LockDownBrowser Quick Start

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What is LockDown Browser

LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment in Canvas. When students use LockDown Browser to access a quiz, they are unable to print, copy, visit other websites, access other applications, or close a quiz until it is submitted for grading. Quizzes created for use with LockDown Browser cannot be accessed with standard browsers such as Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.

Scheduling a Quiz

When scheduling a quiz using LockDown Browser in a Macintosh or Windows computer lab, please verify with the IT Help Desk that the browser has been installed on all computers.

The preference is for students to run LockDown Browser from a lab computer, but if they will be using the browser with their personal (not lab) computer, notify students well in advance of the quiz to go to the page: students take a quiz using LockDownBrowser and refer to the section Taking a quiz on your own computer (check with your instructor).

What the LockDown Browser looks like to students taking a quizLockDown Browser works much like a standard browser, but some options have been removed or work differently. The diagram below highlights some of these differences.

lockdown_browser_student_view.png

  1. Modified Toolbar - the condensed toolbar includes only Forward, Back, Refresh and Stop functions.
  2. Assessment Mode - assessments are shown full-screen and cannot be minimized, resized, or exited until submitted for grading.
  3. Disabled Controls - all printing, keystroke combinations, screen grab, function keys, and right-click menus have been disabled.
  4. Links - links to other web servers do not compromise the secure testing environment.
  5. Blocked Features & Applications - the Start button (Windows), system tray, and menu bars have been removed. Hundreds of screen capture, messaging, screen- sharing and network monitoring applications are blocked.

Enable LockDownBrowser

To set up a quiz in Canvas that requires students to use LockDown Browser, follow these steps:

  • From your Course Navigation menu in Canvas, select LockDown Browser. For the first time you will be asked to allow the Respondus monitor server to access your account.  
  • A list of quizzes in the course will be displayed. By default all quizzes are set to Don’t require LockDown Browser for this exam.

respondus_default.png

  • To change the settings, select Modify Settings from the context menu to the left of the quiz title and select the desired option.
  • You may also require that LockDown Browser be used to view quiz feedback and results. In addition there are advanced settings that allow enabling the use of a standard or scientific calculator on the LDB toolbar.
  • Click Save and Close. Respondus will automatically add Requires Respondus LockDown Browser at the end of the quiz title. 
  • When the quiz is taken students must use LockDown Browser, which is pre-installed PC and Macs in the computer labs or install it on their personal computer. 
require_lockdownbrowser.png

Instructions for Students

See the page how students take a quiz using LockDownBrowser.