Respondus LockDown Browser (for instructors)
Last Modified on 03/24/2023 4:59 pm EDT
Respondus LockDown Browser is a special web browser that helps prevent cheating during in-person proctored online exams (that take place in a classroom or computer lab) . Students take the exams using Canvas, but cannot use other programs, take screenshots, copy, paste, print, or navigate to other websites while the exam is in progress.
Note: LockDown Browser cannot be used for remote exam delivery; it is available only for in-person exams.
Before You Start
- LockDown Browser cannot be used for remote exam delivery.
- LockDown Browser cannot be used for take-home exams or quizzes.
- If students will use LockDown Browser on personal devices or in a computer lab, contact the Courseware team at courseware@wharton.upenn.edu at least a week before the first online quiz/exam.
Enable Respondus
Before your students can take quizzes/exams using LockDown Browser, it must be enabled for the course.
- Create the exam using the Canvas Quiz tool. New Quizzes is the preferred quiz engine as it provides a better student experience.
- Email the Courseware team (courseware@wharton.upenn.edu) and request that Respondus LockDown browser be enabled for your course site.
- Click the LockDown Browser link on the course navigation menu of your Canvas site to open the LockDown Browser Dashboard.
- Click the down arrow to the left of the name of the quiz/exam you would like to enable with Respondus, then select Settings.
- Click Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam. You can add an access code (optional) or require that LockDown Browser be used to view feedback and results. For details on Advanced Settings, visit the "Preparing a Quiz" section of the Quick Start Guide.
- When you are finished updating the settings, click Save + Close to save your changes.
- At least a few days before your first in-class exam, share with your students the LockDown Browser instructions that you received from the Courseware team.
Day-of-Exam Troubleshooting
If students are having trouble opening the quiz/exam with LockDown Browser, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take on your own. You can also contact the Courseware team for assistance.
We recommend having paper copies of the exam as a backup for students who are unable to open LockDown Browser or log in with two-factor authentication.
If students report problems opening LockDown, check the following:
- Their device is connected to AirPennNet.
- If this is a New Quizzes exam, make sure they are opening their regular browser first, not opening the LockDown Browser app. In Classic Quizzes, they will need to open the LockDown Browser first.
- If they report an error message saying that their "browser does not meet the minimum requirements for Canvas” when they log into Canvas, they can upgrade to the latest version of LockDown Browser by clicking the - i - icon in the LockDown Browser toolbar, then the Check for Newer Version button.
- For all other error messages and/or if LockDown Browser fails to load, ask the student to close their browser and retry the steps or restart their device.
Questions?
Contact: Courseware team
Email: courseware@wharton.upenn.edu
