Respondus LockDown Browser In Blackboard
If you are using Respondus LockDown Browser, we advise ensuring it has been updated to the most recent version. To check, the “i” or “About” button on the toolbar should show a patch has been applied and that everything is current.
Whenever you create a secure assessment, you can include options to uphold academic integrity by mandating Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor usage among your students. This prevents them from printing, copying, switching URLs during an assessment session and accessing other applications during their performance.
What is Respondus Lockdown Browser?
Respondus Lockdown Browser is a custom browser developed specifically to facilitate student testing in Blackboard without distraction or being able to open other websites or applications on their computers. Furthermore, Respondus also enables remote proctored tests using webcams in classroom or lab environments. Students should install the UA version before taking an exam that requires this specific browser; its link can be found on Respondus website as well as via Blackboard Learn Institution page.
Once students have their browsers installed, they can click the “Lockdown Browser and Monitor” link within their test instructions in Blackboard to begin it. They will be asked to enter a password assigned by you (this differs from an exam room scan password used during proctored exams) when starting it; once testing commences they won’t be able to close or access any applications on their computer until assessment submission for grading has taken place. If assigning browsers with Monitor enabled capabilities then students will also require monitoring software installed onto their computers in order to use them effectively.
Make Blackboard tests mandatory by selecting “Require Respondus Lockdown Browser for This Exam” on the test content and settings page. This option applies to tests created or copied from another course (including Canvas Commons courses), though it will not work with existing exams created outside the tool or copied across semesters.
Some students may experience problems using the Respondus browser, primarily when their machine does not meet minimum system requirements for using it. To help your students adjust and ensure their machines meet these minimum standards, it is advised that a practice test be given several days before their actual exam begins in order to familiarise themselves with it as well as ensure their machines meet them.
Add links to the Respondus Browser Quick Start Guide or an online test-taking guide in your course so that students know what to expect when taking exams with this software. This will reduce questions from students about its usage that could interfere with performing well on assessments.
How do I enable Respondus Lockdown Browser in Blackboard?
If you plan to use Respondus Lockdown Browser as part of an assessment test, make sure that it’s enabled before students take your assessment to ensure a good experience and extra protection from cheating. Doing this ensures an optimal student experience during your assessment as well as additional security against cheating.
To activate Respondus Lockdown Browser in your course’s Control Panel, expand Course Tools, and then choose Respondus Lockdown Browser from within that section. When editing tests, right-click each test and choose “Require Respondus Lockdown Browser.” Similarly, if you would like Respondus Monitor as well, make that selection as well (Note: Monitor is a webcam system which records video and audio from student computers which will appear in your instructor dashboard, enabling instructors to verify students are following test instructions, such as being closed-book or working alone when taking exams).
If desired, you can also set a password that students must use to access the test, similar to what was entered on the Test Options Page. However, this password should be unique from what was used for accessing Blackboard course copy tools if Respondus Lockdown Browser has been enabled; any exam requiring LockDown Tools must appear with a green “Requires Respondus Lockdown Browser” icon to its right in Blackboard; once enabled using course copy tool transfers of such tests will require visiting LockDown Tools Settings Page again so they resynchronise with them test contents.
Students taking tests will be directed to a page which informs them they need Respondus Lockdown Browser installed, with your supplied password for accessing Blackboard as their starting point, before beginning an exam. After the test has been taken they must close Respondus Lockdown Browser before returning back into Blackboard in order to submit their response.
Before creating graded exams with Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor, it is recommended that you create a one-question practice test using it in order to familiarize both yourself and your students with its interface and ensure they can install and set up their software without issue. Doing this will also give you a chance to ensure all students can take part.
How do I require students to use Respondus Lockdown Browser?
Respondus Lockdown Browser for assessments such as tests, exams, or quizzes is one of the best ways to ensure students do not become distracted during online submissions of assignments or submissions. It prohibits copying text, taking screenshots, accessing other applications or files on their computers and copying text or accessing websites during submissions. In addition, instructors can record audio or video of students taking an exam to confirm student identity and serve as additional deterrence against cheating.
Respondus integration in Blackboard makes this tool available to instructors if your institution has activated it, with its building blocks appearing under Tools in your course management area. When creating or assigning tests or content areas to them, use the drop-down menu alongside each test name to access Respondus settings; select Require Respondus Lockdown Browser as necessary and, if needed, Require Respondus Monitor too.
Students will use a Lockdown Browser with its associated webcam to take the exam, while any student leaving and returning later must provide an explanation for doing so – something which will be recorded on their Instructor’s dashboard.
Students may still access files on their computers, but will not be able to navigate to other web sites or applications and will not be able to open the Blackboard course in which the test resides. They will require using a special password provided by their instructor in order to gain access to it – this password should never be shared among students as it can potentially compromise security measures on Blackboard and should remain unchanged over time.
Once a student has successfully completed and submitted the test back to Blackboard, they may close down the Lockdown Browser and reopen their regular browser. Respondus suggests conducting a practice exam prior to conducting any official exams with point-based assessments so as to verify whether students can install and use software correctly; it should contain several questions so students are confident they understand its features before undertaking full assessments with point values.
How do I require students to use Respondus Monitor?
Instructors wishing to require students to use Respondus Monitor during assessments must select “Require Respondus Lockdown Browser for This Exam” in the Exam Settings. Once students provide their access code and enter it into the lockdown browser window, access will not be granted until submitted for grading – at which time printing, copying or switching URLs won’t be possible until submitted the assessment.
Once this feature has been enabled, instructors can specify a startup sequence to verify student identities during examination. This could involve anything from simple webcam checks to more sophisticated measures that require students to present university or state issued ID cards before taking their tests. In addition, Respondus Monitor gives instructors access to video recordings and data collected from student computers that they can review to detect suspicious behavior such as leaving their desk during an exam session or entering another person into their webcam frame.
The Startup Sequence feature allows instructors to set a custom message and link that will appear prior to students taking exams, with a link to Respondus Monitor’s Terms of Use for Students – these terms vary by institution and include requirements such as safeguarding their access credentials (username/ID and password) against sharing them, along with protecting any recordings or other data created using Respondus Monitor.
As part of their student preparation for using Respondus Monitor for exams or quizzes, instructors should create an ungraded practice quiz with enough questions to simulate an actual graded assessment. This quiz should remain available throughout the course with unlimited attempts available for completion; additionally it would be advisable to include it in their syllabus alongside providing links to additional student resources on using Respondus Monitor.