Proctoring Options

Faculty Proctoring Options

The Respondus Proctoring Tool

The Respondus suite of tools includes a secure "LockDown" browser that is useful for online tests and assessments. While taking an online exam with Respondus, students are prevented from accessing other applications or searching the internet on that device. LockDown Browser can also be used in conjunction with Respondus Monitor, an automated proctoring solution. Though this does not replace an in person proctor, using both Respondus LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor helps provide a secure interface and optional audio and video recording of the test attempt.

Respondus is fully integrated into Bruin Learn, so students can take a Bruin Learn quiz within the Respondus environment. 

Best Practices

  • It is strongly recommended to create a zero stakes practice quiz for students to ensure that their equipment is functioning properly prior to the actual quiz. 
  • Paste the student FAQs found below in the description of your quiz.
  • Students should find a quiet place to take their exam, and ensure they have a stable internet connection.
  • To improve the integrity of a quiz, pair Respondus with a quiz that uses random question banks and a time limit.
  • Please reach out to bruinlearn-support@it.ucla.edu or your local support unit if using Respondus for the first time in your class.

Instructor Guide: Configuring Respondus

This is a short guide on how to enable Respondus. Detailed instructions can be found in this Respondus LockDown Browser Instructor Guide Links to an external site..

  1. Create a Bruin Learn quiz as you normally would.
  2. After the Bruin Learn quiz has been created, click on the LockDown Browser link in your course navigation menu.
  3. Within the LockDown Browser Dashboard, click the dropdown arrow next the quiz in question and click Settings.
  4. Select the option to Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam.

Configuring Automated Proctoring using Respondus Monitor (optional)

Respondus Monitor (automated proctoring) uses a student’s webcam to record the test taking session, allowing for the instructor to review the session and any flagged events.

  1. After enabling Respondus LockDown Browser for a quiz, click the option to Require Respondus Monitor (automated proctoring) for this exam.
  2. Configure the steps you want students to complete during the startup sequence (pre-exam checks) and any advanced settings.
  3. Click Save + Close.

 (Links to an external site.)

Live Proctoring Using Zoom and Respondus

Some instructors may wish to monitor their students over Zoom while an exam is happening in addition to using Respondus. There are two ways to proctor assessments using Zoom and Respondus. 

Method 1

The first and simplest is built into Respondus and allows you to use a variety of teleconferencing tools to live proctor. You simply create a Zoom meeting for students and they will only be able to start the exam once you provide them with a start code.

It's important to note that audio is the biggest concern when using Zoom as a proctoring tool. Students are unable to access the Zoom controls once they enter the lockdown browser, which means that if their audio is on, everyone will hear what is said or played, which is not ideal for listening comprehension or voice recording activities. As the host, you may mute everyone from the onset, but students may not be able to speak to you if they need to. As such, we recommend using this method for smaller classes (<25 students).

To enable:

  1. Click on “Dashboard” in the Respondus block, then “Continue to Lockdown Browser.”
  2. Select Settings from the context menu to the left of the quiz title to bring up the options. Once Require Lockdown Browser has been selected, you will see a Proctoring option. Choose Allow instructor live proctoring for this exam….

Under Select your video conferencing system, select Zoom.

Set a Start code for the exam.

Then, distribute the Zoom meeting information to your class, and the start code once everyone is in the meeting.

Method 2

This alternative way allows the use of an external URL in the Respondus settings.

In this method, students are not able to use their desktop version of Zoom while in the LockDown Browser, nor can they open new tabs in the browser, so instructors will have to take a few steps when configuring Respondus for a given exam in order for this to work. This does, however, preserve their access to the sound controls in Zoom.

