Respondus Lockdown Browser

Pros

• Many different anti-cheating tools
• Compatible with other remote teaching platforms
• Unique facial recognition software

Cons

• Some compatibility problems
• Requires multiple downloads

Respondus LockDown Browser is a tool for teachers that discourages students from cheating when they are taking online tests.

More educational organizations than ever have now switched over to remote learning, and that has resulted in some teachers struggling with cheating. When a student is taking an online exam, they can easily search for the answers or even copy the information to share with others. To discourage that, many teachers are now using LockDown Browser by Respondus. This software allows teachers to deactivate and lock many features that students could potentially use to cheat on their exams.

In order to use LockDown Browser, teachers must create an account with Blackboard so that they can deploy tests. They will then need to send a link to their students so that they can install LockDown Browser. Once that has been done, the teacher will be able to set parameters for the LockDown Browser for each of their exams. That includes which websites students can go to, what types of files can be accessed, and which keys are going to be locked.

Another feature that many teachers are going to find useful is the facial recognition monitoring tool. In some cases, teachers might want to keep a closer eye on their students so that they can’t use other devices to collect information or share answers. To use this feature, the teachers must request permission to unlock the front-facing camera for each individual student.

While LockDown Browser will take a little time to set up, it is currently one of the best anti-cheating measures for online tests and quizzes.

Pros

• Many different anti-cheating tools
• Compatible with other remote teaching platforms
• Unique facial recognition software

Cons

• Some compatibility problems
• Requires multiple downloads