LockDown Browser: Important Notes and Tips for Instructors

When using LockDown Browser for proctoring exams in Canvas, please follow these important guidelines and tips for optimal results —

IMPORTANT: It's essential that you schedule a short meeting with ETS staff to ensure that we work with you to add LockDown Browser correctly to your quizzes and exams.

Please email [email protected] to schedule a meeting.

Data privacy and security information for students

Some students have concerns about the data privacy practices of LockDown Browser. You can share the following information with them:

  • Like all Tufts-approved software, LockDown Browser has been rigorously screened and approved by Tufts' information security team.  
  • LockDown Browser has an optional feature called Respondus Monitor which records the students webcam and screen during an exam. This feature performs face detection in that it looks for a face (any face) in the video frame during the exam, but it does not do identity recognition (e.g. matching a face to information about that person), and does not capture or store any biometric data.
  • Please share with students Respondus Monitor's Data Privacy Overview for a list of what the tool does and does not do.

Add student-facing Instructions in the course in Canvas

It's important that you provide students with the correct LockDown Browser instructions in the course in Canvas.

To do this:

  • Create a Page in the course titled "LockDown Browser Instructions"
  • Choose from one of these instruction sets
  • Copy all the text in the relevant blue box
  • Paste the text into the Page in Canvas
  • Add the Page to the Canvas module(s) right before the practice exam and actual exams

Have students improve their internet connection

A reliable internet connection is essential for any student to have a good online test experience. Be sure to read through this guide from Respondus and share these pointers with students well before their actual exam:

LockDown Browser: Ensure a Smooth Test-Taking Experience

Remind students LockDown Browser will not work with modified operating systems

Some advanced computer users may make modifications to their computer's operating system. These changes may prevent LockDown Browser from working correctly.

Students must only take exams with LockDown Browser on computers with un-modified operating systems.

Loaner Laptops for Students

If a student can't or won't use their own computer to take a Canvas exam with LockDown Browser, they may borrow a laptop from the circulation desk at Tisch Library on the Medford/Somerville Campus.

When copying a quiz in Canvas, remove LockDown Browser completely, then re-add it

If you will be making a copy of a previously used Quiz in Canvas, and the quiz had LockDown Browser added to it, you must completely remove LockDown Browser from the quiz, and then re-add it. If you skip this step the quiz won't work with LockDown Browser.

To remove LockDown Browser from a Quiz in a Canvas course:

  1. Click on LockDown Browser
  2. Click on the Dashboard tab
  3. Click on the small drop-down arrow to the left of the Quiz name
  4. Select "Don't require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam
  5. Click "Save + Close"

Always give a no-stakes practice test with LockDown Browser a week before the first proctored exam

To support students' success always set up a no-stakes practice quiz in Canvas with LockDown Browser (and Respondus Monitor if you're using that feature), and have students take it a week before the actual exam.

This allows students to step through the process of downloading and using the most recent version of the software ahead of time. It also gives them time to troubleshoot any technical difficulties by reaching out to Respondus tech support in the LockDown Browser Student Help Center.

When setting up the practice quiz be sure to enable "Allow multiple attempts" so students can access it repeatedly as needed.

For actual exams and quizzes include a timer for the test

LockDown Browser hides everything on screen, including the clock. So, to allow students to know how much time has elapsed on their exam, use Canvas quiz settings to include a timer.

Also, added five minutes "padding" to the time you give them, to allow for the initial LockDown Browser set up.

For in-classroom exams use LockDown Browser (but not Respondus Monitor)

Use LockDown Browser only (not Respondus Monitor) to avoid overwhelming the room's wi-fi service.

When you give an exam in a classroom and you or other instructors or proctors are present, use the LockDown Browser only, without the Respondus Monitor feature. There are several reasons for this:

  • The LockDown Browser software will suffice to prevent students from opening other content and tools on their computers.
  • When you or other instructors/proctors are in the classroom with students you are monitoring them, so there's no need for additional software monitoring by Respondus Monitor.
  • The Respondus Monitor tool requires a large amount of wi-fi bandwidth when used in a classroom, because it simultaneously records the webcam and screen of all the students in the room, and streams that content to the Respondus cloud for temporary storage. This can overwhelm the room wi-fi, preventing students from accessing the exam in Canvas.
  • The Respondus Monitor tool will detect multiple people in the video frame for any given student, generating false "flags" in exam review sessions.

For in-classroom exams with LockDown Browser have a paper exam available as backup

Students taking an exam in class may have technical difficulties with their laptops (unrelated to the proctoring software) which delay or prevent them from accessing Canvas and LockDown browser. In these cases it's good to have a paper copy of the exam handy so students can complete it in the time allowed.

Using iPads to take LockDown Browser exams in Canvas

It is possible for students to take a Canvas Quiz with LockDown Browser on an iPad.  This works only with LockDown Browser (not with the Respondus Monitor feature).

NOTE: Some students may have trouble using the LockDown Browser app on their device while the Canvas Student app is also installed on the device.  If this happens, they can de-install Canvas Student, then try using LockDown Browser again.  

Tech Support for Students, non-urgent and urgent:

See: LockDown Browser User Guide for Students

Respondus Instructor Trainings

Respondus offers short trainings throughout the year for instructors using LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor. These are helpful, concise webinars for you to brush-up on the tools. See:

For help adding LockDown Browser to your Canvas exams, please email [email protected]