Respondus Mac Download
Respondus LockDown Browser is a custom browser designed to keep students within the Canvas testing environment while taking an assessment. Students cannot print, copy, navigate to another URL or access other applications until their test has been submitted for grading.
Students enrolled at New Mexico State University should only utilize this browser when taking an exam that requires it, with versions for both Windows and Macintosh platforms being available.
Installation
At New Mexico State University (NMSU), many courses require Respondus LockDown Browser – a customized browser – in order to take an online test or quiz. Available on both PCs and Macs, this customized browser prevents students from printing, copying, visiting other URLs or accessing other applications during exams – only until students submit their exam for grading are they allowed to continue using Respondus LockDown Browser.
Students requiring to install Respondus browser software will be given a link by their instructor that directs them to a page on Blackboard where they can download Respondus software and install as an executable file, requiring administrative rights on their machine and running an automatic compatibility check on launch of installer.
After completing the installation process, students will be guided through several dialog boxes by Respondus software, including prompts to provide information such as institution name, support contact and license password. If students do not possess administrator access they may need to skip these steps until obtaining administration credentials.
Respondus software becomes permanently installed on student’s computers and can be opened whenever an assessment requires Respondus. Respondus will also check for updates automatically and notify users as they become available; alternatively they can manually check by opening their browsers and clicking on the info button with question mark symbol to see when updates have come available.
Students on Mac computers can install a beta version of Respondus using Chromium instead of Safari Webkit for greater control over the browsing environment. The beta browser can be found on the same page where students download its current counterpart; both Windows and Mac computers can install both versions if necessary.
Troubleshooting
If your instructor has informed you that Respondus LockDown Browser will be required for taking an exam in Canvas, it is imperative that you download and install this application prior to taking the test. When installed, Respondus LockDown Browser prevents students from printing, copying, or going elsewhere during an assessment in Canvas – as well as exiting their browser until their assessment has been submitted for grading.
When taking exams, software checks that the student’s computer environment is secure by performing various tasks like closing down additional programs (chat programs and screen capture applications) as well as making sure webcam is unblocked to prevent students from cheating during tests. Based on its findings, this may prompt or allow restart of computer in case it found to not be secure enough.
Some students have reported issues when taking exams with RLDB and Monitor. One common complication occurs when Internet connectivity breaks during an examination, when this happens they should take a one-question practice quiz to see if they can pass it without losing connection, address any underlying issues that may have caused it, and restart their browser before returning to take their test.
Some students experience issues with their virus protection software preventing the system from running its checks and leading to errors when trying to take exams. In such instances, restart your computer after closing down all other utilities and unneeded programs and trying again if the issue remains. Otherwise contact your CLASS advisor or submit a trouble ticket as soon as possible for support.
Now available is a beta version of RLDB for Mac that runs on Chromium instead of Google Chrome and does not require Google Chrome installation. Students can find this beta at the same location they currently download RLDB for Windows and Mac; once installed it can run alongside its current counterpart. Having access to both versions will ensure they are up-to-date for exams.
FAQs
If your instructor has enabled Respondus Monitor (online proctoring for exams) in a course, please follow this link to download and install it. Once installed, you will be able to access and submit exams when instructed.
Can I close programs during an assessment? Yes, using the “Shutdown Applications” button on your computer you can temporarily disable programs. While LockDown Browser should allow them to restart once completed, it is advisable to make sure there are no unnecessary applications open prior to beginning your test. Likewise, be sure that a headset and any Bluetooth peripheral devices are connected before taking part.
What should I do if I see “Connection Error” messages?
This error could have several possible sources. Check that your device complies with system requirements (scroll down for those) or check if you have firewall or proxy blocking your connection; adjust settings as necessary or contact instructor in case problem continues.
Are There Any Minimum System Requirements to Run Respondus Monitor? For Respondus Monitor to run smoothly on a desktop PC or Mac computer, its minimum system requirements include 1GHz CPU speed and 512MB of RAM; plus webcam with Adobe Flash plug-in support and stable internet connection with minimal interruptions. You can learn more about Respondus Monitor by visiting its official website.
Do I have to install the latest version of Respondus Lockdown Browser when there are updates? Yes.
Yes, Respondus Lockdown Browser should always be updated when there are new versions available in order to keep your system fully supported by the most up-to-date software. You can check for available updates by clicking on its icon in your toolbar or following this link.
Watch a video tutorial here or contact Janice Florent to receive more information. In addition, The Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Faculty Development (CAT+) provides faculty training and support for Respondus LockDown Browser/Respondus Monitor via Brightspace workshops; for more information please visit their website or reach out directly.
Support
If your instructor assigns a quiz that requires Respondus Lockdown Browser for security purposes, when clicking the quiz you will receive a link to download this software for both PCs and Macs – as well as limited support for iPad and Chromebook devices.
Before taking an exam that requires Respondus, all programs on your computer should be closed except those necessary for accessing Canvas (i.e. screen capture or instant messaging programs that your instructor has banned) as well as those necessary to connect to Respondus (such as Respondus Manager and Respondus itself). You will require a stable internet connection and can utilize the student help page should any issues arise with connectivity during taking your test.
Respondus LockDown Browser client application is built upon Google’s open-source Chromium framework, so students do not need Google’s Chrome browser installed on their system to use Respondus LockDown Browser client application. However, as with any software update it may conflict with older versions installed on your system; to update to the most stable version when starting Respondus it is important that you update to its latest version when opening Respondus and selecting Information > Check for Update in its toolbar; to display current version and potentially download one if required.
Students can visit the NMSU Student Support tab for additional information and download of the latest version of software. In case your browser crashes during a test, closing it with valid reason to avoid potential issues in future attempts is recommended to avoid future potential difficulties with future attempts. Should internet disconnect during a Respondus-reliant exam session you’re taking, “Student Early Exit” allows students to close browser with valid reason so issue can be addressed and restart browser so your exam continues uninterrupted.