Respondus Lockdown Browser Canvas
Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor are tools designed to enhance academic integrity when giving quizzes or exams in Canvas. They help prevent students from printing, copying, visiting another URL or accessing any applications during an assessment session.
Faculty should encourage their students to take a practice test prior to an actual graded assessment in order to familiarize themselves with the process and confirm that their equipment will work. More information can be found on Respondus FAQ pages.
How to use LockDown Browser
Respondus Lockdown Browser prompts students when taking quiz activities in Canvas that require it, locking down testing environments so that no printing, copying, browsing to another URL or accessing other applications while taking graded exams are allowed. Available both for Windows and Mac.
To take a quiz that requires Respondus Lockdown Browser, click on its link in the Course Menu (left). When it opens, enter any exam password necessary and click Continue; your test instructions will then be shown. To take advantage of its webcam feature, make sure no clothing (such as baseball caps or scarves) obscures or reflects off of your face when using its webcam feature.
Launch the browser after its installation by clicking the icon in the bottom right corner. Your browser should then automatically direct you to Canvas @ Yale login page where you will need your USC NetID and password in order to log-in; follow instructions as they verify your identity, then navigate directly to your quiz activity and begin taking your exam.
For optimal results, use the browser at least a day or two before your exam so you can identify any problems early and take appropriate steps to solve them. Furthermore, take an online practice quiz prior to taking your final test so you become acquainted with its tools.
If you plan to use Respondus Lockdown Browser with Monitor – which allows your instructor to observe while you take an online, non-proctored exam – in either your Blackboard classroom or testing center, you will require a laptop equipped with webcam, microphone and high-speed Internet connectivity; in addition to an omnidirectional microphone headset USB headset and follow the directions outlined on Respondus Lockdown Browser’s Student Instruction Supplement to complete setup.
Requirements
Respondus Lockdown Browser with Monitor adds another level of proctoring for online tests administered in classrooms, labs, or remote locations. Students taking exams cannot print or copy materials during testing time nor navigate away from their current URL/application while taking it. Faculty can enable this option for any New or Classic Canvas quiz that requires proctored proctored environments.
For proper functioning of LockDown Browser, student computers must meet certain specifications:
Apart from basic hardware and operating system (OS), students also require webcam and microphone equipment for online testing purposes. A high-speed internet connection is necessary as well; additionally, students must possess their test password before being allowed accessing Canvas via Google Chrome.
Instructors should provide their students with a practice test using Respondus Lockdown Browser software and practice taking online exams, with this practice test consisting of one question with unlimited attempts and zero points awarded per question – this allows students to assess their computer setup and internet connection prior to taking an exam or quiz requiring it, helping reduce anxiety while providing troubleshooting tools for any technical issues that may arise.
Once a student has their software installed and is ready to take an exam, they can click the link in their course in Canvas and be directed through to LockDown Browser where they will enter their password before starting their test.
Instructors may wish to show a video demonstrating how to use the browser and Monitor feature, in case any students need help understanding it. After taking their quiz, students can exit their browser and return to their native operating system.
Respondus provides students with an option in their test that allows them to download the browser and monitor directly from Respondus’ website; however, instructors typically recommend they utilize the downloadable browser provided by Canvas which will offer greater support as the Zoom plugin does not function while it is activated, nor may screen capture apps function while activated.
Setup
Respondus Lockdown Browser must be downloaded and installed onto their personal computers before taking their tests using it. A UAB specific link for downloading this app can be found both on Canvas Quiz page and the eLearning Respondus Lockdown Browser & Monitor webpage, with installation similar to other online downloads; once it is complete a startup sequence will run to ensure a conducive test taking environment exists on their machine.
Students logging into Canvas and accessing quizzes requiring Respondus Lockdown Browser will find quiz names with appendages such as: “- Requires Respondus Lockdown Browser” or “- Requires Respondus Lockdown & Monitor (Webcam Required). Once their question type has been identified and their correct response selected, they will be prompted to launch Respondus Lockdown Browser.
At first login to their browser, students will be asked to close any unnecessary programs which might obstruct taking their exam. When prompted, select Yes so as not to allow any other applications from capturing images or recording sounds or opening new tabs on their computer that could interfere with taking an exam. After doing this, they’ll be taken directly into Canvas course where they can start their examination.
Instructors will receive notification that a student has launched Lockdown and is ready to take the exam, using Respondus Dashboard to check its progress. Teacher can view progress through exam as well as any errors reported.
Instructors should post a practice exam early in the semester so that their students may practice using their application and reduce anxiety caused by unfamiliarity with its use. Furthermore, this practice exam gives students the chance to test out their equipment as well.
Instructors should update the syllabus by outlining what Respondus Lockdown Browser is and how it works, along with its technological requirements, such as being used on a full computer instead of Chromebook or mobile device.
Instructions
Respondus LockDown Browser Canvas must be downloaded and installed before beginning their quiz, in order to take any quiz enabled for it in their course. LockDown prevents students from printing, copying or going off to another application or website during assessment time.
Instructors can utilize Respondus LockDown Browser when creating assessments in Canvas by selecting “Require Respondus Lockdown Browser” as one of their settings when setting up their assessment. The browser is a custom program that ensures students only access what they are taking and prevents them from leaving before it has been submitted for grading – it works on both PCs and Mac computers! Instructors may also enable Respondus Monitor, which allows instructors to observe student screens during assessments in order to monitor compliance with test center regulations and ensure a successful assessment experience for students taking exams in Canvas assessments.
If a student is experiencing browser-related difficulties, they should contact their campus help center immediately. A system check may need to be run or perhaps they have too many applications open on their computer; otherwise if this problem still exists they could take a practice quiz with identical settings as their actual exam in order to test whether software is functioning as expected and gain more insights on how they might fix it.
Students preparing to take an exam requiring the Respondus Lockdown Browser must log into their Canvas account and navigate to the Respondus LockDown Browser Practice Quiz course from either their dashboard or courses menu. Once enrolled, they can click on its title to begin taking it; depending on its settings they may also need to agree to Terms of Use or undergo a system check prior to beginning an exam; once finished with their exam they may submit it for grading.