Respondus

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What is Respondus Test manager?

Respondus Test manager is an easy-to use test management software that is used to create tests. You can also import tests from your publishers test bank. It enables faculty to create tests using a wizard and then administer these tests to students in Respondus Lockdown Browser.

Download Respondus Test Manager.

For students, you direct them to the Current Students section on the main ASTATE website, where they can be download the Respondus LockDown Browser before taking their assessment.
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What is Respondus LockDown Browser?
Respondus LockDown Browser is a customized browser that increases the security of online testing in the Blackboard Learning System. When students use Respondus LockDown Browser to access an assessment, they are unable to print, copy, go to another URL, or access other applications. Students are locked into an assessment until it is submitted for grading. The lockdown browser is a browser used exclusively with Blackboard 8.
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Creating Tests...

When a test is created in Respondus test manager, it is uploaded into Blackboard. It is then made available in Blackboard by the faculty member. Students must download the lockdown browser and can ONLY take the test in the lockdown browser to create a locked down testing environment.

Respondus LockDown browser creates a locked down environment for test taking by making sure that:

  • Print Screen and capturing functions are disabled
  • Task switching or access to other applications is prevented
  • Assessments are displayed full screen and cannot be minimized
  • Assessments cannot be exited until submitted by users for grading
  • Printing functions are disabled
  • Copying and pasting anything to and from an assessment is prohibited
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System Requirements for Respondus LockDown Browser

Operating Systems
Windows: Vista, XP, ME, 2000, 98
Macintosh: OS X 10.3.9 or higher

Memory
Windows: 128 MB RAM
Macintosh: 512 MB RAM

Hard Disk Space
Windows: 3 MB of free hard disk space
Macintosh: 2 MB of free hard disk space

Download Time
Windows: The file size is approximately 3 MB, which should take less than 2 minutes to download on a standard Internet connection.
Macintosh: The file size is approximately 1 MB, which should take less than 1 minute to download on a standard Internet connection.

Browser Requirements
Windows Users: Internet Explorer 6 or higher must be configured to the minimum requirements for the Course Management System being used (it does NOT have to be the default browser on the computer). If applicable, Internet Explorer must be able to pass the Course Management System's browser check.

Macintosh Users: The Safari browser must be configured to the minimum requirements for the Course Management System being used (it does NOT have to be the default browser for the computer).

Please Note: Do not use wireless connections when taking tests in Respondus LockDown Browser.

Students should use a computer that is connected to the Internet through a high-speed wired connection. It is not recommended that the student take tests on a computer with a wireless connection to the Internet because it is very possible that they will lose connection during their test.
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Course Management Systems

Respondus LockDown Browser integrates with the following course management systems:

  • Blackboard Learning System 6.3 or higher (Basic and Enterprise)
  • WebCT CE 4.0 - 8.x
  • WebCT Vista 3.0 - 8.x
  • Desire2Learn Learning Environment 8.13 or higher

If you would like hands on training visit the Online Tutorials section for a short video or come by and see us.
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Understanding the difference between Respondus LockDown Browser and Respondus Test Manager

Respondus 3.5 Campus wide (Test Manager) is a test management software, used by faculty to create tests, quizzes, exams and surveys to administer to students.

Respondus Lockdown Browser is a web browser exclusively for Blackboard used by students to access and take tests created by their professors.

Respondus will only work with Blackboard 8.

There are three (1) (2) (3) software applications involved that work together.

  1. Respondus has a test manager and
  2. Blackboard 8 has a test manager. Both allow you to create/originate tests within their respective test manager application.
  3. The Respondus Lockdown browser is a real browser like internet explorer to connect users to the internet - except it is designed to work with Blackboard only.

When using the Respondus test manager, there is an additional step that must be taken. The test must be "published" or loaded into the Blackboard course shell.

Regardless from which test manager a test originates from, when a test is loaded into a course and is to be taken by students it can also have Respondus enabled or disabled to work with it. You can set or reset enablement by going to the Control Panel, select the Respondus Lockdown Browser option and then by modifying the setting of the test selected to activate it or deactivate it. This process will automatically add "MUST BE TAKEN WITH RESPONDUS LOCKDOWN BROWSER" to the test title.

When Respondus is enabled and the test has the MUST TAKE WITH..... extension on the title, a student will not be allowed to take the test without the lockdown browser. The student must log off of Blackboard first and then start the Respondus lockdown browser. At that point the student would login to Blackboard to take the test.

In summary, the steps are as follows:
1. Create the test in Bb8 test manager. Or create a test in Respondus 3.5 Campus wide (Test Manager) and publish it to Blackboard.
2. Set up the test availability in Blackboard.
3. The student then takes the test on the chosen day through Respondus Lockdown browser.