  1. In “Advanced Settings” for “LockDown Browser Settings,” check the option “Allow access to specific external web domains” (see above for instructions on how to access these settings).
  2. In the box that appears, enter “ucla.zoom.us (Links to an external site.)” or, if the Zoom meeting you will be using for proctoring is for some reason not created from a UCLA-affiliated zoom account, “zoom.us (Links to an external site.).”
  3. Click the blue “Save and close” button at the bottom of the advanced settings.
  4. Create a meeting in Zoom that you will be using to proctor the exam. Include the link to this meeting at the beginning of the quiz. This is the only way students will be able to access Zoom once they enter the LockDown Browser.
  5. Instruct students to click on this link once they have gone through the initial startup sequence. This will open the Zoom meeting in a different tab. However, students will need to join the meeting from the browser instead of from their desktop Zoom app, which is most likely how they are familiar with joining a Zoom meeting. In order to do this, they will need to disallow the browser from opening the Zoom app (by clicking “Cancel” in the pop up window) and clicking on “join from your browser.”
  6. Once they have entered a name for the meeting, the student will be in the proctoring Zoom meeting and can navigate back to the other tab to take the exam.

Optional Template for Respondus Quizzes

If you would like to include a module that contains information for students on how to use the Respondus LockDown Browser in Bruin Learn, follow the instructions below to copy it from Commons.

This module contains two Pages with instructions for students on on how to download the LockDown Browser to their computer, as well as frequently asked questions, and who to contact for technical support. The module also contains a Practice Quiz for instructors to assign to students, so that they can practice using Respondus before taking an exam with the tool.

  1. In the global navigation on the left click on Commons
  2. Click the Filter button on the top right
  3. Under Shared with select the University of California, Los Angeles radio button
  4. Click the X on the top left of the Filter Results panel to close it
  5. In the Search field paste in the following: Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor: Materials for Students
  6. Click on the Card
  7. Click the Import/download button on the right
  8. Search for your course and select it
  9. Click the Import into course button
  10. In about a minute the module will appear within your course

Please note: the module and its contents will be published by default so if you wish to not share it at this time be sure to unpublish it.


Student Guide: Taking an Exam using Respondus

This is a short guide on how to take a quiz that requires Respondus. Detailed instructions can be found in this Respondus LockDown Browser Student Guide Links to an external site..

  1. Download the Respondus LockDown Browser. This can be done by navigating to your quiz in Bruin Learn and clicking the Take the Quiz button. Alternatively, download the software using this link Links to an external site..
    Note: You must use the exact UCLA version of Respondus. Generic or "OEM" versions of the software will not work with Bruin Learn quizzes.
  2. Install the LockDown Browser on your computer.
  3. Launch the LockDown Browser and log in to Bruin Learn. Once logged in, navigate to the correct course then launch the quiz.
    Note: you cannot launch a Respondus quiz from a notification link on your Dashboard. You must open the Bruin Learn course site, and launch the quiz from there.

FAQs for Students

Q: I keep getting prompted to download the LockDown Browser, even though I’ve already done this.

A: After installing the LockDown Browser, you need to open the newly installed application and navigate to your quiz within the LockDown Browser. Be sure to navigate to the correct Bruin Learn course first, then launch the quiz from the "Modules" or "Quizzes" area. Respondus quizzes can not be launched via a shortcut or notification link on your Bruin Learn Dashboard.

Q: During the webcam check, I get a “video connection timed out” error.

A: This is due to a slow or unstable internet connection. If possible, use another WiFi network. Alternatively, move as close as possible to your WiFi router and ask others on your WiFi network to pause activity that requires a lot of bandwidth, like video streaming.

Q: I see the message “Error: Unable to continue..” when launching a Respondus quiz.

A: This error is a result of the instructor not authorizing Respondus within a Bruin Learn course website. Let your instructor know you have encountered this issue, and share with them the associated troubleshooting article Links to an external site..

Using a Non-US Keyboard in Respondus

 

If you need to have students use a non-US keyboard, Respondus allows this by having the students pre-set their keyboard choices. (Links to an external site.)

Students can also type specific characters (such as for French or Spanish online exams) while in the Respondus Lockdown Browser by selecting the icon showing a sheet of paper with an “A” on it, located in the upper left hand corner of the Browser. 

For more information about the Lockdown Browser, see the LockDown Browser + Respondus Monitor support webpage.