Respondus-taking your online exams
Respondus Technical Support
First, and most importantly, take the practice exam provided to you by your professor to ensure your computer and connection are stable and capable of handling the Respondus software.
Here are a few issues that have come up on occasion along with workarounds for them:
- If you receive an error message at the beginning of the exam wait a few minutes then try to start your exam again, most often this will fix the issue. (For example, AWS (Amazon Web Services) is the service provider and often times it takes a minute to process before the exam begins). Here is reading on this particular issue. Links to an external site.
- Slow response or page timeouts will often be fixed quickly by Canvas technicians and there is nothing you need to do. However, if the issues persist, at the end of the exam simply notify the professor of the issues you encountered.
- UK owned computers cannot be used to take the Respondus exam. UK employees who do not have the ability to install software on their computer or who have UK firewalls in place to prevent access to sensitive information will not be able to use those computers to take the exam.
- If using the Scanbot mobile app (Download: Android Links to an external site. / iOS Links to an external site.) to scan in anything, make sure to update the Canvas student mobile app (Download: Android Links to an external site. / iOS Links to an external site.) on your phone. Older versions of the app may crash when trying to upload a file to submit the assignment.
To access live chat support, you need to be in LockDown Browser and in your Canvas course shell – from there you will select the “Help Center Links to an external site.” button on the toolbar of LockDown Browser.
Phone Support During the Exam
The Gatton IT Support team is available via phone at (859) 257 5892 from 8am to 5pm.
Setting Up Respondus Monitor:
Watch this video
and then read about how Respondus Monitor works. Links to an external site. Our online exams will be a computerized in Canvas with LockDown Browser plus Webcam (or Respondus Monitor). If you have problems with the process you can contact UKIT Help Links to an external site. for support. Follow the steps below.
1) Download and Install: Please use a laptop or desktop computer with administrator access (that is, it should be your computer or one you control) that runs Mac or Windows operating system, as well as a webcam and microphone. When available use a hard-wired internet connection when taking the exam. Go here Links to an external site. to install the browser. The following screen should appear.
Click on the Install Now button in the lower right corner. On most computers an installation file should be downloaded to the Downloads directory/folder. Run this file by double clicking on it. Below are the pictures from a Windows computer. Macs should have similar screens. A language screen should appear.
Select your desired language and then hit Next. The license agreement is next.
To install you need to accept the agreement and then click Next. The software should be installed and a final screen appears.
Installation should be complete and you can click Finish.
2) Start the LockDown Browser: Plan to find a quiet place with a terrific Wi-Fi connection (or better yet a wired connection to the internet). To start LockDown Browser, locate the “LockDown Browser” icon on the desktop and double-click it. (Mac users can find it in their Applications folder.)
Alternatively, Windows users can go to “Start", locate "All Programs,” select “Respondus,” and click “Respondus LockDown Browser.”
Note: You won't be able to access a quiz that requires LockDown Browser with a standard web browser. If this is tried, an error message will indicate that the test requires the use of LockDown Browser. A login screen should display.
3) Login to Canvas Course and Select Exam: When the LockDown Browser starts, you will need to login to Canvas.
Use your Link Blue username and password.
Then navigate in Canvas to the appropriate exam. I have set up a practice exam that you can take to help prepare you for the real exams. You can take this practice exam as often as you like until you are comfortable with the exam process.
Before an exam starts, you will be lead through a variety of steps in preparation including agreeing to terms of use, checking your hardware including the webcam, and showing your ID.
4) Taking an Exam: Once the exam has started, students are locked into the exam. You’re unable to print, copy, go to other web addresses, or access other applications on the computer. Web searches, instant messaging, minimizing the browser, and hundreds of other functions are also prevented. Once the exam is completed, you can exit the browser and your computer will return to its normal state.
Remember, if you have problems with the process you can contact UKIT Help Links to an external site. for support.
System Requirements for LockDown Browser
Operating Systems
- Windows: 10, 8, 7
- Mac: MacOS 10.15 to 10.12, OS X 10.11, OSX 10.10
- iOS: 11.0+ (iPad only). Must have a compatible LMS integration. Details (Links to an external site.).
Memory
Windows: 75 MB permanent space on the hard drive
Mac: 120 MB permanent space on the hard drive
Browser Requirements
LockDown Browser is a client application that is installed to a local computer. Both the Windows edition and the Mac edition of the browser are based on Chromium, Google's open source framework. Students do NOT need Google's Chrome browser installed; nor will this version affect a Chrome browser that's already installed.