Lockbrowser
Browser lockdown restricts Internet access to only approved websites, helping businesses increase employee productivity while decreasing risk from phishing sites, malware infections and time-wasting apps.
Students cannot print, copy, or access other applications during an assessment. While this solution helps prevent cheating to some extent, a human proctor would provide more reliable protection from cheating.
Detecting Cheating
Students taking online exams or tests can utilize a browser lockdown tool to prevent cheating. The software restricts other applications, desktop features, web search tools, as well as video and audio monitoring to ensure no one is viewing or listening in on answers they give; however, students have discovered creative ways to circumvent it.
Proctoring tools offer many advantages, from maintaining academic integrity and upholding distance learning to increasing online examination quality and security for student computers. Proctoring may help protect them against crash or hack attempts while at the same time maintaining internet connection quality; however, students may require using different browsers when taking exams online.
Instructors can make it more difficult for their students to cheat on online exams by mandating they use a Respondus lockdown browser. The software limits computer functions while disallowing use of secondary devices like mobile phones, tablets or other laptops. Furthermore, it will monitor any activities conducted on the device and notify instructors about any potentially suspicious activities.
Respondus also features an eye tracker that detects suspicious eye movements and other infractions during tests taken at home, especially if pupils move unpredictably or leave their room unexpectedly during testing. Should any suspicious pupil movements or infractions occur, Respondus software will monitor pupil movement closely as well as observe whether students leave their rooms to look off screen; any student engaging in these practices will be flagged for potential cheating activities and warned.
One effective strategy to counter cheating is giving students a practice exam prior to taking their actual exams. This will familiarize them with the testing environment, help troubleshoot any hardware or internet connection issues before the big day and give them an opportunity to work with IU and/or Respondus support before sitting the real test – reducing anxiety while increasing chances of passing!
Detecting Distractions
With the rise of online testing, proctoring tests for students is becoming more challenging for remote takers; without an instructor to invigilate them as in a physical classroom setting. Artificial Intelligence-based software like Lockbrowser has increasingly become used as a way to prevent cheating during an exam session.
Lockbrowser is an Internet browser extension installed on student computers during online tests to limit student access to websites and applications that promote academic dishonesty. It blocks web search engines, apps, desktop features such as copy-pasting or keyboard shortcuts which could aid cheating; prevent exiting assessments early or switching browsers during tests; flag students for using certain functions known to indicate cheating or inappropriate behaviour – among other functions it could block.
While this extension cannot block cell phones or other secondary devices, it can prevent students from visiting time-wasting websites like social media and YouTube that could distract them during an exam or quiz, including Wikipedia. Furthermore, the extension records user activity and reports any suspicious or unusual behaviors directly to an instructor for review.
Respondus Monitor, when used alongside Lockdown Browser, provides instructors with another online exam proctoring solution that enables them to monitor student behaviour and ensure they adhere to Wilfrid Laurier University’s Exam Regulations. Respondus takes video footage of each student screen and looks out for any violations which might violate examination rules, such as clicking an incorrect answer or opening another browser tab – this recording is then analysed by an artificial intelligence tool in order to generate an integrity report which faculty can then review after every assessment assessment session has completed.
As soon as an instructor creates a secure assessment in Canvas requiring Respondus Monitor, a reminder message appears at the top of each page reminding students of this requirement and providing links and instructions for downloading all necessary tools and preparing their computers for this type of assessment. Students should complete a practice exam prior to their proctored exam in order to familiarize themselves with Respondus Monitor tools as well as test hardware/internet connections safely in an unproctored environment.
Detecting Malicious Content
Browser lockdown software restricts desktop functions, web search results, apps and more in order to prevent cheating during online testing. This technology can be especially beneficial for students taking exams at home without an invigilator present; however it cannot guarantee 100% against students using cell phones, taking notes or looking up answers in advance in order to cheat.
Lockdown browser software can monitor whether students open another tab or computer application, access their clipboard or use keyboard shortcuts – but cannot detect other students or paper cheat sheets in the room. Therefore, using lockdown software in tandem with other proctoring technologies is vitally important.
Browser locks can be intrusive and potentially lead to system overloads if too many examinees try accessing assessments at once, leaving systems vulnerable to hacker attacks and potential harm from invading hackers. They should only be used at official test centers with strong levels of security as they may interfere with settings or software on devices as well as Artificial Intelligence systems that misclassify movements as fraudulent activity.
There are ways to mitigate the problems associated with these tools. One strategy is ensuring your device has sufficient bandwidth to accommodate multiple users at the same time – this may require closing other utilities and rebooting before initiating an assessment. Another solution would be requiring students to enter a password before accessing an exam.
As online and computer-based testing becomes more prevalent, browser lockdown technology may become necessary. Before implementing it in your classrooms, however, it’s vital to test this tool thoroughly to ensure it meets the organization’s technical requirements and integrates seamlessly with LMSs. Also keep VPAT requirements and how the software may impact user experiences in mind – perhaps considering Hexnode lite browser which offers users full functionality without being distracting for students while at the same time offering limited distracting features – in mind. Furthermore, speaking with other administrators or teachers who have used similar tools will provide insight into their experiences or concerns and their experiences can help inform this decision making.
Detecting Disruptive Behavior
With so many people taking tests online these days, it’s imperative that institutions have tools available to them for monitoring test takers. Browser lockdown is one such feature which can assist institutions with invigilating testing sessions and detecting any instances of cheating or disruptive behavior during assessments; its presence stops students from accessing any other applications or browsers during assessments as well as ensure that no information from external sources can be copied during assessments.
Browser lockdown poses one major disadvantage to students: it doesn’t detect all devices in use by students during an exam – such as mobile phones and tablets that might allow them to look up answers during the test or even have someone else take the exam for them. There are various methods students use to get around browser locks; using VPN to get past it to access other applications; while others will use proxy servers to gain entry to external websites is another example.
Respondus Lockdown Browser can also be used in combination with Respondus Monitor to monitor test-taking activities, using webcams of students as monitoring cameras to observe and assess their surroundings and behavior, to detect any evidence of cheating during test taking sessions.
Instructors looking to administer exams that require Respondus LDB and Monitor browser can click the “Settings” button for the assessment in Blackboard Learn and specify this requirement by choosing to include Respondus LDB browser as part of its requirements.
Respondus LDB and Respondus Monitor offer many features designed to make flexible testing simpler, such as Respondus Flexible Testing Webinar Video and Respondus LDB + Respondus Monitor Feature Checklist PDF. The Flexible Testing Webinar is ideal for administrators, CIOs and department chairs looking to gain more information on these tools’ benefits.