Lockdown Browser For Windows
Students enrolled in some Canvas quizzes during the spring semester may need Respondus Lockdown Browser (RLDB). Before your student takes their exams, make sure they have RLDB installed on their computer.
Students should understand that LockDown Browser cannot prevent cheating by other individuals, devices or even paper cheat sheets. Furthermore, students should also be aware that using RLDB may slow down their computer.
Key Features
Respondus Lockdown Browser differs from traditional web browsers in that it prevents other programs from running during an online exam, enabling students to take an exam without distraction from other programs or websites, or the temptation of cheating during it. Furthermore, this feature prevents students from printing or copying answers, accessing other websites or applications, or closing an exam before it has been submitted for grading.
NC State students have voiced displeasure over taking courses that require Respondus software for exams, such as EC 202, MA 244, FLS 101 and PCC 302 courses. A second-year fashion and textile management student noted on Reddit that his Physics I class required downloading Respondus but caused other computer issues, including not being able to close down or lose Internet connection while running this software.
Respondus Lockdown Browser runs on any PC, but for optimal performance it requires an Ethernet (wired) Internet connection in order to maintain a steady and reliable link with the Brightspace server during an exam. Wireless or USB modem connections could potentially result in dropouts and delays when connecting to exams; to maximize performance while reducing interruptions.
Respondus browser supports various accessibility settings that enable students to utilize screen readers or other accessibility programs during an online exam. Instructors can configure these settings using Respondus browser setting tool.
The browser also provides training resources for students, instructors and staff through a dashboard in its browser toolbar. These include demonstration videos, quick-start guides and help guides – with instructors also being able to find these same training resources within Blackboard courses centralized dashboards; should any instructors need further help using CAT+ they may reach out directly for training or assistance from our support staff.
Installation
Respondus Lockdown browser is a software program that blocks off a student’s computer environment when taking an online quiz, preventing printing, copying, visiting other websites or accessing applications on their computers during testing. When instructors require this feature in Canvas Quizzes items they assign students must download and install Respondus Lockdown browser before taking their test; alternatively it can also be used for proctored testing on campus computer labs.
Installing Respondus browser software is relatively straightforward. After clicking on any Quizzes item requiring Respondus, students will be taken directly to its download page with links for Windows installer and subsequent instructions for completion of installation. Afterward, Lockdown browser shortcuts will appear on student desktops for quick and easy use.
Once a browser installation is complete, activation must take place. To do this, a student should click on its icon that appears on their desktop and wait until its initial environment test completes; this may take up to two working days – during this time frame it’s essential that any conflicting programs such as instant messaging or screen capture software be closed out of their PC’s RAM memory.
Students should ensure their antivirus programs are updated, to ensure they continue functioning optimally without interfering with Lockdown browser functionality.
Even though browsers seem like an excellent way to combat cheating, they’re far from effective as proctoring an exam. Students still find ways to cheat using them and they are vulnerable to hacker attacks.
If a student experiences browser issues during an exam, it is crucial they notify their instructor as soon as possible in order to address it before it gets worse. If problems still remain after contact has been made with instructors and administrators, perhaps try installing different versions of software or an anti-virus program as alternatives may help resolve issues sooner rather than later.
Configuration
Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor are software programs available on both PCs and Mac computers that enable students to take quizzes in Canvas without being able to access other browser windows, applications, print copies or use webcam during an exam session. Furthermore, the Lockdown Browser records video footage of their testing session while automatically flagging any activity which may violate test security policies for review by instructors.
When students click the “Start” button of a RLDB enabled quiz in Canvas, they are prompted to download Respondus Lockdown Browser (RLDB). Once the software has been installed on their computers, students are free to take their exams in RLDB without disruptions from other software applications or environments; when their exam has concluded they can exit RLDB and return back into their normal working environments.
RLDB was specifically created to integrate seamlessly with the system components, settings and HTML engine of Internet Explorer on Windows systems or Safari on Macintosh systems. It can be installed both individually or as part of computer labs/classroom environments – for personal machines it is advised that an administrator be directly logged in as an administrator with full privileges before installing RLDB.
Additionally to these requirements, older versions of RLDB may not work correctly with Microsoft Internet Explorer and may cause various errors during use. If students experience problems while using it, they should check their Internet Explorer settings and overall functionality; if that fails to resolve their issues, uninstall and reinstalling should help remedy their situation.
Some users may experience issues when taking an exam through RLDB that results in a blank page appearing on their screen. This may be caused by various factors such as background programs such as Dell Dock or Google Toolbar that have not been closed completely; should this occur, students should close these programs and address any security pop-ups they might receive before retaking the examination.
At times, instructors may provide their students with a Quit Password so that they can exit LockDown Browser mode in special circumstances, such as technical difficulties with their device or approaching deadlines. This feature can be configured through the RLDB settings.
Troubleshooting
Respondus LockDown browser is an internet-based tool designed to prevent students from cheating during online exams and allow instructors to review student activities via its built-in camera. Although its many benefits make the Respondus LockDown browser attractive, its many issues including not functioning or freezing can sometimes prove challenging to pinpoint and resolve; most often these issues stem from software or Internet issues rather than permanent malfunction.
To resolve the problem, ensure you’re using the latest version of the browser. If not, download it from Respondus’ official website – it takes just seconds! Once installed, relaunch the browser to see if everything works as intended.
Facial recognition features can fail for various reasons. Backlights may interfere with its detection system; you may also need to adjust camera angle or position accordingly in order for it to correctly identify your face; finally, be sure to remove any hats or sunglasses that might prevent an accurate picture being captured on webcam.
Your Internet connection must also be reliable in order to support proper browser functionality, so be sure to test its stability regularly. Whenever possible, opt for Ethernet rather than Wi-Fi connections as these tend to be more stable; similarly, avoid public networks as these could potentially cause fluctuations in speed.
Other possible sources of browser malfunction may include other programs running on your computer, such as iTunes and other media managers, file sharing agents and instant messenger apps – they may interfere with browser functionality and lead to it freezing or locking up completely.
Your browser could freeze or stop functioning if your computer begins updating itself, in which case, other programs should be closed and restarted before taking an exam. Furthermore, it is recommended to temporarily disable Windows Defender or third-party antivirus protection as they can block browser features during an examination process and should therefore be temporarily disabled for the duration of an exam.