Respondus is an online proctoring solution to enhance the integrity and security of assessments created and given in Canvas and ensure a fair testing environment for all students.
Respondus offers two powerful options to reduce the likelihood of internet/AI cheating on Canvas Quizzes:
- Respondus LockDown Browser for classes that meet in person
- Respondus Monitor for classes that meet online
We recommend using Respondus tools only for “high stakes” assessments, since they add technical complexity and can cause additional anxiety for students. Respondus Monitor incurs a cost each time a student uses it for an assessment. We suggest that faculty use Monitor only in classes delivered fully online.
If you have questions or need assistance with Respondus, reach out to the Center for Online Learning at onlinelearning@udayton.edu, review online Respondus Support and Resources, or watch this brief Introduction to Respondus LockDown Browser for Students (3 min.).
Respondus LockDown Browser (For Classes that Meet in Person)
To secure the classroom testing environment, Respondus LockDown Browser blocks access to web browsing or other software applications on student computers while completing an online assessment. This option is ideal for large lecture halls where it’s difficult to monitor all students at once.
If LockDown Browser is enabled on a Canvas assessment in the Quizzes tool, students must download, install and use this specialized web browser to complete the assessment in Canvas.
Faculty can use Respondus LockDown Browser as needed; UD’s licensing of this product covers unlimited usage.
Enable Respondus LockDown Browser for a Canvas Assessment
Step 1: Enable LockDown Browser in Canvas
- Select Settings in the in the Canvas course navigation pane
- Click Navigation
- Find LockDownBrowser and select the kabob
- Click Enable to display LockDown Browser in the Canvas course navigation pane
- Click Save at the bottom of the screen
Step 2: Configure your Canvas Quiz to use LockDown Browser
To enable LockDown Browser, you’ll first need to create your assessment in Canvas Quizzes. Be aware that some words commonly used by Respondus (e.g., "web”, "cam") will cause errors if they’re included in the name of your assessment; if this happens, you may need to update the name or your assessment.
- Go to LockDown Browser in the Canvas course navigation pane. You will see a list of the Quizzes created in your course site (see 5 below).
- Click the down arrow beside the assessment on which you want to enable LockDown Browser (see 6 below).
- Select Settings (see 7 below).
- Select Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam (see 8 below) and adjust Advanced Settings, if desired. We recommend you DISABLE Require LockDown Browser to view post-exam feedback and results to allow access to Speedgrader and feedback outside of the LockDown browser. For technical reasons, we recommend you DO NOT ENABLE the following options: Lock students into the browser until the exam is completed; Allow students to take the exam with an iPad; Allow access to specific external web domains
- Click Save + Close at the bottom of the screen.
In the LockDown Browser tab, you’ll now see the assessment listed with LockDown Browser required. The assessment title has been automatically appended with “Requires Respondus LockDown Browser”.
Communicate LockDown Browser Requirement to Students
Students will need to download and install LockDown Browser prior to completing the assessment in Canvas. We recommend the following:
- Set up a practice assessment with unlimited attempts using LockDown Browser so students can practice using this browser before completing a graded assessment.
- Let students know in advance that you’ll be using Respondus and what they’ll need to do to prepare. See email templates for communicating with students about Respondus.
Review LockDown Browser Results
- Go to LockDown Browser in the Canvas navigation pane.
- Click the down arrow beside the assessment you want to review.
- Select Review Early Exits to see students who attempted to exit the exam and when these attempts occurred.
Respondus Monitor (For Classes that Meet Online)
For assessments completed online, Respondus Monitor adds webcam-based proctoring to the LockDown Browser.
Respondus Monitor records the student's webcam and microphone during a Canvas assessment completed with the LockDown Browser. After an assessment is submitted, Monitor reviews the recording, flags potential issues, and alerts faculty to any concerns.
Respondus Monitor incurs a cost each time a student uses it for an assessment. Faculty should use Monitor only for high-stakes assessments in classes delivered fully online.
Enabling Respondus Monitor for a Canvas Assessment
Step 1: Enable Respondus LockDown Browser for an assessment in Canvas Quizzes
- Enable LockDown Browser in Canvas
- Configure your Canvas Quiz to use LockDown Browser
Step 2: Add Respondus Monitor as an Additional Requirement for the Canvas Quiz
- Go to LockDown Browser in the Canvas navigation pane. You will see a list of the Quizzes created in your course site.
- Click the down arrow beside the assessment on which you want to enable LockDown Browser.
- Select Settings.
- Confirm that Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam is enabled
- Under Proctoring, select Require Respondus Monitor (automated proctoring) for this exam (see screen shot below)
- Read the “About” information, and click Continue to Respondus Monitor >>
- Select the options that students will need to access during the Startup Sequence at the beginning of the assessment.
- Click Save + Close at the bottom of the screen
In the LockDown Browser tab, you’ll now see the assessment listed with LockDown Browser + Webcam required. The assessment title has been automatically appended with “Requires Respondus LockDown Browser + Webcam”.
Communicate LockDown Browser + Monitor Requirement to Students
Students will need to download and install and configure LockDown Browser prior to completing the graded assessment in Canvas. We recommend the following:
- Set up a practice assessment with unlimited attempts using LockDown Browser + Monitor so students can practice using this browser before completing a graded assessment.
- Let students know in advance that you’ll be using Respondus and what they’ll need to do to prepare. See email templates for communicating with students about Respondus.
Review LockDown Browser + Monitor Results
Proctoring results should be available 10 minutes after a student submits an exam.
- Go to LockDown Browser in the Canvas navigation pane.
- Click the down arrow beside the assessment you want to review.
- Click Class Results to view the results of Monitor proctoring (Learn more about Understanding Respondus Proctoring Results)
- When your review of a student record is complete, click Reviewed.
