Respondus

• BCM IT Website
• BCM IT Software Catalog
• Access Respondus support via the application or on the Respondus website.

LockDown Browser

• The LockDown Browser toolbar is modified to only include Forward, Back, Refresh, and Stop functions.
• All access to other applications is disabled.
• Students cannot enter a web address to go to another site, and they cannot open other tabs (unless a link to another site is included within a test question).
• The browser is displayed full-screen and cannot be minimized, resized, or exited until the test is submitted.
• All printing, keyboard shortcuts (including copy/paste), screen capture, function keys, and right-click menus are disabled.

Respondus 4.0

Respondus​ is a tool for creating and managing exams that can be printed to paper or published directly to Blackboard. Exams can be created offline using a familiar Windows environment or moved from one LMS to another. Whether you are a veteran of online testing or relatively new to it, Respondus will save you hours on each project.​​

Uses:

• Convert an on-paper exam (in Word document) into a Blackboard Quiz
• Manage quizzes
• Share quizzes
• Move Blackboard quiz to paper copy (accommodation)

Accessibility

Respondus LockDown Browser offers accessibility features that allows users to easily navigate and read the Respondus web interface. The web interface supports screen readers for all available creator and viewer interfaces. The web interface also support keyboard access, allowing you to use the tab key to access all available functions. All sessions fully support adding and displaying captions.

Respondus tools are not accessible to all screen readers. Test these resources before requesting students to use them.

For additional information on Respondus’ accessibility features, visit Respondus’ Accessibility Conformance Report (WCAG Edition).

Note that you will need to ensure that your students have installed Respondus LockDown Browser before the assessment date. Place a link to the Respondus Installation for Students in your course and share the link in an announcement to remind students.

Enabling LockDown Browser for a Quiz, Test, or Exam

1. Login into Blackboard.
2. Go into the Original View course that you want to use LockDown Browser in.
3. Under Course Management, click on Course Tools.
4. Select Respondus LockDown Browser tool.
5. First the LockDown Browser Resources will be displayed, review the tutorials provided and when ready select the Continue to LockDown Browser button on the lower right hand side of the screen.
6. Now, you will see a list of all quizzes, tests, and exams currently in your course.
7. Select the chevron icon next to the assessment that you want to enable LockDown Browser in.
8. Under the LockDown Browser Settings, select Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam.
   1. You can add a password for students to use to access the exam.
   2. You can also enable advanced settings.
9. Once you have adjusted all your settings, select the Save + Close button to save your changes.

Make sure to view the tutorials on this page or register for training before starting to use Respondus in your classroom.

Note that Respondus LockDown Browser is not available for Ultra View courses.

Respondus 4.0

Respondus is a PC-only program that allows you to easily create new exams/surveys or upload your existing exams/surveys to Blackboard.

BCM owns a university-wide subscription to Respondus. If you would like to get started with Respondus, email ed-tech@bcm.edu to provide a license. Download the BCM campus version of Respondus 4.0.

Note: View the following tutorials to create exams. Make sure your Edit Mode button is ON inside Blackboard. If it is set to OFF, the upload process may not work.

Respondus LockDown Browser is a custom browser that enhances the security of web-based testing. When students use Respondus LockDown Browser to take a web-based quiz or exam in Blackboard, they are prevented from printing, copying, accessing other applications or websites, or closing a test before the test has been submitted for grading. 

• Quizzes or exams that require the use of LockDown Browser cannot be accessed with standard browsers.
• Respondus must be used to prepare a Blackboard quiz or exam for use with Respondus LockDown Browser. 
• For additional assistance and student resources, contact ed-tech@bcm.edu.
• Instructor Quick Start Guide 
• Installing the Student Lock-Down Browser 
• Can an iPad be used with LockDown Browser? (instructions for faculty)

Instructor Resources

• Video: Preparing an Exam for Use with Respondus Monitor and LockDown Browser (4:49 minutes) and a video for Blackboard Learn — Original View (1:57 minutes) on preparing an exam.
• Quick Start Guide: Instructor Live Proctoring with LockDown Browser
• Video: Instructor Live Proctoring (4:57 minutes)
• Instructor Tutorial: Remote Assessment and Examinations

Want to learn more about creating tests and exams in Blackboard Learn? Visit the Blackboard Assessments & Grading and the Blackboard Learn — Learning Management System sections of the BCM website.

