Enabling Lockdown Browser for an Exam in Blackboard Learn Ultra

This guide is for Learn Ultra. For setting up Lockdown Browser in Learn Original, click here.

Respondus Lockdown Browser is a special browser that prevents students from copying and pasting text, taking screenshots, or opening other webpages or applications while taking an online test or survey in Blackboard.  Additionally, instructors can also use Respondus Monitor to record audio and video of the test taker during the test, allowing instructors to confirm student identity and serve as a greater deterrent to cheating.  In Learn Ultra, students will navigate to the exam in their standard web browser, which will prompt students to launch the exam in Lockdown Browser.

Using iPads and the Lockdown Browser app is now enabled by default for exams using Respondus Lockdown Browser. However, if faculty are using proctoring features, the use of Respondus Monitor must be granted as a separate permission.

Modifying Exam Settings

image of a test in a Blackboard Learn Ultra course with an arrow pointing to the test title

Settings for Respondus Lockdown Browser can be found in the test settings. To access the test settings, click on the title for the test you would like to edit.

image of the test settings in blackboard learn ultra

Click on the cog icon in the Assessment Settings panel in the upper right corner to modify settings.

image showing the Assessment Settings menu open to the Assessment Settings menu with the Respondus Lockdown Browser Dashboard link highlighed.

Under the Assessment Security heading, click on the Respondus Lockdown Browser Dashboard link. This link will open the Lockdown Browser Dashboard where you can apply the settings.

Selecting a Test

Image of the Respondus Lockdown Browser Dashboard with an arrow pointing to the button to the left of a test name. A menu is open with Modify Instructons outlined with a red circle.

You will now see a screen labeled Respondus Lockdown Browser Dashboard that lists the tests in your Blackboard Course.  To enable Respondus Lockdown Browser, click on the button to the left of the test name you wish to enable the Lockdown Browser for (1), and choose Settings (2)

Enabling Respondus Lockdown Browser

Image of the Lockdown Browser settings screen with the following annotations: 1.Lockdown Browser Settings: Select "Require Respondus Lockdown Browser for this exam" to enable Lockdown Browser.  The screen will expand to provide options for password settings. If you wish to not enter a password, press Save and Close at the bottom.2.Password Settings: If you wish to require a password to access the exam, enter the password in this space.3.Advanced Settings: Click this header to expand this section to show the following options:4.Lock students into the browser until exam is completed. Selecting this option will prevent students from closing the browser. Selecting this option will expand to show an additional option to enter a password to allow students to exit the exam early. With this item unselected, the default behavior is to require students to type a reason for exiting the exam5.Allow students to take this exam with an iPad: Select this option to allow students to take the exam on their iPads using the Lockdown Browser app.6.Allow specific students to access this exam with screen readers: This option allows selected students to use screen readers when taking the exam. Selecting this option will expand the section to show a text box where usernames can be entered, separated by commas.7.The screen will now expand to ask if you want to monitor the test using a webcam.  If you do not want to use a webcam, choose the option labeled "Don't require Respondus Monitor for this exam.8.When you are finished, Click Save and Close.
  1. Lockdown Browser Settings: Select "Require Respondus Lockdown Browser for this exam" to enable Lockdown Browser.  The screen will expand to provide options for Password Settings and Advanced Settings
  2. Advanced Settings: Click this header to expand this section to show the following options:
  3. Lock students into the browser until exam is completed: Selecting this option will prevent students from closing the browser. Selecting this option will expand to show an additional option to enter a password to allow students to exit the exam early.  With this item unselected, the default behavior is to require students to type a reason for exiting the exam
  4. Allow access to specific external web domains: Select this option to allow students to access approved websites during the exam
  5. Enable Calculator on the toolbar: Select this option to enable the use of an on-screen calculator
  6. Enable Printing from the toolbar: Select this option to allow prenting.
  7. The screen will now expand to ask if you want to monitor the test using a webcam.  If you do not want to use a webcam, choose the option labeled "Don't require Respondus Monitor for this exam.
  8. When you are finished, Click Save and Close.

Finishing Up

Image of the Lockdown Browser dashboard with an arrow pointing to the X in the upper right hand corner

Once you have enabled Lockdown Browser, click the X button in the upper right hand corner to close the Lockdown Browser Dashboard.

Image of the Assessment Settings page with an arrow pointing to the Save button.

The text under the Respondus section under Assessment Security will be updated to read: Students will need to use Respondus Lockdown Browser to complete thes Assessment.

When you are finished, click the Save button to save the Lockdown Browser requirement.

Image of the exam link in the content view with the Proctored tag on screen.

After you save the exam settings, you will return to the course content view. A Proctored tag will appear next to the exam due date indicating the Lockdown Browser requirement has been enabled.