenever an assessment is copied from another course, any redirected links in exam instructions won’t work unless instructors of both courses have enabled Respondus Browser/Monitor in their courses’ settings menus.
How do I download it?
Students taking quizzes that require Respondus Lockdown Browser will be prompted to download and install it before taking their exams, with download links included within both the quiz itself and Blackboard Learn’s explanation of its requirement. Respondus works best on Windows and Mac computers but has recently begun supporting iPads and Chromebooks limitedly as well as offering limited support for iPads and Chromebooks as well. It should also be downloaded using Respondus website’s Institution page in Blackboard Learn for best performance.
Once they’ve downloaded their file, students should follow the onscreen instructions to complete installation and launch Respondus Lockdown Browser for their exam. After finishing up, once done they must close and log-off of their computer before closing out of Respondus Lockdown Browser; note however that using such software won’t allow access to other programs or websites during an examination process.
If a student encounters issues with software, they should first clear their browser cookies and cache. If that fails, they should check that their antivirus and firewall aren’t blocking access to the software; otherwise they should reach out to IT for additional support.
Students should ensure their machine meets the basic system requirements for Respondus Lockdown Browser, such as having the latest operating system and web browser installed, enough disk space, and sufficient disk capacity to store software. Respondus Lockdown Browser may be installed on up to five machines at one time.
If a student encounters errors while taking their exam, the Help Center button in the toolbar provides access to a live chat assistant for troubleshooting purposes. If an issue relates to Respondus Lockdown Browser’s connection with myMason/Blackboard is suspected, patching or reinstalling may be required; once done, “i” or “About” button should reflect an up-to-date version number in their toolbar should indicate.
What happens if I don’t download it?
Respondus Lockdown Browser is an invaluable tool to combat cheating on online exams. Available for download on any computer and used with webcams for assessments, this solution not only ensures academic integrity but allows instructors to observe students while taking assessments; students also have an opportunity to practice test taking and gain confidence while doing exams!
LockDown Browser may become unstable when other programs running in the background cause conflicts with its functioning, such as iTunes and media managers, file sharing agents like Bittorent or instant messenger applications such as Instant Messenger. To prevent this from occurring, close all unnecessary programs before beginning LockDown Browser. Furthermore, some computers come preinstalled with software designed specifically to run in the background that cannot be closed by other programs; such software could create issues when used alongside LockDown Browser.
When taking an assessment using Respondus Lockdown Browser, it’s essential to remember that no printing, copying or visiting other URLs are allowed during testing – this ensures you can complete it uninterrupted and with no distractions. If any issues with browser arise during an exam session, contact your instructor immediately for support.
Some students may find that their LockDown Browser stops functioning during an exam or displays a blank screen due to security windows that have appeared behind it. To remedy this, students may try closing their browser and addressing any security concerns on their computer.
It is highly advised that when taking exams in the Lockdown Browser, an Ethernet (wired) connection be utilized to reduce the chance of dropped or interrupted connections with Canvas servers. While wireless, USB modem, laptop connect card or mobile hotspot connections could potentially pose more difficulties, wireless modem connections have historically proven less reliable.
How do I set it up?
Respondus Lockdown Browser is a special browser created specifically to secure testing environments within Blackboard/Courses. Instructors may choose to require it for any deployed assessment, and students will be prevented from copying or printing, accessing applications or visiting websites during an exam until it has been submitted for grading. Furthermore, no closing, resizing or keyboard shortcuts can occur while taking an exam using Respondus Monitor – recording student activity helps verify whether they are taking an exam alone without reference disallowed materials or communicating with other test takers during assessments.
To set up a lockdown assessment, navigate to the content area in which your WebAssign assignment or quiz resides and click Options menu to access settings. Choose “Require Respondus Lockdown Browser for this assessment,” enter an optional password (this password differs from what students must enter on Test Options page when beginning an attempt) and enable additional settings, such as adding calculator to toolbar or restricting access by domain.
If you have installed Respondus Monitor, select Require this assessment with CCRI Respondus Monitor and set your camera option to record students’ activity. If there are exceptions to this setting, create a separate password and provide that to them instead.
Once you’ve selected all of the required options, your assessment can be seen on WebAssign assignment page in the Details & Information panel. Students can access it directly by clicking a link within Blackboard courses – and if they haven’t downloaded Lockdown browser yet a message appears telling them where to obtain it.
To verify that an exam has been securely locked down, check for a green “Required” icon next to its title on WebAssign’s assignment page. If it’s red instead, there may be issues with assessment settings – in such an instance either click Options button to view available settings or go back into test settings and correct them directly.