Student Resources

• Download and Install LockDown Browser
• Quick Start Guide: LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitoring
• Student Tutorial: Remote Assessment and Examinations

Recommended Best Practices

Respondus LockDown Browser is straightforward to use, but there are some suggested best practices that will help it go smoothly for your students.

• Do not change test name – Once you have enabled Respondus LockDown Browser on a test, do not change the name of the test, or Respondus will not work correctly
• Do not modify the test password – If you want to set a password for the test, do so via the Respondus LockDown Browser settings and not the Test Settings. Respondus uses the password field to prevent students from taking the test from another browser, and modifying the password in Test Settings will prevent it from working correctly
• Add a statement to the syllabus – Explain to students early that they must use Respondus LockDown Browser for their online exams. Respondus provides a sample syllabus statement you may want to include or modify
• Hold a practice test or quiz – Before students need to use Respondus LockDown Browser for a high-stakes test or a quiz, have them complete a brief practice quiz to demonstrate that they have installed the browser and it is functioning correctly. This quiz can be for a few points extra credit or no points

Updating Respondus

Make sure to update this tool prior to using it for a final exam by following the below instructions.

• For Windows users, start Respondus LockDown Browser, select the “i” button from the toolbar, and then click “Check for Newer Version.” Your current version will be displayed, and you will be able to download a newer version if one is available.
• For Mac users, start Respondus LockDown Browser, select “About” from the toolbar, and then click “Check for Update.” The current version will be displayed, and you will be able to download a newer version if one is available.

You can also update LockDown Browser by downloading and running the full installation program again. This is the best option if the “Check for Newer Version” on your Respondus LockDown Browser application does not recognize the latest version.

Respondus is a powerful software application that enhances the functionality and usability of Blackboard's (Bb) quiz, survey, and self-test tools. It also provides seamless synchronization of print-based and online exams. Whether you are a "power user" of Bb or a relatively new user, Respondus can save you hours on each assessment or survey project.

**Respondus 4.0 will not work on a MAC**

Respondus Setup

• BCM owns a university-wide subscription to Respondus. If you would like to get started with Respondus, email ed-tech@bcm.edu to provide a license and a download link to the BCM campus version of Respondus 4.0.
• Use the Respondus 4.0 Quick Start Guide
• Respondus 4.0 Download and Installation instructions

Create and Format Questions

• This tutorial will discuss how to create and format questions using the Edit menu in Respondus.

  Open the Create and Format Questions video tutorial to learn more.

Import Questions

• This tutorial will discuss how to import exam questions from text files, rich text files, or Word documents. These files must be properly formatted in order to successfully upload to Blackboard.

  Open the Import Questions video tutorial to learn more.

Publish to Blackboard Course

• This tutorial will discuss how to upload the Respondus exam to a Blackboard course. The server settings must be setup in order to complete this task.

  Open the Publish to a Blackboard Course video tutorial to learn more.

Use Publisher Test Banks

• This tutorial will discuss how to gain access to publisher test banks and publish to your Blackboard course, using Respondus.

  Open the Use Publisher Test Banks video tutorial to learn more.

General Resources

• Quick Start Guide
• Respondus 4.0 User Guide
• Can an iPad be used with LockDown Browser? (instructions for faculty)
• Respondus Videos
• Respondus YouTube Videos 
• Respondus Best Practices

Materials and resources for this area are being developed by the Office of Academic Technology: Education Technology. They will be added to this section as soon as they are ready. 

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