Respondus LockDown Browser

Access to Respondus LockDown Browser is from your Quercus course only.

Only approved divisional sub-accounts in Quercus will have the option to add Respondus LockDown Browser.

You will not see this option if your course is listed in a department or division which is not approved for LockDown.

Add the Respondus LockDown Browser navigation link so that it appears in your Course Navigation menu in Quercus. The Navigation Link can be found and added to your course by the following steps:

1. In your course menu, select “Settings” (the bottom left course menu item).
2. Select the “Navigation” tab (located near the top of the screen).
3. Select and drag “Respondus LockDown Browser” up from the list of hidden navigation items to the list of visible navigation items in the top half of this list. Place it where you would like it to appear in the Course Navigation menu.
   1. (alternatively you can select the 3-dots and choose “+ Enable”)
4. Save your change.

The LockDown Browser access link will be available in your Quercus course menu:

The LockDown browser works with Quercus Quizzes (both New Quizzes and classic Quizzes).  There are two subtle differences to remember:

• Classic Quizzes – use the Respondus LockDown access code option.
• New Quizzes – use the password option in Quercus.

There are 3 different ways students “exit” the lockdown browser session:

1. “Lock until the exam is completed.”
   – This will not give any other way for the student to exit.
2. Un-check the the option that says “Lock until exam completed”
   – This option has a pop-up confirming the student is exiting the session, and then a 2nd pop-up that requires a reason be typed in before being able to exit.
3. Option to have a password override
   – This option generally works for an in-person proctored exam, as it may be difficult to communicate the password with students remotely while they have the LockDown browser session active.

Students will need computer Admin password access to install Respondus LockDown Browser on their personal computer. One of the most common issues is having students successfully install the software.

To mitigate this, we suggest you create an open practice quiz (ungraded / worth zero marks) well before the actual quiz/exam, and keep this quiz open for students to try at anytime.

It is important to communicate the use of Respondus LockDown Browser in your course with your students.

Check with your division about requirements around including a syllabus statement. 

For example, the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering recommends the following syllabus statement:

Use of Respondus LockDown Browser for Quercus Quizzes:

Some in-person quizzes in this course require the use of Respondus LockDown Browser, a custom web browser that restricts your ability to navigate away from the quiz environment in Quercus. LockDown Browser does not record or monitor you, but you must install the application on a compatible Windows or macOS laptop before completing any quiz that uses it. You must also download Respondus LockDown Browser using the University of Toronto–specific link provided here: U of T Respondus LockDown Browser download link. A practice quiz will be provided to help you test your setup and confirm that LockDown Browser is working correctly.

If you do not have a compatible device, contact the instructor as early as possible.

UTSC provides a resource for generating a course announcement when using Respondus LockDown Browser in your course.

Rotman provides a communication announcement.  Consult “The Faculty Side” tab of their Respondus LockDown Browser information page.