This comprehensive training webinar is intended for instructors who plan to use LockDown Browser and/or Respondus Monitor with online exams. The session provides a detailed demonstration of both applications, including new enhancements that make Respondus. The LockDown Browser Chromebook extension also supports Respondus Monitor (except in Schoology), an automated proctoring system used at over 1,000 colleges and universities. The Server Profile Setting The LockDown Browser for Chromebook setting is enabled by default for all Respondus Server profiles.
Notes
- Respondus Lockdown Browser does not work on Chromebooks
- Most Respondus problems are due to one of the following:
- Firewall conflicts > turn off the firewall
- Anti-Virus software conflicts > turn off the anti-virus program
- Loss of internet connectivity > send teacher a message and try to reconnect and resume exam
- Other potential issues
- Give the browser a few seconds to fully load the exam before clicking 'Take the Quiz'. Clicking too soon has been reported as a potential cause of issues
- Browse to the quiz from the Assignments page, or the Modules page. Sometimes following links in notifications or in the 'To do' section of your Dashboard will fail to send all of the necessary parameters to the Canvas server.
Downloading Respondus LockDown Browser
Troubleshooting Respondus LockDown Browser
- Blank screen during exam
A blank screen indicates that the browser has lost connectivity with your institution's server, and the webpage cannot load into the browser.
In most cases, you should be able to leave your exam, shut down LockDown Browser, and restore your internet connection. We recommend restarting your computer and moving as close to the router as possible.
If a freeze has occurred, and you're unable to exit, please reference this article
For more information see - https://support.respondus.com/support/index.php?/default_import/Knowledgebase/Article/View/579/25/blank-screen-during-exam
- LockDown Browser appears as malware or a virus
This is a potential problem when installing Respondus Lockdown Browser.
Security software or an 'anti-malware' program with very high settings might falsely detect LockDown Browsers as malware such as a virus, Trojan or parasite. The security program would block the download or corrupt the LockDown Browser installer.
https://support.respondus.com/support/index.php?/default_import/Knowledgebase/Article/View/274/18/lockdown-browser-appears-as-malware-or-a-virus
Lockdown Browser
- Error Message:'Update server is not supplying information, or the connection to update server is blocked.'
When the warning appears, 'Update server is not supplying information, or the connection to update server is blocked. Please try again later' this typically indicates that security settings or another application is blocking access to the Respondus servers that LockDown Browser uses at startup
https://support.respondus.com/support/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/195/25/update-server-is-not-supplying-information-or-the-connection-to-update-server-is-blocked
- You must close SSInvitationAgent in a Mac
The 'SSInvitationAgent' is actually a component of other applications such as Apple Messages that also offers a screen sharing option, which is separate from the Mac->System Preferences->Sharing indicated in a warning when starting LockDown Browser 2.0 for Mac.
https://support.respondus.com/support/index.php?/default_import/Knowledgebase/Article/View/576/25/you-must-close-ssinvitationagent-in-a-mac - Mac: Webcam Not Detected
If your webcam is not detected at some point during the pre-exam webcam check, and you see the below message, it is likely caused by 3rd party anti-virus software that is installed on your computer. It's also possible that you aren't seeing the below message, but rather are experience a freeze/hang on one of the steps. This, too, may be caused by anti-virus software.
https://support.respondus.com/support/index.php?/default_import/Knowledgebase/Article/View/425/26/mac-webcam-not-detected - Webcam Blocked
If you see an image of camera with an arrow through it during your pre-exam webcam check, it is because of a privacy setting that is enabled in your camera's software utility.
https://support.respondus.com/support/index.php?/default_import/Knowledgebase/Article/View/470/26/webcam-blocked - Error: Course (OK), Exam (UNKNOWN)
The above error indicates that the exam's LockDown Browser settings could not be detected. For Canvas users, this may be due to you not letting each page fully load before clicking on the 'Take Quiz' button.
https://support.respondus.com/support/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/483/0/canvas---course-ok-exam-unknown
Before committing to remote proctored exams, below are some considerations:
Proctored Exams
Traditional timed, proctored exams are possible remotely using the tools available in Canvas and Respondus LockDown Browser & Respondus Monitor. However,proctored remote exams have several drawbacks:
- They are often even more stressful for students than in-person proctored exams, which can negatively impact student performance.
- They require substantial planning and setup on the part of the instructor and the student, and may generate many “false positive” flags that must be reviewed by an instructor after the exam.
- Not all students have access to the appropriate technology to use services like Respondus Monitor that requires a webcam; instructors will have to make accommodations for such students.
- The technical infrastructure of services like Respondus LockDown Browser & Monitor has not been utilized at this scale before, so planning must include what to do if the proctoring service crashes during the exam.
- Students may have privacy concerns about third-party recorded remote proctoring. Unlike when students agree to the use of such systems when they register for online courses, students did not agree to remote instruction when they registered for spring 2020 and instructors will need to make accommodations for these students.
- LockDown Browser features do not address all access needs for students with approved accommodations. If faculty intend to use Respondus LockDown Browser (with or without Monitor), they should consult Disability Resource Center for those students who have identified themselves to faculty for accommodations. That way, students can avert any accusations of cheating that may be due to use of approved assistive technology or accessibility issues.
For these reasons, during this time we recommend using alternatives to timed, proctored exams wherever possible. Large courses reliant on in-person exams should consider open-book exams or frequent low-stakes assessments as alternative assessment strategies that are relatively easy to grade.
Alternatives to Proctored Exams
Your learning goals are an excellent place to start when considering alternative assessments: what do you hope students will be able to do by the end of your course, and in what ways can they demonstrate what they know? Please visit the Rutgers University Tips for Exams & Alternative Assessments to explore more alternatives.
Respondus Proctoring and Accessibility
Please note: If you have students in your course who require approved accommodations from the DRC then Respondus LDB and Respondus Monitor may cause accessibility issues by not allowing access to assistive technology. To ensure access, please contact the DRCwith any questions regarding specific student accommodations in the online testing environment.
How To Use Respondus Lockdown Browser In Canvas
Data privacy and Respondus Monitor proctoring
Privacy is central to the Respondus Monitor architecture. It minimizes the personal data being collected, uses an automated system to analyze it, and then restricts access to the results. To learn more about data privacy within Respondus Monitor, please check out Respondus' Data Privacy Overview PDF.