Respondus LockDown Browser

Uses

LockDown Browser is useful for securing computer-based Quercus quizzes in Rotman classrooms. 

While LockDown Browser restricts students from communicating with each other, browsing the web, using GenAI, printing, etc., it can be configured to allow students access to:

• Files (e.g. PDF, Excel, .doc, etc.)
• Individual web pages. Note that entire websites are not supported
• A standard or scientific calculator

Spreadsheets

LockDown Browser supports basic spreadsheet functionality, allowing blank or pre-populated .xls/.xlsx files to be viewed and manipulated during an exam session on Windows, Mac, and iPad.

Steps to enable spreadsheets:

1. Upload the Spreadsheet to your course page: Upload a blank or pre-populated .xls/.xlsx file to a content area in your Quercus course page.
2. Link the Spreadsheet: Right-click on the spreadsheet title, choose “copy link location,” and paste the link into the quiz question.
3. Guide Students: Provide clear instructions in the question wording on how students should access and use the spreadsheet.

Example Spreadsheet Use Cases:

1. Multiple Choice Questions: Include a link to a pre-populated spreadsheet for students to use in their calculations.
2. Essay Questions: Require students to create or modify a spreadsheet and submit it via a unique URL generated by the LockDown Browser tool. Rotman Digital can demonstrate this functionality.

Important Notes:

1. The .csv file type is not supported; convert it to .xls/.xlsx before use.
2. The spreadsheet tool is not available for McGraw-Hill ALEKS or Pearson MyLab integrations.

Limitations

• While external web pages can be provided as resources, your Quercus course page itself cannot. If you would like students to access content in Modules or Pages, you will need to create a PDF that includes the content and link to it in the quiz.
• Computer applications cannot be run alongside LockDown Browser. This includes word processors, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.
• The Excel-like tool offered by Respondus is limited. Functions can be typed into cells as needed, but the toolbar ribbon at the top of the screen offers few options. Unless students are comfortable typing functions into cells it is recommended that calculations be kept simple.

Modifying Your Assessment to Fit LockDown Browser’s Functionality

If you are interested in using LockDown Browser to secure the academic integrity of your quiz but find its functionality lacking, you may choose to modify your assessment. For example, questions could focus on critiquing already-completed work rather than asking students to complete calculations themselves.

Request a LockDown Browser Assessment

You must submit a request to Rotman Digital via this form if you would like to offer a LockDown Browser assessment before the term begins. Rotman Digital will then reach out to discuss feasibility.

Communication

The following announcement should be posted by the instructor on their course page at least one week prior to the scheduled LockDown Browser assessment.

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LockDown Browser Requirement
This course requires the use of LockDown Browser for online exams.

Download Instructions
Download and install LockDown Browser (NOTE to Instructors: you must contact Rotman Digital to obtain this link which can then be included in your announcement)

Once Installed

• Start LockDown Browser
• Log in to Canvas (Quercus)
• Navigate to the exam

Note: You won’t be able to access an exam that requires LockDown Browser with a standard web browser. If this is tried, an error message will indicate that the test requires the use of LockDown Browser. Simply start LockDown Browser and navigate back to the exam to continue.

A mock quiz has been added to the Quizzes section of your course page. You must attempt the mock quiz before your scheduled in-class quiz. 

Ensure LockDown Browser is up-to-date by following these steps.

Ensure your computer meets minimum system requirements.

Getting Help

Reach out to rotmandigital@rotman.utoronto.ca first.

Respondus has a Knowledge Base available from support.respondus.com. Select “LockDown Browser & Respondus Monitor” as the product to view helpful articles.

If you’re still unable to resolve a technical issue with LockDown Browser, go to support.respondus.com. and select “Submit a Ticket”. Provide detailed information about your problem and what steps you took to resolve it.

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Mock Exam

Rotman Digital will prepare a mock exam for your students to test LockDown Browser in advance of your assessment. There is a note in the announcement above directing students to take the mock quiz.

Rotman Digital Review

Rotman Digital will review your quiz in advance of the assessment date. Please reach out to rotmandigital@rotman.utoronto.ca with your fully-constructed quiz at least two days before the assessment date.

Support Before and on Exam Day

Respondus does not offer real-time support. If there are technical issues on exam day, please follow the Troubleshooting ideas listed at the bottom of the “Other Considerations” page. You can also call Rotman Digital at 647-717-2455 during business hours or Rotman Helpdesk at 416-946-8787 for assistance. In most cases, switching the student to a non-proctored version of the quiz is the quickest and simplest fix (see below and in the “Other Considerations” tab).

Have a Back-up Plan – Open Version of the Quiz

It’s a good idea to have a back-up plan. We strongly recommend creating a non-LockDown Browser version of the quiz. In the event a student has technical difficulties with LockDown Browser, the proctor can quickly move the student into the Open version of the quiz. They would then be monitored solely by the proctor in the room, so it’s a good idea to move the student to a conspicuous seat that the proctor can easily see. Students should initially be assigned to the LockDown Browser version and only moved to the Open version if necessary. To create an Open version the quiz can simply be copied. Recreating from scratch is not necessary. For more information on Open versions of quizzes and other troubleshooting ideas, click the “Other Considerations” tab.

LockDown Browser Quiz Setup Instructions

Follow these steps to set up a quiz in Quercus that requires students to use LockDown Browser. Note that LockDown Browser needs to be enabled for your course. Contact rotmandigital@rotman.utoronto.ca for assistance. We strongly recommend setting up a Mock Exam so students can troubleshoot any potential issues before exam day.

