Prometric Lockdown Browser
Lockdown Browser helps eliminate academic dishonesty during online exams by discouraging students from looking up answers or taking pictures of exam questions to study later or share with friends. This tool also prevents them from searching for and saving answers as PDFs to review later or share.
Students preparing to take online exams that require Lockdown Browser must install and use it before taking one, with their institution provided a link specifically to take such exams.
What is LockDown Browser?
Browser lockdown software monitors an examinee’s on-screen activities and blocks their use of other browser tabs, desktop applications, keyboard shortcuts, screen captures etc. in order to prevent cheating during an online exam. While it can help prevent cheating during this mode of examinations, it cannot verify their identity or provide audio and video proctoring – however there are modern proctoring tools that do this and more!
How Does it Work? The program is installed onto the test-taker’s computer and runs full screen to prevent printing out or copying anything, visiting another web page, or accessing other applications during an exam. In addition, other browser windows are blocked off, user interface controls removed and external ports disabled so as to prevent any further means of cheating during examinations.
Although this software can block browser windows, apps and features, this doesn’t guarantee that students won’t find ways of cheating during online exams. As it cannot detect other devices (mobile phones, tablets or computers), nor prevent paper notes being used by examinees nor recognize that there may be other people around an examinee – this doesn’t ensure their anonymity when cheating occurs during an examination.
Furthermore, this program places certain restrictions on system performance that can hinder an exam-taker and make their exam-taking experience slow. Under such conditions, some systems may overload and the exam-taker may lose his internet access and thus access to an online exam. Browser lockdown software can also increase the risk of hacker attacks and malware penetration significantly. If you wish to use proctoring for an online exam, we suggest opting for a more secure solution with reduced restrictions on system performance in order to minimize potential issues and enhance exam quality. This will help avoid potential hassles while simultaneously increasing overall quality. Respondus Monitor with post-exam proctor review option can provide your exams with maximum security. Download it here; for installation you will require a computer, microphone, webcam and reliable internet connectivity.
Installation
Lockdown Browser helps students avoid cheating by providing an isolated test-taking environment that isolates other programs and browser windows. Students can download it free onto either their home or school computers before taking an exam through Prometric; installing this prevents instant messaging, screen capture or email programs which could give other exam takers clues, as well as installing any unauthorised executable files they might otherwise download off of the Internet.
Students needing to use the browser must have access to a high-speed, reliable Internet connection and should close any programs running in the background or log on to any websites or applications (including Blackboard) prior to using it for an online test. If required by their instructor, students can download a free version from Blackboard Student Resources prior to their test date; open up its installer, follow its prompts until it completes, then launch their browser when it comes time to take their exam.
Alternatively, instructors can authorize students to access exams through standard browsers instead of Lockdown Browsers. Students would open their standard browser, log in, and click on their exam link within the learning system to launch the Lockdown Browser that will block other windows and keep students from opening additional applications or websites until their exam is over. If they experience difficulty installing their browser they should download a Quick Start Guide from Student Resources for help installing it.
Instructors requiring Respondus Lockdown Browser exams will select an option in their Blackboard course settings that specifies this requirement – specifically “Requires Lockdown Browser” from the assessment type drop-down menu in Blackboard’s course settings – that specifies this need in their course settings. Faculty can then specify whether their exam will be taken remotely or in-person at a Testing Center – for remote testing students will require webcam, microphone and reliable internet; for in-person testing seats in a Testing Center are limited and require reservations – for remote testing
Security
As online learning becomes more and more popular and e-learning tests become increasingly widespread, there have been increasing concerns over preserving academic integrity of these exams. There are various tools that can be employed to monitor examinees’ on-screen activities and detect cheating during testing sessions; such as proctoring software programs, virtual classrooms, videoconferencing systems and browser lockdown programs which block access to certain web browser tabs, desktop functions, applications or features which might promote academic dishonesty.
Proctoring software offers several key capabilities for students taking exams online. One such capability is blocking other browsers and applications from accessing an exam, so as to allow students to focus on taking tests without becoming distracted or losing concentration.
Some students attempt to cheat during online exams by using mobile devices, taking paper notes or having others nearby while taking their test. Although browser lockdown programs can detect screen sharing and multi-monitors, their detection features only cover primary monitored devices; it’s essential that a comprehensive monitoring tool be utilized when conducting an online examination.
Finding information online about how to cheat during an online test with a browser lockdown is straightforward, yet this proctoring solution cannot fully protect against these attempts at cheating and fails to verify student identity, leaving it susceptible to hackers attacks.
If you’re an instructor looking to enhance the quality of online assessments, considering using a blended proctoring system. Such software offers various tools that can verify examinee identities, record testing sessions, provide audio/video proctoring, help students relax during an online exam and send red flags directly to live proctors if any suspicious behavior is identified – thus helping instructors monitor and prevent online exam cheating.
Accessibility
If you intend on administering an exam remotely using Prometric Lockdown Browser, make sure you meet these system requirements:
This software creates a safe testing environment by restricting students from printing, copying, visiting another URL or accessing other applications during an assessment test. Once their test is submitted for grading they remain locked into it until submitted for submission – ideal for classroom and lab settings alike (Macs work too but iPad requires additional setup by instructors).
Lockdown Browser + Monitor Video at New Mexico State is an informative 1-sheet PDF document that outlines key features of the software and provides a quick checklist for making sure all required components are available on students’ computers. This video can also provide additional insight for administrators, CIOs, department chairs or any faculty members interested in understanding more about technology.
Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor satisfy web content accessibility standards documented by the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT). They have been thoroughly tested with screen readers such as NVDA, JAWS, MS-Windows Narrator as well as VoiceOver which is installed as standard in Apple Mac OS.
Keyboard shortcuts are available to assist users with disabilities in operating software. ReadSpeaker webReader for LMS (Windows and Mac) can be integrated into LockDown Browser so that keyboard shortcuts and text enlarging remain active during an exam; when used with its associated Kurzweil plugin, Keyboard Shortcuts as well as Reading/Masking features can also be accessible within LockDown Browser.
If your assessment requires Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor for assessment, we suggest including an “Information for Your Students (Word document). This document includes essential details that students should review before taking their exams. Furthermore, incorporating a practice quiz using these tools will enable your students to become acquainted with them before the real one takes place – helping ensure they navigate them successfully while providing you with valuable data regarding performance evaluation. For more detailed documentation regarding their features visit Respondus website.