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LockDown Browser in Ultra Course View (Faculty)

LockDown Browser in Ultra Course View (Faculty)

This article is intended for instructors looking to setup and use LockDown Browser in their HuskyCT Ultra Course. LockDown Browser by Respondus is an online exam proctoring tool that locks students into their browser while taking an exam. In HuskyCT Ultra Course view, LockDown Browser can be enabled on either a Test or an Assignment.

Overview

LockDown Browser (by Respondus) is a custom browser that locks down a student's computer when they take a test in HuskyCT. When taking a test using LockDown Browser, students are unable to print, copy, go to other websites, access other applications, or close the test until it is submitted for grading. 

Monitor is an additional feature that uses a student's webcam to record them taking an online, non-proctored exam. When this feature is enabled for a test, students are required to use a webcam and microphone with LockDown Browser. After the exam is complete, an instructor can review details of the assessment, including the recordings of their students taking exams. Select "Webcam only" to record the student with a webcam during the exam; select "Webcam + Screen" to additionally record the student's screen, or select “Screen” to record solely the student screen.

Instructor Live Proctoring allows a video conference to run in the background during an online exam that uses LockDown Browser. This option is for live, synchronous proctoring by the instructor and is ONLY recommended for small class sizes (25 or less) where it is possible to observe and track all students during a video conference. (Note: This is not recommended for iPad-enabled exams unless the student has a second device for video conferencing.)

Instructors can require the use of LockDown Browser with either Monitor or Live Proctoring; Monitor and Live Proctoring cannot run at the same time. 

 

These settings are applied to each test individually. This is done by clicking on Respondus LockDown Browser under Course Tools in the Control Panel of your HuskyCT site. If LockDown Browser is required for a test, students can only take the test using LockDown Browser. No other browser option (such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) will be accepted.

Students need to take the test using a computer that has LockDown Browser installed. If using their personal computers, students are responsible for downloading and installing the LockDown Browser software from the Useful Links for Students area on the HuskyCT Institution Page. It can be used on Mac and Windows computers, as well as iPads and Chromebooks. When the Monitor feature is chosen as an additional part of a LockDown exam, students must go through some additional setup steps prior to beginning a test to agree to the process and make sure it is working properly

When instructors turn on the LockDown Browser requirement, the integration between LockDown Browser and HuskyCT automatically changes some settings on the Test Options page. To avoid some common mistakes in setting up the LockDown Browser requirement for quizzes/tests in HuskyCT, instructors should be aware of the following:

  • Instructors should remind students to check for and install updates for Lockdown Browser before starting a test. Instructions on how to do this for Mac and Windows can be found on the Respondus website.

  • Respondus LockDown Browser publishes a special password to the Password field of the HuskyCT test, which can be found on the Test Options page for the test. This special password should not be changed or removed by the instructor; doing so will prevent LockDown Browser from working with the test. This password should never be given to students. *Common Issue: If a student asks for the test password because the system is asking for a password to begin the exam, this indicates that they are not actually using LockDown Browser to open the exam and they should access the exam using the LockDown Browser application.

  • Respondus LockDown Browser changes the name of the test to add "Requires LockDown Browser," as well as "Webcam" if the Monitor requirement is also enabled. Once the LockDown Browser requirement is turned on, Instructors should not change the name of the test.

  • Instructors should not change the setting to open the test in a new window, which is found on the Test Options page. This will automatically be set to “Yes” when LockDown Browser is required. As part of its integration with HuskyCT, LockDown Browser opens a new browser tab when a student begins a test and closes all others that may be open. For this reason, the Test Options setting to open the test in a new window must be left alone. Changing the setting to “No” will cause an error.

  • If any of these settings (password, name of test, or open test in a new window) are changed, students will encounter an error when they try to take their tests. The error message they receive indicates that the instructor must change some settings. If your students notify you of this, you need to go to the LockDown Browser setup dashboard in your course. There, you will see an "Error" indication next to the affected test. Click Fix It to correct the affected settings. This allows your students to proceed. 

  • If you see wingding, garbage, or otherwise incorrect characters in the “Password to access exam (optional) field” use these instructions:

    Fix Random Characters in Exam Password

     

Configuring LockDown Browser

You must first open the Respondus Lockdown Browser dashboard in HuskyCT using the URL: https://lms.uconn.edu once per course. This will allow you to authorize the Respondus integration with your course. If you do not accomplish this step, Lockdown Browser will not be available for students. Once you have authorized the application, you may use any of the available URL's to access HuskyCT.

Screenshot showing the Authorization window


Video Instructions

Instructions

  1. Navigate to your HuskyCT course via https://lms.uconn.edu

  2. Under Details and Actions, look for Books & Tools.

    Screenshot of Blackboard Details and Actions

  3. Click View Course & Institution Tools.

    Screenshot of Blackboard view course and institutions tools under Books and Tools

  4. Under Available Tools, Click Respondus.

    Screenshot of Blackboard Respondus LockDown Browser Dashboard

  5. You will see a list of all your Assessments, find the assessment you want to enable LockDown Browser on.

  6. Click the down arrow to the left of the assessment’s name.

    Screenshot of Blackboard down-arrow in the dashboard

  7. On the small drop-down menu click Settings.

    Screenshot of Blackboard dropdown menu accessed from the down-arrow

  8. Under LockDown Browser Settings, check Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam.

    image-20250930-184744.png

Notice: The iPad Edition of Respondus Lockdown Browser is automatically enabled with the exception of Respondus Monitor where instructors will have to enable it manually.

