Using Respondus Lockdown Browser for a Blackboard Exam

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Overview

Respondus LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within a learning management system as your students take a Blackboard exam.

Please review and follow the recommended best practices below when using Respondus Lockdown Browser for Blackboard exams.

If you or your students have questions about using Respondus Lockdown Browser - please contact UNIT Support during normal University Business Hours.  

To review recommended best practices, please visit the links below:

Recommended Best Practices 

  • First time using Respondus Lockdown Browser with your Blackboard Exam? 
    • Visit the "Respondus Lockdown Browser" page for an overview and training videos.
    • We recommend that you contact UNIT Support so that we can provide an overview of Respondus Lockdown Browser and Blackboard Exams, or you can attend a webinar held by Respondus Support (Register).
       
  • Ask students to download Respondus Lockdown Browser from the correct location

  • Ask students to check for Respondus Lockdown Browser updates

    • If students have already Respondus Lockdown Browser installed, please ask them to check for updates (Instructions).

  • Create & Use Practice Exam

    • Ensure your first exam using LockDown Browser runs smoothly by creating a Practice Exam in Blackboard with Respondus Lockdown Browser enabled.
    • Have students take an ungraded practice quiz that requires the use of LockDown Browser before the graded exam occurs. Confirm that all of your students have taken the practice quiz using Respondus Lockdown Browser. If students encounter problems, please direct them to UNIT Support during normal University Business Hours.
    • Leave the quiz available for the duration of the course, with unlimited attempts, so students can access it again if they use a different computer.
  • Do not use the "Force Complete" setting when creating your Blackboard Exam
    • Enabling Force Complete will prevent students from re-entering a Blackboard exam that they haven't submitted if they encounter technical issues during the exam (e.g. losing WiFi connection, laptop battery runs out of power).
       
  • Giving in-class exam with Respondus Lockdown Browser?
    • Before a student leaves the classroom, verify that the student has submitted the exam by going into the Blackboard Grade Center.
      • Confirm that the Grade Column for the student's Exam shows an yellow exclamation symbol (Needs Grading) or a numerical score—this indicates that the student submitted the exam. 
      • If you see a blue pie symbol (Attempt in Progress), this means that the student did not submit the exam. Please ask student to re-enter the exam and submit it.  


         
    • Review Early Exits
      • If a student exits a Respondus Lockdown Browser early before submitting the exam, they are required to provide a reason for exiting the exam, unless you specifically change the setting.
      • It is best practice to ask students to notify you anytime they need to exit an exam early. After all of the exams have been submitted, check if any students exited early and the provided reason.

        Go to "Respondus LockDown Browser" settings in Blackboard. On the left hand course navigation menu, click on "Course Tools," and click "Respondus LockDown Browser." Then click on the down arrow next to your exam and select "Review Early Exits." You will then see the list of students who exited early and the reason they provided.




         
    • Please provide the following information to your students:
      • Make sure you are connected to the "VUMobile" wireless network. Do not use other wireless network connections (e.g. VUPlay, VuGuest, xFinityMobile, or a personal hotspot).
      • Before opening Lockdown Browser, close all applications that are running on your computer such as browsers, documents, and messaging programs. Also be sure to close any background applications such as music streaming, downloads, and automatic updates.
      • While your answers in Blackboard will automatically save as you type, it is recommended to periodically click on the “Saved” button next to your question to save the progress of what you have typed.


         
      • If you need to exit the Blackboard Exam before submitting the exam due to technical issues, do not submit the exam.
        Instead, close Lockdown Browser by click on the “x” icon in the upper-right (Windows) or upper-left (MacOS).
        You will prompted to provide a reason for why you are exiting Lockdown Browser. Then, restart your computer, open Lockdown Browser again, and enter the exam again. You will be able to resume where you left off.

            
         
  • Password Field in Blackboard Exam Settings
    • After you enable "Respondus Lockdown Browser" on a Blackboard exam, it will automatically generate a random character string and place it in the "Password" field of your Blackboard Exam. Your students do not need to know or enter this password. Please do not change the password in this field, otherwise students will not be able to enter the exam. 
    • If you would like for students to enter a password before entering the exam, please set the password within the Respondus Lockdown Browser settings in Blackboard (Instructions - "Preparing A Test Section").

  • Fix-It Setting
    • If you enable Respondus Lockdown Browser on a Blackboard Exam and afterwards make changes to the exam, please go to "Respondus LockDown Browser" settings in Blackboard: on the left hand course navigation menu, click on "Course Tools", and click "Respondus LockDown Browser", then click "Fix It" next to your exam, otherwise students will not be able to enter the exam.