Overview
Metro State provides Respondus LockDown Browser (LDB) to enhance academic integrity for online tests in on-campus and remote classes. This service is provided at no extra cost to students. LDB launches a quiz directly from D2L Brightspace in a custom browser that blocks other screens, software, and communication during the test. If used with Respondus Monitor, it can also record the screen or video and audio during the test for later review by the faculty.
Article Sections:
Faculty
LBD is integrated with D2L Brightspace and is available for any course by request (it is enabled by default for all nursing and nurse anesthesiology courses). It is typically used in a classroom with a live proctor. For remote, online classes, LDB is best used with Monitor.
- If not already enabled for your course, request LDB through the Service Portal
- After it is enabled, go to Quizzes via the main course navigation. There will be a LockDown Browser tab in your Quizzes tool. Use it to turn on LDB for individual quizzes or to get access to documentation, videos, and other support materials. The Instructor Quick Start Guide for LDB Set Up can help you get started.
How to enable Respondus LDB + Monitor (remote proctoring)
Respondus Monitor is an option within LockDown Browser that adds remote proctoring functions. It can record the student’s webcam, microphone, and screen during a test for later review. No one watches live while a student takes a test. It also flags events an instructor might want to review, such as the student not being detected or the webcam being turned off. This software contributes to academic integrity in two important ways: by providing a way to verify student identity and by providing a deterrent to cheating. Learn more from this brief video:
Respondus Monitor introduction (video)
Faculty can select Monitor in the advanced settings for any quiz in the LDB Dashboard; however, additional procedures must be followed first. Metro State generally adheres to these Minnstate remote proctoring operating instructions, including the following prerequisites for using remote proctoring:
- Before course schedules are published to the web and before students register, faculty should inform their chair and academic program coordinator remote proctoring will be used. This means before October 1st for spring classes and before March 1st for summer and fall classes. The academic program coordinator will enter the special message code "8989" into ISRS, which adds “Remote Proctored Requirement” to the course description. If the decision to use remote proctoring occurs after some students have registered, notify students via email and in the course syllabus.
- Before the last day to drop the course with a refund, ensure the syllabus states that remote proctoring will be required, on what exams, when those will be given, and what alternative has been identified for students who opt out. Consider also posting this information in an announcement.
- Provide a practice exam before the last day to drop the course with a refund. This gives them a chance to download the software, test their equipment and troubleshoot issues or find alternatives well before exam day.
After these prerequisites are met, set up your quizzes. Learn more from this concise guide: Respondus LDB and Monitor Quick Start Guide. If you don’t see a “LockDown Browser” tab in your Quizzes section in D2L, check to see if your course is listed correctly then contact Academic Technology Services if needed to enable LDB.
How to review Respondus Monitor results
Review recorded sessions by selecting “Class Results” from a quiz’s shortcut menu in the LockDown Dashboard in Quizzes. Learn more from: Understanding Proctoring Results
How to use Respondus LDB with Zoom
Instructor live remote proctoring using Zoom and Respondus LockDown Browser
Live proctoring lets faculty add LDB security to a synchronous remote Zoom or Teams class session.
Limitations:
- Nothing is recorded
- Doesn’t work with iPads
- Works best for small classes
Set up
- From the LDB dashboard open “Settings” for the given quiz.
- Select "Require LockDown Browser for this exam”.
- Select "Allow instructor live proctoring ...."
- Select Zoom or Teams, then enter a "Start Code" to prevent students starting the exam early.
At test time
- Start Zoom.
- After students join, provide the start code.
- Students launch the quiz and from that point they can’t see or participate in the Zoom meeting, but they remain on camera and can hear the faculty member.
How to set up LDB and Monitor after a course copy in D2L
Respondus LDB and Monitor will not be enabled automatically even if used in the previous semester and the course is copied forward.
- Enable it each semester as described above (except for ANES and NURS courses where it will be enabled by default).
- Copy materials from a previous course if desired.
- Visit the LDB dashboard in the new course and confirm desired settings. This is essential to activate LDB for the new class otherwise students may get errors when launching quizzes. Sometimes after a course copy, in the LDB or Monitor columns you might see the words “Error” and a “Fix it” button. Clicking “Fix it” will likely restore basic functionality but not advanced settings. It is important to confirm all settings.
Notes
- Respondus LDB does not work on phones or tablets other than iPads. Students must use a Windows or Mac computer (no Linux), Chromebook, or an iPad. Note that if using Monitor with LDB, faculty must enable iPad use under "Advanced Settings". Furthermore, iPads cannot be used if only the "Screen recording" option is enabled. One can enable iPads for "Webcam + Screen recording" but it will not record the screen.
- The LDB Dashboard can be very slow to load. It can also take a long time for settings to be saved during the “Please wait…” message. Eventually, this view may refresh to a simple white screen without a confirmation message. Despite this, when one goes back in to the dashboard, settings will have been saved.
Additional resources and training
Students
Don't wait until a test is due to use Respondus for the first time. Instructors typically offer a practice test early in the semester during which students install LDB and test their webcam and microphone, or you can self-enroll and take a practice test any time.
How to install LockDown Browser
On a Metro State computer:
LDB should already be installed. The “Download and install” button is always in a quiz, but it only needs to be installed once. You do not need to install it on a Metro State computer. Just launch the quiz. Note: you cannot take a LDB quiz for another school on a Metro State computer. Each school has its own download. You won't be able to download and install LDB from a quiz at the other school.
On your device:
On computers and Chromebooks, select the “Download and Install” button in your D2L quiz. (On a Chromebook, it will open the Chrome web store).
Do not go to the Respondus website to download it. You only need to install it once even though the “Download and Install” button is always present. You may be prompted to update it while launching on a future quiz. On iPads, install the LDB app from the App store first, then use the Launch Lockdown Browser button in your quiz. It will open the app.
System Requirements
Respondus LockDown Browser will not work on phones, tablets other than iPads, or computers running Linux. You will need to use a Mac or Windows PC, a Chromebook, or an iPad if the instructor has allowed it. LDB is enabled by default for iPads but to use it with a webcam instructions must allow it in the settings. Screen recording doesn’t work on iPads so you will not be able to use an iPad at all if they are only using LDB + Screen recording. Interestingly, if they are using LDB + Webcam + Screen recording, they can still set it up to allow iPad use, but it won’t record the screen.
Learn more about system requirements.
How to take a test using LockDown Browser and Monitor
- If your instructor provides a practice test, take it as early as possible to install and test the software on your device or to find an alternative if needed. If your instructor does not provide a practice test, you can self-register on our Respondus demo site and take practice tests in various configurations.
- Go to your quiz in D2L and select the “Launch LockDown Browser” button.
- For more information, consult the Respondus Monitor Quick Start Guide.