Proctoring Tools in Canvas

Respondus Lockdown Browser

Respondus Resources & Guides – Link

Supported Devices – Windows, Mac, and iPad

NOTE: Respondus Lockdown Browser Chromebook compatibility is currently in beta, but not formally supported as of yet.

Exclusive Features

•Can be used on iPads via the Respondus Lockdown Browser app (must be enabled on the per-quiz basis)

•Compatible with the New Quiz Tool*

•Fully locks down the student's device while running

As the name implies, the Respondus proctoring tool runs as its own internet browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Students will not be able to access any other programs or windows while the Respondus Lockdown Browser is running. They will be brought directly to the Canvas login page upon launching the browser, after which they can navigate through Canvas like usual. If they try to begin their quiz outside of the Respondus Lockdown Browser, they will not be allowed to begin their quiz. On quiz startup, Respondus will ask permission to automatically shut down certain functions and programs on the student's device. Note that some functionality, such as screenshotting or pop-up notifications on Macs, may not be automatically restored upon finishing the quiz. Restarting the device will usually restore these services.

*Respondus Lockdown Browser supports the New Quiz Tool as of August 2020. However, there have still been some lingering bugs and inconsistencies when these options are used together, so it is still highly recommended that you use the Classic Quiz Tool for your proctored quizzes.

If you are using the New Quiz Tool and Respondus together, there is currently a known issue affecting the entire UW System where students can't access their proctored New Quiz Tool quizzes through their university's Canvas login page. This stems from the fact that Canvas and Respondus are licensed through the UW System, not through the individual universities. When we log in to Canvas through the UWP website, it goes to a Parkside-specific Canvas address (uwpks.instructure.com). However, Respondus looks for the generic UW System address (uws.instructure.com) because that's who the license is attributed to. Respondus is aware of this problem and hopes to have it resolved in October 2020 if all goes well. 

In the meantime, your students should be able to access their proctored New Quiz Tool quizzes by logging in with the following URL: uws.instructure.com

Honorlock

Honorlock Resources & Guides – Link

Supported Devices – Windows, Mac, and Chromebook

Exclusive Features

•Has 24/7 live chat support for students and instructors

•Can allow students to bypass the proctoring requirement via a password from the instructor if necessary

•Allows instructors to create settings presets and apply them to other quizzes

•Can automatically generate & publish a brief practice quiz so students can test Honorlock on their device

•Supports File Upload question types

Due to the incompatibility between Respondus and Chromebooks, Parkside acquired Honorlock as a proctoring alternative. Honorlock runs as a browser extension within the Google Chrome web browser, so students will need to use Chrome to take their quiz. As a result of this, the Honorlock download is much smaller and faster to install compared to Respondus. The Honorlock extension does not do anything unless the user is actively taking an Honorlock-enabled quiz, so there shouldn't be any privacy concerns about keeping the extension active in their Google Chrome browser. However, students can freely delete or deactivate the extension after they finish their quizzes with no negative effects if they prefer to do so. Canvas will ask the student for a password if they try to begin an Honorlock-enabled quiz without Honorlock properly running. You can choose to give a student this password in emergency situations where proctoring isn't an available option on their end. 

Since Honorlock is contained within Google Chrome, it cannot fully lock down their device while taking their quiz. However, it can prevent the student from having additional Chrome tabs or windows open, as well as recording their screen if the setting is enabled to do so. Between these functions, the optional webcam monitoring, and being able to identify whether a student is actively working on their quiz or not, Honorlock can still provide accurate detection of academic misconduct even without fully locking down the student's device. Overall, Honorlock provides more flexibility while still providing the same proctoring capabilities.

How They Work

Both Respondus and Honorlock use automated proctoring. If there is suspected academic misconduct during a student's quiz attempt, the proctoring service will flag their attempt for the instructor to review. It will be up to the instructor to determine what, if any, action is taken for flagged footage. Footage being flagged does not automatically indicate that academic misconduct has occurred.

Both proctoring tools are free to faculty and students. Enabling one of the tools on a quiz will automatically add its respective download link to the quiz description. Honorlock can also be found through an internet search or on the Google Chrome extension storefront.

There can only be one proctoring tool active at a time for a quiz. Enabling both options on a single quiz would make the it inaccessible since the proctoring tools would prevent each other from working. 

Here are some of the features that both of these services provide, most of which are optional:

• Device/browser lockdown
• Prevents students from accessing other programs or websites during their quiz unless otherwise specified in the proctoring settings. Both tools will require students to close most other programs on their device when the quiz start-up process begins. Honorlock can't fully lock a device since it is contained within Google Chrome, but it can prevent other internet tabs from being opened as well as providing other proctoring options such as screen recording and webcam monitoring.
  
  
• Webcam audio & video proctoring
• Both services use artificial intelligence to perform automated scans for suspicious activity such as talking to someone or leaving the room during the quiz. The footage is deleted after a set period of time and is not viewable by any third parties.
  
  
• Records the student's screen while taking their quiz
  
  
• Pre-quiz room scan (requires webcam monitoring)
  
  
• Student photo (requires webcam monitoring)
• There is an additional option that is turned on by default that asks students to show an ID before taking their quiz. Keep in mind that not every student may know where their university ID is or even have one if they are fully remote.
  
  
• Disabling copying, pasting, or printing
• Honorlock will inform you if a student tried to copy, paste, or screenshot their quiz
  
  
• On-screen calculator