  1. Optionally, under Advanced Settings, configure any desired options.

    Screenshot of Blackboard Lockdown Browser Advanced settings

    1. Require LockDown Browser to view post-exam feedback and results: If enabled, students must access the assessment using LockDown Browser to view test feedback. If disabled, students are still required to use LockDown Browser for taking the assessment, but can view exam results and feedback thought a regular browser. Default is enabled.

    2. Lock students into the browser until exam is completed: Prevents students from exiting LockDown Browser until they have submitted their exam. This setting is not recommended outside of proctored environments, as if a student has an emergency or experiences a technical issue, they will not be able to close and attempt to re-enter the exam. By default, this option is disabled, and if a student attempts to exit the exam they will be warned twice and prompted to enter a reason, which the instructor can review in the Respondus LockDown Browser Dashboard.

    3. Allow access to specific external web domains: Allows students to access a specific website while taking the exam. However, instructors must include a link to the website within the exam, otherwise students can’t access the site. Default is disabled.

    4. Enable Calculator on the toolbar: Allows students access to either a standard 4 function or scientific calculator. Default is disabled.

    5. Enable Print from the toolbar: Allows students to print while taking the LockDown Browser exam. Default is disabled.

  2. If the exam will not use any proctoring tools, click Save + Close. If you want to enable proctoring, continue to the next section.

    Screenshot of Blackboard save and close button

Proctoring Options for Online Exams

LockDown Browser features two proctoring options. First, Respondus Monitor, an automated proctoring tool, which uses student webcams and microphones to monitor students while their are taking an exam. Second, Respondus Live Proctoring, which allows an instructor to proctor the exam using a video conferencing tool such as Teams or Collaborate.

Respondus LockDown Browser must be enabled to configure Respondus Monitor.

  1. Under Proctoring, check Require Respondus Monitor (automated proctoring) for this exam.

  2. Select your desired proctoring option; webcam only, webcam and student screen, or student screen only. Select "Webcam only" to record the student with a webcam during the exam, select "Webcam + Screen" to additionally record the student's screen, or select “Screen” to record solely the student screen.

image-20260612-132041.png

 

  1. Specify which items to include in the Startup Sequence, the steps students must complete before they can access the exam.

    Screenshot of Blackboard startup sequence

    1. Webcam Check: Students are asked to record a short video and speak to verify their webcam and microphone are working properly. This option can’t be disabled.

    2. Additional Instructions: Instructors can add supplemental instructions that appear before the exam. Be default, the option is enable, and a short statement about LockDown Browser is presented.

    3. Guidelines + Tips: Instructs students on best practices for taking a test with Respondus Monitor.

    4. Student Photo: Asks students to take a photo of their face using their webcam.

    5. Show ID: Asks students to take a photo of their identification for the exam.

    6. Environment Check: Asks students to take a short video showing their surroundings.

    7. Facial Detection Check: Verifies a student’s face is visible before the start of the exam. This option can’t be disabled.

  2. Optionally, configure the Facial Detection Options

    Screenshot of Blackboard facial detection options

    1. Prevent students from starting the exam if face cannot be detected during startup sequence: Students can’t begin the exam if their face is not detected in the final stage of the startup process.

    2. Notify students during the exam if face cannot be detected (prompt for fix): Students are notified if their face can’t be detected during the exam.

  3. Optionally, configure any Advanced Settings

    image-20250930-190629.png

    1. Allow use of an iPad for this exam: This enables the iPad edition of LockDown Browser to be used with exams (downloaded from the App Store). Proctoring flags are based on video and so screen recording is not supported for iPad.

    2. Allow this exam to additionally be delivered in a proctored lab: Students in a proctored lab can take the exam using only LockDown Browser, and without Monitor. Instructors must supply a password for the proctor to provide to students at the start of the exam to allow the students to take the exam without Monitor.

    3. Allow another application to use the microphone during the exam: Only one application can use the microphone at a time, this setting allows students to use the microphone to record a response to a question, therefore ambient noise will not be recorded.

  4. Optionally, require a Second Camera view. Note: the second device must be able to scan a QR code. 

    Screenshot of Blackboard Lockdown browser second camera option

    1. You may choose to edit the default text, which directs students to position the second camera so it shows their keyboard, mouse, and face, by selecting Edit Text.

  5. Click Save + Exit

Respondus Live Proctoring requires Respondus LockDown Browser be required for the exam.

Live Proctoring is only recommended in a small class, such as a Discussion section, where an instructor can effectively see and monitor everyone using a video conferencing tool.

Due to iPad system limitations, Respondus Live Proctoring can’t be used on an iPad. Student would either need a second device to run the video conference while taking the exam, use a different device entirely, such as a Windows laptop, or the instructor can allow them to leave the call to take the exam.

  1. Under Proctoring, check the box next to Allow Instructor Life Proctoring for this exam (via Zoom, Teams, etc)

    Screenshot of Blackboard live proctoring

  2. Under Instructor Live Proctoring

    Screenshot of Blackboard live proctoring settings

    1. Select your video conferencing system: Instructor must choose the video conferencing platform to host the meeting, e.g. Teams or Collaborate.

    2. Start Code: This code will be given to student when they start the exam, after attendance has been taken and you have verified that you can see and hear everyone.

    3. Include Additional Instructions to Students: Optionally, provide additional guidance to students on taking the exam or specific instructions regarding Live Proctoring.

  3. Click Save + Exit

 

For more information or assistance with HuskyCT, please contact the Educational Technology Office at edtech@uconn.edu or (860) 486-5052