Respondus LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within Canvas. Students are unable to copy, print, chat, or access any other applications or websites during an online exam. Respondus Monitor is an optional service enabled through LockDown Browser. Monitor uses webcam and video technology to allow students the opportunity to take quizzes or exams remotely.

UPDATE: A beta release of LockDown Browser for Chromebook is now available. See the section on "Chromebook Version for Canvas [beta]" below.

Note

Faculty must attend one of the daily webinars offered by Respondus before using the tool. Register for a Webinar.
Faculty must also add a short, no-stakes practice exam for students that uses LockDown Browser and Monitor before giving them a real live exam.

How Respondus Works

LockDown Browser only works in conjunction with the Quizzes tool in Canvas. Instructors build a quiz (this can be anything from a final exam with multiple question types to a one question essay exam). Once the quiz has been built, instructors will go to Respondus Lockdown Browser in their course and enable the tool for that quiz. Students will download the custom browser to their computer and take the exam from there.

While LockDown Browser is ideal for exam proctoring in computer lab or classroom settings, Monitor allows students to take quizzes or exams remotely during a scheduled testing window. Through student webcam authentication and recording, suspicious behavior is flagged and videos are available in Canvas for faculty to review.

How to use Lockdown Browser

Before you get started, review Respondus’ Online Instructor Resources (this includes information for your syllabus and a student overview video). Download the instructor and student quick start guides as well. This include information for your syllabus. We also recommend watching the Canvas overview and Preparing an exam videos.

Instructors add Lockdown Browser to their course by visiting https://learningapps.northwestern.edu/. Scroll down to Respondus Lockdown Browser, select install now, and then choose the Canvas course. The tool will then appear on the left hand navigation of the course. PLEASE NOTE: Students will not see this tab.
- [If your course in offered through Feinberg School of Medicine or Northwestern University in Qatar, check the left hand navigation of your Canvas course, as Lockdown Browser may already be available.]
After building a quiz in Canvas, click on the Respondus LockDown Browser tab on the left hand navigation and select the quizzes that should use LockDown Browser and/or Monitor.
Inform students that the quiz will require the use of LockDown Browser:
- Students will need to download LDB to their computer or device. Share this student download link: http://www.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=171646780.
- Provide the student quick start guide in your Canvas site as well.

Using Monitor

Monitor is used with LockDown Browser and allows students to take quizzes or exams remotely during a scheduled testing window. Through student webcam authentication and recording, suspicious behavior is flagged and videos are available in Canvas for faculty to review.

Before deploying Monitor, follow the above steps to add LockDown Browser to your course, and then review Respondus’ Online Instructor Resources for Lockdown Browser and Monitor (this includes information for your syllabus and a overview videos). You may also download the instructor and student quick start guides.

NEW: Chromebook Version for Canvas [beta]

Instructors/Teachers

During the beta period, instructors will need to enable the use of the Chromebook version on a per exam basis.

Go to the LockDown Browser Dashboard within Canvas
Select “Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam”
Expand “Advanced Settings” and select “Allow students to use LockDown Browser for Chromebook (beta)”
Save the exam settings for LockDown Browser

Students

Log into the Chromebook start Google Chrome
Log into Canvas and navigate to the exam that requires LockDown Browser
Select the link for downloading and installing LockDown Browser
From the Chrome web store, select “Add to Chrome” to install the LockDown Browser Extension

NOTE: During the beta, this extension will only work with quizzes an instructor has enabled for use with LockDown Browser for Chromebook

The following Knowledgebase article provides additional information about the beta release of LockDown Browser for Chromebook, including feature limitations and known issues: https://support.respondus.com/support/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/586. This article will be updated periodically during the beta.

If you have technical questions, or would like to report bugs/issues, please open a support ticket at https://support.respondus.com. Be sure to indicate you are using LockDown Browser for Chromebook.

Support

Monitor offers support and connection testing options before a student begins an exam. For all other LockDown Browser or Monitor issues, please submit a ticket at: https://web.respondus.com/support/