Background:
Interest has been expressed in using the Respondus LockDown Browser as a proctoring/integrity solution at WSU.
To this end, pilot testing is being conducted so the interested departments can ascertain if the solution meets their needs. A test window is available through March 16, 2024 for the purpose of evaluation. Upon request user access can be extended from March 18th - March 31st, 2024, at which time our test instance will expire.
Interested participants are being provided with access to the Canvas Test environment for the duration of the testing period. If you are interested in participating, please contact its.essd@wsu.edu to gain access to the test environment.
What is Respondus?
Respondus LockDown Browser
LockDown Browser® is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within a learning management system. Select this link to learn more about Respondus LockDown Browser.
Respondus Monitor
Respondus Monitor® is a remote proctoring solution for higher education. It allows students to take online assessments from a remote location - all while ensuring the integrity of the exam process. Annual licensing of LockDown Browser includes 200 free seats of Respondus Monitor, a fully automated online proctoring solution that adds webcam technology to LockDown Browser. Select this link to learn more about Respondus Monitor.
Participation:
Users who participate in testing the Respondus LockDown Browser will be given access to the Canvas Test environment and also to the test student's credentials. In the test environment, users will be able to act in the instructor role to create and configure exams, and subsequently log into the test environment with the test student credentials to evaluate the user experience.
Testing Plan:
It is advised that you review Respondus' documentation in advance of testing to familiarize yourself with the product and streamline the process. Documentation is provided below to familiarize yourself with Respondus LockDown browser, including information for exam preparation and quick start guides for using both Classic Quiz & New Quiz, and also includes student facing documentation.
Test Environment:
The Canvas test environment will be made accessible January 22nd.
Testing in both the instructor and student roles will be conducted in the Canvas test environment: https://wsu.test.instructure.com/login/canvas
Course:
Test courses will be created for each participant, and in each course the participant and their test student will be enrolled. You can create assessments for testing, or you will have the option to import existing assessments from your own prior-term courses. The level of complexity is at the participant's discretion, but be advised that you are emulating the student experience, so the more authentic the assessment, the more representative it will be of the student experience.
Instructor:
Participants will be granted access to the Canvas test environment using their WSU email address as a user name (e.g. your.name@wsu.edu), and passwords will be distributed to participant's securely via email using onetimesecret. You should receive the email with the password link on January 22nd.
Onetimesecret links expire after use, so please document the password when you receive it. If you have issues accessing the test environment, please contact its.essd@wsu.edu for assistance.
Student:
Unique test students are being created for each test participant in the form of a WSU email address. your.test.student@wsu.edu can be logged into the Canvas test environment by users at https://wsu.test.instructure.com/login/canvas. The user id and password for this account will be also distributed to participants using the onetimesecret method.
- When launching a quiz that is configured for use with Respondus LockDown browser, participants will be prompted to download and install the Respondus LockDown Browser on a local machine.
- When a student launches the Respondus LockDown browser, they will be prompted to log into Canvas; launching a quiz that is configured for LockDown Browser from a standard browser will result in an error.
The installation package for Respondus LockDown Browser that is used used in testing will cease to function after the testing phase, as it is configured specifically for the test environment.
If Respondus is adopted after testing is complete and you intend to install Respondus LockDown Browser in a shared laboratory setting, please contact its.essd@wsu.edu for documentation and a supplemental link to access the installer package.
How LockDown Browser Works
- Assessments are displayed full-screen and cannot be minimized
- Browser menu and toolbar options are removed, except for Back, Forward, Refresh and Stop
- Prevents access to other applications including messaging, screen-sharing, virtual machines, and remote desktops
- Printing and screen capture functions are disabled
- Copying and pasting anything to or from an assessment is prevented
- Right-click menu options, function keys, keyboard shortcuts and task switching are disabled
- An assessment cannot be exited until the student submits it for grading
- Assessments that are set up for use with LockDown Browser cannot be accessed with other browsers
Respondus Resources:
Links are provided below for both instructor resources and student resources. Instructor resources can be used for the evaluation of the Respondus LockDown Browser, and the student resources will help with evaluating the student experience. Please note, the URL that contains the setup application for our institution will be made available at the beginning of the evaluation period, and for security purposes application will not continue to function after the evaluation period concludes.
The following resources are provided on the Responds LockDown Browser Resource page:
Universal Resources:
System Requirements for LockDown Browser
Technical Support
- Visit Respondus Support section for technical questions or to submit a ticket
Instructor-facing Resources:
Watch the Overview Video
Learn how to prepare an exam
Training Webinars
- Register for a free training webinar on LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor
Getting started with LockDown Browser
Instructor Quick Start Guides
Information to add to your Syllabus
Why a practice exam is important
Resources for your Students:
Student Resource Guides
