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Blackboard Help: Respondus Help

For Instructors: Respondus Lockdown Browser

General Overview

Respondus is a browser that allows students to take exams and quizzes online in a controlled environment. Students need to download the Respondus Lockdown Browser and login to Blackboard through it.  To help you with this, here are instructions for downloading, installing, and logging in to Respondus; and here are some instructive video tutorials.

  • General overview:

     
  • For instructors - Preparing an Exam for Respondus Lockdown Browser:  

     
  • For students - Using Respondus Lockdown Browser (Note: This video is also in the Students area of this Library Help Page): 
  • Remote exam proctoring using Teams or Zoom:

     

These video instructions are also available from the Respondus Tool in Blackboard.  If you click on Respondus Lockdown Browser in the Course Tools in the instructor-only portion of the left-side menu, you will see a list of your exams and an indication of whether they require the use of Respondus.  Above the list is a set of tabs that take you to various help resources.  These resources include the videos above as well as instructions that can be tailored for your students.

 

Respondus Monitor:  Respondus Monitor is an online, asynchronous monitor of student activity while taking a test online.  Elmhurst University restricts its use to only specific academic departments and circumstances. 

 

 

Respondus and Chromebooks

Respondus does not work with Chromebooks.

Respondus is a browser in itself, like Firefox, Edge, or Safari. A Chromebook, by its Nature, will only run Chrome. One possibility is, if students have an iPad, you can allow iPads to be used.  It is a setting in the advanced options in the Respondus test setup. They would then download the Respondus app.  There is no version for Android and no evidence that it would work on an iPhone.

 

Avoiding Errors when Launching Respondus tests

Important to note when setting up a test for Respondus

Please note that on the Respondus set up screen there is a warning of fields in the Blackboard test that you should not modify; they are used by Respondus to control the test.

Do NOT modify in the Blackboard Test Options:

  1. The test name.
  2. The Open Test in New Window setting.
  3. Do not set the Require password setting in the test options. If you wish to exempt a student from having to use Monitor during the test, you can set a password in the Respondus test setup screen and then those students who need it. The password field in the test options will be set regardless of whether you are using Monitor or setting exemptions. Ignore the field in the test options, only set it in Respondus. NOTE: this seems to be the most common cause for students seeing that the test has an error when they try to acces it.
  4. Do not set a password in the test options, only in Respondus. See #3.

Students: Downloading and Using Respondus Browser

General Overview

Respondus is a browser that allows students to take exams and quizzes online in a controlled environment. Students need to download the Respondus Lockdown Browser and login to Blackboard through it.  To help you with this, here are instructions for downloading, installing, and logging in to Respondus; and here are some instructive video tutorials.

Download and install LockDown Browser from this link:

https://download.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=276345153

Once Installed

  • Start LockDown Browser
  • Log into Blackboard Learn (Be sure to use the "Third Party" login):

  • Navigate to the test
    Note: You won't be able to access tests with a standard web browser. If this is tried, an error message will indicate that the test requires the use of LockDown Browser. Simply start LockDown Browser and navigate back to the exam to continue.

For more information: https://elmhurst.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/1779/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=101151

 

Using Respondus LockDown Browser with Zoom for Live Proctoring

Your instructor may want to proctor via Zoom while you are taking an exam that requires the use of LockDown Browser. Follow the simple steps below to ensure a smooth exam experience:

  • Close and exit all chat and screen capturing apps.
  • Click on the Zoom meeting link, log in with eNumber and password, and wait for the instructor to announce the start of the exam. An exam passcode will be shared (if applicable).
  • Open Respondus LockDown Browser, log in to WebCampus, and go the exam. Click on Start the quiz. You may be asked for the passcode.
  • Complete and submit the exam. Then you can exit the LockDown Browser and return to the Zoom meeting.

Note that you will need to take the exam on a computer, NOT on an iPad. During the exam you are unable to access Zoom or other apps, which means you are unable to ask the instructor questions related to the exam.

 

Respondus and Chromebooks

Respondus does not work with Chromebooks.

Respondus is a browser in itself, like Firefox, Edge, or Safari. A Chromebook, by its Nature, will only run Chrome. One possibility is, if students have an iPad, you can allow iPads to be used.  It is a setting in the advanced options in the Respondus test setup. They would then download the Respondus app.  There is no version for Android and no evidence that it would work on an iPhone.