How to use LockDown Browser on a Chromebook? If you come to this page for finding that information, you do not go anywhere. Here we are going to explain it. As we know that Respondus LockDown Browser is available for the exams delivered in Canvas, Blackboard Learn, D2L Brightspace, Schoology and Moodle. This solution is for student-owned and managed devices too. Also, Respondus LockDown Browser on a Chromebook supports Respondus Monitor, an automated proctoring system.
Using Respondus LockDown Browser on a Chromebook
Instructions for the Teachers
- At the first step, the teachers have to go to the LockDown Browser Dashboard within Canvas (Works with Blackboard Learn, D2L Brightspace, Moodle and Schoology).
- After that, the teachers have to choose “Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam”
- Then, you need to expand the “Advanced Settings” and choose “Allow students to use LockDown Browser for Chromebook.
- Please Save the exam settings for LockDown Browser. Simply, repeat these steps for each exam.
Instructions for the Students
- At the first step, the students have to log into the Chromebook and start Google Chrome
- After that, the students are able to log into Canvas and navigate to the exam which needs a LockDown Browser.
- The next step is to choose the link for downloading and installing LockDown Browser
- The students are able to choose “Add to Chrome” from the Chrome web store to install the LockDown Browser Extension.
For note: During beta, Respondus LockDown Browser extension will only work with the quizzes that an instructor has enabled for use with Respondus LockDown Browser for Chromebook.
Allow the Students to use LockDown Browser on a Chromebook for taking an exam
The Instructors have to choose the right LockDown Browser settings to enable the students using LockDown Browser on a Chromebook.
- To set up LockDown Browser on a Blackboard test, first you must have the test deployed in your course.
- After that, go to Control Panel > Course Tools > LockDown Browser to configure the Respondus LockDown Browser settings.
- Then, click “Continue to LockDown Browser.”
- From the LockDown Browser Dashboard, you need to find the desired test and click the down arrow next to the test to choose Settings.
- Please choose “Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam” and then click the “+” to expand the menu to access the Advanced Settings.
- Also, you have to click the box next to Allow the students using LockDown Browser for Chromebook.
- Choose any additional test settings as needed and then click Save + Close to save the test settings.
- Now, Respondus LockDown Browser is required for the students to take the exam. The students need to install the application or extension on their own device.
Install Respondus LockDown Browser Chrome Extension
If the instructors require the students to use Respondus LockDown Browser for a Blackboard test, then the students have to install an application or extension on their device. For students using Chromebooks, you need to install the LockDown Browser Chrome extension. The instructor need follow the steps above to allow the students taking their test using LockDown Browser on a Chromebook.
- Firstly, you are able to download the LockDown Browser Extension for Chromebooks. For your information, Respondus LockDown Browser Extension is not available for download from the Chrome Store.
- After that, you have to click Add to Chrome to install the extension
- A confirmation message is going to appear after the LockDown Browser for Chromebook extension has been installed
- After the installation is complete, simply close or restart the Chrome browser.
- Please log into Blackboard and navigate to the test which requires Respondus LockDown Browser. If the instructor has permitted the test using the Chromebook version of LockDown Browser, then it will launch the test automatically.
Warning: If the test does not allow the use of Respondus LockDown Browser for Chromebooks, you have to contact the course instructor to enable this feature in their Respondus LockDown Browser settings for the test.
Known Issues and Limitations for the beta
Apparently, there are several limitations and issues with the Chromebook beta for LockDown Browser. Because the website was last updated after the launch of the beta, some of these may have been worked out right now.
Here are some limitations and known issues with LockDown Browser for Chromebook:
- Quiz passwords are not currently supported for the exams that use only LockDown Browser. For exams needing Respondus Monitor, the optional password field is supported.
- The “Allow access to specific external web domains” option, the “Early Exit” feature, and the extended keyboard functions (symbols and special characters) are not currently supported.
- The Calculator and Spreadsheets are not currently supported.
- The optional password field is supported, however it allows the students to bypass the use of a webcam for exams using Respondus Monitor.
In addition, there are several limitations for specific platforms. For instance, while the students are using “New quizzes” in Canvas, then the students are going to get a warning that the browser cannot open the page. You will be able to ignore this and continue with no negative side effects. Same with D2L Brightspace and Canvas, they are going to get the “Google Chrome OS cannot open this page” error. Also, this will be able to be ignored after closing it.
The last thing, Brightspace users are going to need to enable pop-ups in Chrome so that their students will not get stuck on the Start Quiz page. We get information that the LockDown Browser’s Help Center is said to not work according to the knowledge base, however we will test that when we do a deeper dive on our devices. You are able to share in the comments if you are currently using Respondus LockDown Browser on your fleet of Chrome OS devices. We feel that many students and teachers could benefit from this, thus we wanted to cover it.
