Learning Management System
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Tool Description 

Respondus LockDown Browser is a proctoring tool designed to secure the testing environment within the learning management system. Respondus Monitor is a fully automated proctoring solution that utilizes a webcam to record students during online exams. After the exam, flagged events and proctoring results are made available to the instructor for further review.

Respondus provides two tools to help faculty remotely proctor tests published in Canvas: 

  • LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment in Canvas. When students use LockDown Browser to access a quiz, they are unable to print, copy, visit other websites, access other applications, or close a quiz until it is submitted for grading. Quizzes created for use with LockDown Browser cannot be accessed with standard browsers. LockDown Browser is ideal for exam proctoring.
  • Respondus Monitor records the students as they take the test using their web camera. It must be used with the Respondus LockDown Browser. The instructor can choose to review the recording if they suspect academic misconduct.  Students must have a web camera installed on the device they take the test for faculty to use Respondus Monitoring. Respondus Monitor allows students to take quizzes or exams remotely. 

Overview of Respondus Lockdown Browser


Respondus Lockdown browser is a proctoring solution that instructors can integrate when creating Assessments in Canvas. Respondus Lockdown Browser works by:
  • Requiring assessments full screen so that the student view can’t be minimized
  • Removing browser menus, except for Back, Forward, Refresh and Stop
  • Preventing access to other applications including messaging, screen-sharing, virtual machines, and remote desktops
  • Disabling printing and screen capture functions
  • Preventing copying and pasting anything to or from an assessment
  • Disabling right-click menu options, function keys, keyboard shortcuts and task switching
  • Requiring submission prior to exiting the browser
 Enabling LockDown Browser in an Assessment
In order to correctly set up LockDown Browser for an assessment, LockDown Browser will need to be enabled in the course navigation and added to an assessment that has already been created. 
Step 1: Create an Assessment in Canvas
An assessment must already be created so LockDown Browser can be added to it. Currently, LockDown Browser only integrates with Quizzes.
  1. Navigate to Quizzes in the course navigation pane
  2. Click Add Quiz in the top right corner.
  3. Choose either Classic or New Quiz from the pop up window and select Submit.
  4. Create the quiz as needed
Step 2: Enable LockDown Browser
  1. Navigate to Settings in the Course navigation pane
  2. Select Navigation from the top menu
  3. Locate LockDown Browser
  4. Click the three dots menu icon and select Enable
  5. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and Save the settings.
Add LockDown Browser and Monitor to Assessment
Once the assessment has been created and LockDown Browser has been enabled, instructors can require LockDown Browser. To do this:
  1. Navigate to LockDown Browseron the course navigation menu
    1. Instructors should see a list of the quizzes in the current Canvas course
  2. Locate the quiz that LockDown Browser will be added to, click the down arrow and select Settings
  3. Select the ‘Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam’radio button
    • Select Require Respondus Monitor for this exam’ under the proctoring options to add Respondus Monitor and require a webcam,
  4. Adjust any additional settings for the exam.
  5. Click Save + Close
  6. Navigate back to Quizzes in the course navigation pane
  7. Confirm that the title of the quiz now includes ‘Requires LockDown Browser’
    • If Respondus Monitor was enable, the title will also list ‘+ Webcam’
How to review Quiz videos with Respondus Monitor

TO REVIEW CLASS RESULTS 

  1. In Canvas click LockDown Browser from the course navigation.
  2. Find the test you want to review, click the action link (Chevron icon), and select Class Results.
  3. Click the plus icon next to the name of the student you want to review.
  4. Review the flags noted. Hover the mouse over explain to learn why the video was flagged.
  5. Click the Milestones checkbox to see different timestamps in the video that you click on to start the video from that point.
  6. Click Add Notes to write notes for yourself about the video.
  7. Below the recorded video are the student photo, student id photo, environment video, pre-exam, and exam start times.
  8. When finished reviewing you can mark the video as reviewed by clicking the circle icon in the Reviewed column of the table.

TO REVIEW EXAM STATS

  1. In Canvas click LockDown Browser from the course navigation.
  2. Find the test you want to review, click the action link (Chevron icon), and select Exam stats.

Best Practices for LockDown Browser

  • LockDown Browser only works in conjunction with the Classic or New Quizzes tool in Canvas.
  • To ensure a smooth experience with Respondus LockDown Browser, create a low-stakes practice quiz before the high-stakes exam. This proactive step helps identify and resolve software issues, ensuring a seamless assessment process.
    • Randomize the order of questions on the quiz to prevent all students from arriving at the largest/longest questions simultaneously.
    • If necessary, minimize the use of pictures and use the lowest resolution possible. Please do not use emojis in the titles of quizzes that require the LockDown Browser.
  • Prior to using Respondus LockDown Browser for the first time, students will need to download the browser to their device. This URL is unique to Texas A&M University. From that link, students can confirm system requirements and whether to install the Windows or Mac version of the application.
  • Ensure students are using the most current version of Respondus.
  • No screen recording software can be enabled on a device when Respondus LockDown Browser is active. This means students or instructors may need to disable extensions on other web browsers. If students are using Chrome, this may include disabling extensions on all profiles.
  • When an instructor copies a course, the LockDown Browser must be reconfigured for each quiz. To avoid confusion, instructors may want to remove any 'LockDown Browser Required' or 'Webcam Required' labels before reconfiguring quizzes.
  • If students need to access an URL outside the assessment, ensure the URL is included in the quiz's Advanced Settings. To access this setting, open the LockDown Browser Dashboard Tool, click the pull-down arrow to the left of the exam title, and choose "settings"> "Advanced Settings"-"Allow access to specific external web domains."
  • As a new feature, instructors can determine whether to allow iPad use in the LockDown Browser settings. Please see the instructions for faculty on using the iPad app. 
  • Zoom and Respondus LockDown Browser might present issues when worked together. If students can work out questions on scratch paper while still using LockDown Browser, under a proctored exam, instructor live proctoring (Zoom) is an option. Please see the  instructions for using Zoom with LockDown Browser. You can also review a video walk-through of instructor live proctoring with Zoom.
  • If students do not have a device compatible with Respondus Lockdown Browser, they may be able to take Respondus Lockdown Browser exams in select computer labs on campus. Please see TAMU—Open Access Lab (OAL) Computer Workstation Locations for more information.
  • The Respondus LockDown Browser limits students’ activity on the computer they use to take the test. It does not prevent them from texting or chatting with others on a different device (e.g., phone). However, Respondus Monitor, flagged events and proctoring results are available to the instructor for further review (see Step 4 above).