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Respondus LockDown Browser

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Respondus LockDown Browser™ is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within Blackboard. When students use Respondus LockDown Browser they are unable to print, copy, go to another URL, or access other applications. When an assessment is started, students are locked into it until they submit it for grading.

Getting Started with LockDown Browser

Before setting up an exam in Blackboard Learn to require Respondus LockDown Browser (LBD), be sure that it is installed on the machines in the computer-based testing facility that you plan to use. Respondus LockDown Browser (LBD) is installed on the 160 machines in the Sage Hall Testing Center (http://it.unt.edu/test).  You can find more information about the testing center and make a reservation for your class to take an exam there at http://it.unt.edu/test.  

Note: When completing the reservation form for the exam, you must enter Respondus Lockdown Browser within the Software Restrictions and/or Requests blank.

Enabling the LockDown Browser Building Block in a Blackboard Course

If LockDown Browser does not appear in your course tool set, follow the instructions below to make it available:

  1. Login to your course and expand the Control Panel.
  2.  Expand the Customization menu and click Tool Availability.
  3.  Click the Available checkbox beside the Respondus LockDown Browser row.
  4.  Click Submit to enable the Building Block for your course.

Configuring an Exam to Use LockDown Browser

To set up a test in Blackboard that requires students to use Respondus LockDown Browser, follow these steps:

  1.  Make sure the test has been deployed in the Blackboard course.
  2.  From the Control Panel in Blackboard, locate the Course Tools section and select the link Respondus LockDown Browser.
  3.  A list of deployed tests will be displayed.
  4.  Tests labeled with “Required” require students to use LockDown Browser
  5. Tests labeled with “Not Required” don’t require LockDown Browser
  6. To change the settings for the test, select Modify Settings from the context menu to the left of the test title and select the desired option. (Optionally you may enter a test password that students must enter to start the test. The Respondus LockDown Browser will prompt students to enter the instructor-provided password before proceeding with the test.)
  7. You may also enter an optional exit password that can be used to close the LockDown Browser during a test.
  8. Click Save and Close to apply settings.

How the Integration with Blackboard Works

The Respondus LockDown Browser integration relies on the “password” feature for Blackboard tests. This feature is also what prevents a regular browser from accessing a test that has been set up for use with LockDown Browser. It’s not important to fully understand how this works, but the following details are important:

  1. The Respondus LockDown Browser Building Block publishes a special password to the “password” field for the Blackboard test. This special password, which is used by Respondus LockDown Browser, shouldn’t be edited by the instructor within Blackboard (doing so will prevent LockDown Browser from working with the test).
  2. If the instructor wants students to enter a password before a test is started in Blackboard, the password must be entered during the “Preparing A Test” step described above.
  3. Do not change the name of the test within Blackboard once it has been set up for use with LockDown Browser.

Note: Once an exam is set up to require LockDown Browser, it will not be accessible to students on any other browser. This means that unless they are in a testing facility that has LDB installed and available, they will not be able to access the exam. TIP - If students indicate that they are unable to access a test because they are being prompted for a password (or that the password provided to them doesn’t work), it usually indicates that they are trying to access the test with a standard browser instead of Respondus LockDown Browser.

LockDown Browser Guides, Manuals, and Tutorials

LockDown Browser Demo Video

 

 

Accessibility

The Mac and the iPad version of LockDown Browser works with VoiceOver (the standard screen reader that comes with the Mac OS and iOS) and requires no additional effort by the user. The Windows version of LockDown Browser requires the user to change the shortcut name (i.e. a command line flag) in order to enable the accessibility features at startup.

Technical Support for Respondus LockDown Browser

UNT faculty receive technical support on Respondus LockDown Browser from the Center Learning Enhancement, Assessment and Redesign (CLEAR) Blackboard Faculty Helpdesk.

Email: clearhelp@unt.edu 
Phone: 940-369-7394 
In person: Chilton 112C

Students who encounter problems taking a test with LockDown Browser should immediately contact their instructor or instructor-assigned proctor.