Respondus LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor help protect the integrity of online quizzes and exams in Canvas. LockDown Browser prevents students from opening other websites, applications, or AI tools during an exam. Respondus Monitor adds automated webcam proctoring. Both are available in every Citadel Canvas course.
Get Started
Set Up an Exam with LockDown Browser
- Make sure the exam has been created in your Canvas course.
- Select LockDown Browser from the course navigation menu.
- The LockDown Browser Dashboard displays the available exams. Exams marked Enabled require LockDown Browser; exams marked Not Enabled do not.
- Open the menu next to the exam and select Settings.
- Select Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this test.
- If you’d like, enter a password that students must use to begin the exam.
- Save the exam settings.
Prepare Your Students
- Tell students early. Let students know which exams require LockDown Browser or Monitor, so they can install it and check their device before exam day.
- Point them to the install directions. Every course’s Start Here module includes an Installing LockDown Browser page.
- Give a practice quiz. A short, ungraded practice quiz with the same settings lets students test their setup and solve problems before an exam counts.
Using Respondus Monitor
Respondus Monitor works with LockDown Browser to provide automated proctoring for online exams. Students use a webcam to record themselves during the exam, and you may also choose to record the student’s computer screen. Suspicious testing behavior is flagged for your review.
View Monitor Results
After students complete an exam, open LockDown Browser from the course navigation menu and review the results for that exam.
Flagged events and review priority results do not mean a student cheated or broke an exam rule. They help you find recorded moments that may be worth a closer look. Review the recording before you draw any conclusions, and follow The Citadel’s academic integrity process if you have concerns. See Respondus Monitor: Understanding Proctoring Results.
Turn On Monitor After Copying a Course
- Open the copied Canvas course.
- Select LockDown Browser from the course navigation menu.
- Open the LockDown Browser Dashboard. Opening the dashboard activates Respondus Monitor for the copied course.
- Confirm that the correct LockDown Browser and Monitor settings are turned on for the copied exams.
Choosing the Right Approach
Match the level of security to the purpose of the assessment. Not every quiz needs LockDown Browser, and not every exam needs Monitor.
Common Situations
| Situation | Recommended approach | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ungraded practice quiz | Neither | Practice works best when students can use notes and learn from mistakes |
| Open-book or open-resource quiz | Neither, or LockDown Browser with approved resources allowed | Students may use course materials, but you can still block AI tools and other websites |
| Low-stakes graded quiz | LockDown Browser if outside resources aren’t allowed | Blocks other websites and AI tools without the extra steps of webcam proctoring |
| In-class exam on laptops | LockDown Browser | You’re in the room to proctor, so webcam recording isn’t needed |
| High-stakes online exam taken outside class | LockDown Browser and Monitor | Confirms students are working on their own when you can’t be there |
| Exam with approved accommodations | Your usual setting, with accommodations applied in Canvas | Extra time and attempts are set in Canvas quiz settings |
Questions to Ask Before You Use Monitor
- Is the exam high-stakes enough to need proctoring? Monitor adds steps for students and review time for you.
- Do all students have what they need? Students need a working webcam, a reliable internet connection, and a device that runs LockDown Browser.
- Have you given students a practice quiz? Testing the setup ahead of time prevents technical problems on exam day.
- Do you have time to review flagged results? Plan time after the exam to review recordings before drawing conclusions.
- Have you explained it to students? Tell students what Monitor records, why you’re using it, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Pair Tools with Good Design
Proctoring tools work best alongside thoughtful assessment design:
- Use question banks so students receive different versions of the exam.
- Set a reasonable time limit that gives students enough time to finish without time to look up every answer.
- Ask application questions. Scenarios, data, and “explain your reasoning” questions show understanding and are harder to answer by searching.
- Mix assessment types. Pair online exams with projects, presentations, or in-class work so no single exam carries the whole grade.
For more strategies, see Assessment, Grading, and Rubrics and Teaching in the Age of AI.
Proctoring tools work best alongside good assessment design. For strategies that show students’ own thinking, see Assessment, Grading, and Rubrics and Teaching in the Age of AI.
Get Help
- Respondus resources: Visit the Respondus Instructor FAQ for training webinars, technical support, and answers to common questions. Learn more about LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor.
- CEITL support: Contact CEITL for help setting up an exam or reviewing your settings.
Have a question? Contact CEITL by phone, email, or in person in Bond Hall, Room 363.