Guide - Respondus Lockdown Browser Settings

Who is this guide for?

USA Faculty and Support Staff

What can this guide help with?

This guide will cover Respondus settings, what they do, and if you should use them in your exam. 

*NOTE* iPad testing is enabled by default for Respondus Lockdown Browser Exams. For Respondus Monitor exams, iPad Testing must be enabled in the advanced settings.

Recap: What is the Lockdown Browser?

LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment in Blackboard. When students use LockDown Browser to access a test, they are unable to print, copy, visit other websites, access other applications, or close a test until it is submitted for grading. Tests created for use with LockDown Browser cannot be accessed with standard browsers.

Where are the Respondus Settings?

The Respondus settings are all located in the Lockdown Browser Dashboard. To access this Dashboard, refer to this guide: Access the Lockdown Browser Dashboard. The dashboard must be accessed at least once time before students take an assessment with Respondus enabled.

Editing Exam Settings

Once the Lockdown Browser Dashboard is accessed, settings for each exam can be accessed by clicking the down arrow to the right of the exam name, and then clicking Settings.

Lockdown Browser Settings

The first setting that appears is the toggle to enable Lockdown Browser settings. By switching this setting to "Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam" several other options will become available. 

Let's first review the "Advanced Settings." To see these, click the plus sign directly to the left of the title. The image below has the recommended settings selected:

• Require LockDown Browser to view post-exam feedback and results  - This will be enabled by default. If students are permitted to view their submissions, they will be required to view them with the lockdown browser. If you are unsure if students can view their submissions, refer to this guide: Turn Off Submission View for an Exam
• Lock students into the browser until exam is completed (NOT RECOMMENDED) - If this is enabled, students will need to enter a password to exit the lockdown browser. The password is set by the instructor. Use of this setting is not recommended. Full details on this setting can be found here.
• Allow access to specific external web domains (Testing Required) - Do not use unless there is a specific need, and it has been tested.
• Enable Calculator on the toolbar - Enable if a calculator is required. 
• Enable Printing from the toolbar (NOT RECOMMENDED) - Not recommended, since printing exam attempts is generally not required. 

Proctoring Settings

To access Proctoring settings, Monitor must be enabled. Monitor is the feature that records test takers webcams.

By selecting "Require Respondus Monitor...for this exam", the first option to select is  Webcam Only or Webcam + Screen. The Webcam Only option is the default. Webcam + Screen is selectable, and recommended if you want to review what the student sees on their screen while taking their exam.

The next option is the Start-up sequence:

There is no need to adjust these options, unless you want to remove steps from the startup sequence. Removing steps from the startup sequence will save students time, but will not effect the recording functions of the tool.

There are a few other settings located below the Startup Sequence:

For Face Detections options, leave the settings on by default.

For Advanced Settings:

• Allow use of an iPad for this exam (RECOMMENDED) - Enable this setting if students require use of an iPad. There is no difference in exam security and can be enabled.
• Allow this exam to additional delivered in a proctored lab - This setting could be useful if a student with accommodations need to take an exam in a lab, and does not need to be recorded. 
• Enable "Show Your Work" step at end of exam - This setting will allow students to take pictures of written notes and work taken during an exam. Please review the following video for more details: