This guide shows you how to create a practice quiz in Canvas with LockDown Browser (LDB) and Respondus Monitor (RM) enabled. Follow each part of the setup in order.
Since Canvas and LDB are integrated, any quiz you create for a Canvas course will work seamlessly with LDB.
Note: The only question format you cannot use for a LDB exam is file upload.
We strongly recommend that you create a practice quiz and administer it at least a week before the graded quiz. You should also take a few minutes to review the practice quiz with your students in class before the exam.
Page Contents
Before you begin
- Have your students download the latest University version of LockDown Browser.
- Have your students review basic troubleshooting tips on the University’s LockDown Browser student support page. You can also include these tips in your course or in the Canvas quiz description.
- Sign up for a Respondus training webinar, watch training videos, or visit their Knowledge Base.
- It is helpful to have a working knowledge of Zoom and Lockdown Browser before creating and administering a two-device live-proctored exam.
- To enhance the security of a synchronous exam (Canvas quiz), we recommend using two devices.
Part I: Creating a Canvas Practice Quiz
Step 1 – Selecting the Practice Quiz Option
- Click Quizzes on the left navigation menu.
- Click + Quiz at the upper-right corner.
- At Quiz Type, select “Practice Quiz.”
Step 2 – Quiz Title & Instructions
- In the quiz instructions, you should provide all the information students need to take the practice quiz. For example, if you have a two-device exam, you should include additional instructions here on how to engage the second device during live proctoring.
- The following are tips and fixes to common issues that your students may encounter. It is helpful to include them in the quiz description.
Note: Advise your students to take a picture or screen capture of any issues to help troubleshoot them later.
- Internet Browser: Check if your internet browser is up-to-date. Make sure no security add-ons or extensions are enabled. Delete all temporary internet files and clear cookies and cache.
- Application: Download and install the latest University version of LockDown Browser. (For Mac, go to Privacy & User Settings and change the setting to allow downloaded apps from everyone)
- Operating System: Make sure your device’s operating system is updated. Always restart your device after an OS update.
- Internet Connection: Make sure your internet connection is stable throughout the duration of the exam. If the firewall is enabled, the LockDown Browser app must be added as an exception. For Mac, check if the firewall is enabled in the Privacy & User Settings. If you have security software installed, add LockDown Browser as an exception. Make sure that you do not have any applications working in the background that connect to the internet (messaging, file-sharing, music, screen capture, etc.) as this can cause problems during the Startup Sequence and prevent the exam from launching correctly.
- Starting the exam: Click the application icon to launch LockDown Browser, then start the exam for Canvas Classic Quizzes. You can only launch LDB directly from Canvas New Quizzes.
Step 3 – Allow Multiple Attempts
- Select the option to “Allow Multiple Attempts.” This allows students the opportunity to take the practice quiz multiple times and is especially helpful if students experience technical issues.
Note: You may want to set a time limit to help students get used to taking a timed exam, but this is optional.
Important: Do not select the option to require an access code. If you want to use an access code, you can add that later in the LDB settings.
Step 4 – Assign To, Dates, and Save
- At the bottom, enter the Assign To and Due date for the practice quiz.
- Click Save.
Next you will create the questions, then review and publish.
Step 5 – Creating the Practice Quiz Questions
For the practice quiz, create a few questions that are reflective of the graded quiz.
- Click Questions (next to Details), then build out the questions as needed.
Use the same question type for the practice quiz as you will use for the graded exam (multiple choice, fill-in, etc.).
Tip: Remember to save the quiz often when you are adding the questions.
Part II: Enabling LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor
Step 6 – Enabling LockDown Browser in the settings
Before you begin, you must add LockDown Browser to the Canvas course navigation. Follow these steps:
- Click Settings at the bottom of the left navigation menu.
- Scroll down to find LockDown Browser in the second list of hidden items. Drag and drop LockDown Browser to the top list, or click the three dots to the right of it, then click Enable.
- To finish, click Save at the bottom of the page.
To enable LockDown Browser:
- Click LockDown Browser on the left navigation menu of your Canvas course.
Note: If you are using LockDown Browser for the first time, you will be asked to authorize it before you begin. - Click the down arrow to the left of the name of the quiz.
- Click Settings to enable LockDown Browser and select features.
Step 7 – Options & Advanced Settings
On the Settings page:
- Select the option to “Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this Exam.”
- Under Password Settings, you have the option to require an access code for the exam. If enabled, this is the code you will give out to your students in the Zoom meeting.
Note: We recommend requiring an access code for synchronous exams that use two devices.
- Click on the + for Advanced Settings. The following options display: (Explanations are provided below.)
- Click Save + Close to activate LockDown Browser. We recommend that you also require Respondus Monitor for your exam. (Learn more about Zoom Integration in Step 8b.)
- Require LockDown Browser to view feedback and results: This option makes students log back into LockDown Browser to view their results as allowed by your Canvas Quiz Settings. Remember to NOT share quiz responses if you plan on using the questions again in the future.
- Lock students into the browser until the exam is completed: This option forces the student to stay in the quiz until it is finished. We do not recommend using this as some students may finish earlier than others. This setting is intended for a face-to-face class where you are holding a lecture or discussion right after the quiz.
- Allow students to take this exam with an iPad: This is commonly used; the student needs to download the app from the Apple Store, not the download link.
- Allow students to use LockDown Browser for Chromebook: This is commonly used; the student needs to download the chrome extension from the Google Chrome Web Store, not the download link.
- Allow access to specific external web domains: You can add the URL of a website here so you can incorporate that website into a question. The student can then navigate to that website to reference it when answering a question. This can be helpful when reviewing a journal article or picture with text or video. When the student finishes reviewing the website content, the popup closes and they return to the quiz to answer the question.
- Enable Calculator on the toolbar: If enabled, the calculator icon will display to the left of the search bar. There are two versions of the calculator – standard and scientific.
- Enable Printing from the toolbar: If enabled, the printer icon will display to the left of the search bar. This is not commonly used and not recommended for most remote exams.
Step 8A – Enabling Respondus Monitor
- In the settings, scroll down and select Require Respondus Monitor (automated proctoring) for this exam.
- At Startup Sequence, click to enable the options you want to require.
Note: The Startup Sequence is a process the students must complete before taking the exam to ensure compatibility and exam integrity. (Explanations of each option are provided below.)
- Click Save + Close when ready.
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- Webcam Check: This checks if the webcam is working properly and if the connection to the server is secure.
Note: If you are using a desktop for Device 1, you should have an external/detachable webcam to complete the environment check. - Additional Instructions: If enabled, you can click "Edit Text" to add any additional instructions for the exam. This is often needed for two-device exams.
- Guidelines + Tips: This showcases tips with useful icons and graphics to the user.
- Student Photo: This takes a picture of the student and uses that picture for their student report in the class results. This is helpful especially for classes with larger enrollment.
- Student ID: This takes a picture of the student’s ID card.
- Environment Check: This is highly recommended to help prevent cheating. The Environment Check should take about 45-60 seconds to complete. The recording should start in the testing position of the webcam (facing the student), then it should record above and around the monitor on the desk, then below and around the inside of the desk, and finally back to the testing position.
Note: Most cheating takes place from monitors or digital devices like tablets or phones that are placed behind the laptop or monitor using a special harness or other device and accessed with a wireless keyboard. You can usually detect this potential cheating by looking at the Canvas usage report for the Quiz and comparing how long a student was on the question with no activity and the typing of the keyboard showcasing activity on the second “illegal” monitor. Comprehensive attention to the environment check during the Canvas practice quiz and the graded quiz is helpful in deterring students from cheating.
- Facial Detection Check: This is recommended to make sure the student is facing the testing device as much as possible. (For open-book exams or exams that require handwritten responses, uncheck the second option “Notifying students during the exam if face cannot be detected” as the student will be looking down or away from the screen for extended periods of time. A two-device approach is better for this scenario).
- Advanced Settings: This is not recommended. If you need any of these settings, please reach out so we can better assist you in your exam design or delivery.
- Webcam Check: This checks if the webcam is working properly and if the connection to the server is secure.
*(Step 8B) Enabling Live Proctoring with LDB-Zoom Integration*
Before using the new LockDown Browser with Zoom Live Proctoring feature, you should first consider the size of your class and the limited functionality of LDB+Zoom. For example, it does not allow for student-professor interaction and is only recommended for 25 students or less per Zoom meeting. If recording is enabled in the Zoom meeting settings, the instructor/proctor sees the video icons of each student in the Zoom recording but the student recordings will not be available in the LockDown Browser Class Results. Review this training and watch this tutorial before you begin.
Note: This feature is still in beta mode and does not work with iPads and some tablets.
- After you enable LockDown Browser, select Allow Instructor live proctoring for this exam (under Proctoring). By selecting this option you can now use a Zoom meeting to view students live as they take their exam (but the student will only be able to see the exam, not you).
- Enter the Start Code you intend to use for the exam.
Note: If you have a Start Code, you do not need another LockDown Browser Access Code unless you are using two devices. - Click Save + Close.
Scheduling the Zoom Meeting for the Canvas quiz
- Go to Zoom and schedule a new meeting with the date and time of the exam.
- Enable “UD Authentication” and “Waiting Room” in the security settings.
You can take attendance from the waiting room (or at the beginning of the meeting) and then give students the Start Code when you are ready to begin the exam.
Holding the Zoom Meeting for the Canvas quiz
Although using a start code/password is not required for LockDown Browser or Respondus Monitor with Live Proctoring, we strongly recommend using a unique start code for each Canvas quiz.
If you schedule your Zoom Meeting with UD authentication and Waiting Room, you can provide students with the start code during the meeting.
The following prompt displays for students when they start the exam:
The exam starts as normal and you can see the students on Zoom, but the students cannot see you.
Step 9 – Saving & Enabling LockDown Browser & Respondus Monitor
- Click Save + Close to enable LockDown Browser with Respondus Monitor.