Step 1: Create a Quiz in Quercus

Ensure that the quiz has been created and is available in the Quercus course.

Step 2: Access LockDown Browser Settings

1. From the Course Navigation in Quercus, select LockDown Browser.
2. A list of quizzes in the course will be displayed.

Step 3: Configure LockDown Browser

1. Quizzes labeled with Required require students to use LockDown Browser.
2. Quizzes labeled with Not Required do not require students to use LockDown Browser.
3. To enable LockDown Browser for your desired quiz, select Settings from the context menu to the left of the quiz title and select Require LockDown Browser for this Exam and add a passcode if necessary.

Step 4: Advanced Settings

Several advanced settings are available:

1. Prevent Students from Exiting the Browser: This setting prevents students from exiting the browser until the exam is completed. This is useful in testing centers where a proctor can enter a password to exit an exam early.
2. Allow iPad Use: This setting allows students to take the exam with an iPad using the free LockDown Browser app.
3. Whitelist Web Domains: This setting allows students to access a list of specified web domains during the test. You MUST contact Rotman Digital for assistance if you would like to allow web domains in your quiz. Setup is not intuitive.
4. Provide Tools: These settings allow instructors to provide students with a calculator or print function in the LockDown Browser toolbar.

Step 5: Save and Close

Click Save and Close to apply the settings.

Download LockDown Browser

LockDown Browser must be installed on each computer (Windows or Mac) used to take a quiz.

• The Instructor announcement includes the link for downloading and installing LockDown Browser.
• Students will follow the on-screen instructions to complete the download and installation.
• It is important to note that administrative access to your machine is required to launch LockDown Browser. Students with work-managed devices (e.g. students in EMBA, GEMBA, EP, etc.) may need administrative access from their employers (or a secondary device) to install and run LockDown Browser. Rotman Helpdesk does not have loaner laptops.

From a student’s perspective, this is how LockDown Browser is used to take a Quercus quiz:

1. First, install the LockDown Browser using the link provided by the instructor.
2. Locate the “LockDown Browser” shortcut on the desktop and double-click. (For Mac users, launch “LockDown Browser” from the Applications folder.)
3. If prompted to close a blocked program (e.g., screen capture, instant messaging), choose Yes.
4. Log into Quercus.
5. Navigate to the quiz and click Take a Quiz.
6. Once a quiz has been started with LockDown Browser, students cannot exit until the Submit Quiz button is clicked.

Do the Mock Quiz

A mock LockDown Browser quiz will be created for each course. Students are required to complete the mock quiz before the in-class assessment. Technical questions can be sent to Rotman Digital at rotmandigital@rotman.utoronto.ca.

On Exam Day – Don’t Panic!

Students can attempt the mock quiz as often as they like leading up to the in-class assessment. Successful completion of the mock quiz is important preparation. If students experience technical problems on quiz day, the instructor, TA or proctor can follow the steps outlined in the “Other Considerations” tab or reach out to Rotman Digital or Rotman Helpdesk for assistance.

Accommodated Testing Services

Students should use their own laptop and run LockDown Browser when writing with Accommodated Testing Services. Language for instructors to provide to ATS is included in “Other Considerations”.

Accommodated Testing Services

Students writing LockDown Browser quizzes with ATS should use their own laptops. Instructors are encouraged to add special instructions to ATS proctors. We have provided sample language below. 

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CIS Step 1 textbox at bottom “Special Instructions to Accommodated Testing Services (Optional)“:

[500-character limit]

Part 1:

1. Students take quiz via Quercus. ATS to make changes to quiz settings as required for student accommodations (time, etc.)
2. (Include any special instructions about approved exam aides here.)
3. Students use their own laptop computers and access the quiz via LockDown Browser which restricts them to the quiz only. All other software or other internet locations are prohibited and blocked by the browser.

CIS Step 2 textbox at bottom “Special Instructions to Accommodated Testing Services (Optional)“:

[500-character limit]

Part 2:

  4. If student has technical difficulties, ATS to move them from the LockDown Quiz to the Open quiz and adjusting the remaining time – student laptop may require a re-start. Open quiz is identical but not protected by LockDown browser. No need to re-answer questions, just continue remaining work. Proctor must now monitor more closely to prevent access to prohibited resources (software, web, etc.).

CIS Step 4 Assessment Name(s) in Quercus:

[100-character limit]

1. RSMXXXX – LockDown Browser Quiz name (use the title of the quiz in Quercus)
2. RSMXXXX – Non-LockDown Browser version (i.e. the Open version of the quiz)

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Troubleshooting

In the event a student experiences technical difficulty with LockDown Browser during the quiz, please try the following:

Ask them to restart their computer: Quite often, restarting the computer and re-entering the quiz in LockDown Browser resolves the issue and students can continue where they left off. Since most of the computer’s functionality is restricted in LockDown Browser a hard reset (i.e. a long hold of the power button) is required.

Move them to the Open Version of the quiz: If restarting does not solve the issue, it’s best to reduce disruption and stress by moving the student directly to the Open version of the quiz. An overview of this idea is in the “Faculty Side” tab. To move a student to the Open version, open that quiz, click the “Assign To” area and add the student’s name. Ensure that “Everyone” or “Everyone Else” is deleted. Note that you will need to set up the Open version of the quiz before quiz day (Rotman Digital can assist). Note that students moved to the Open version will have the full allotment of time available to them. You can adjust the remaining time for the student by clicking Moderate This Quiz > Clicking the blue clock icon in the student’s row > setting the quiz to end “x minutes from now”.