Online exams can run smoothly when both instructors and students are well-prepared.
This guide walks you through the key steps to set up and deliver an exam using Canvas Quizzes with Respondus LockDown Browser.
1. Use the Syllabus template
Start early by setting clear expectations. Insert language into your syllabus page reminding your students to:
- Prepare for Canvas exams by updating their devices and testing the LockDown Browser.
- Review the Canvas exam instructions before exam day.
- Contact support in advance if they anticipate technical challenges.
Embedding this information in your syllabus helps ensure students are ready and reduces stress during the exam.
2. Set up the exam
Once the contents of the exam is ready in Canvas Quizzes:
- Select the setting to Require Respondus LockDown Browser in the quiz settings.
- Double-check availability dates, time limits, and submission rules.
- Use Canvas’ preview feature to confirm everything looks correct from a student’s perspective.
For a step-by-step overview on setting up your exam, a guide is available to you below.
Step by step guide
- From your Canvas course, click Quizzes in the Course Navigation menu. Click the + Quiz > Classic Quizzes > Submit. We recommend that Canvas exams are set up using Classic Quizzes instead of New Quizzes as they are more reliable.
- Fill out the Quiz Details and Questions. Select the box marked Require Respondus LockDown Browser. It is recommended that you Require an access code as well.
You can enable Lockdown Browser for use in your Canvas course by adding it to your Course Navigation menu. This step is necessary to use LockDown Browser in Canvas.
- Click Settings in the Course Navigation menu.
- Click the Navigation tab.
- Find the "LockDown Browser" menu item, select the options menu (the 3 vertical dots), and click Enable.
- Save your setting changes by clicking the button at the bottom of the page.
You will now see the Lockdown Browser option in your Course Navigation menu. This navigation item is for managing the use of LockDown Browser in the course and will not be visible to students.
- From your Course Navigation menu, click on LockDown Browser (A) > Scroll until you find your desired quiz > Click on the arrow (B) > Click Settings (C).
- Enable Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam (A) > Click on Advanced Settings (B).
- Enable Lock students into the browser until exam is completed (A).
- In the section Password to close browser and exit exam early (optional), enter a Proctor Exit Password (B). While this is marked as optional, it is highly recommended (especially if you have students taking the exam on an iPad). A Proctor Exit password is set up to help students exit the LockDown Browser application during the assessment if they face any technical issues. Proctor Exit password should be administrated by exam invigilators. Students should not know the password.
- Click Save + Close (C)
3. Send the Exam Practice Run to students
The experience of an online exam can be optimized by giving your students a chance to try out LockDown Browser and confirm ahead of the exam that there are no issues using it on their device.
Encourage your students to enroll in the Arts ISIT Exam Practice Run. This practice environment allows students to install and run LockDown Browser on their computer. To access this course, students can self-enrol on Canvas using the above link. We would also recommend referring to the user guides on our LockDown Browser tool page.
We recommend sending the Exam Practice Run to your students at least a week before the exam takes place.
Additionally, setting up a practice quiz that has similar settings to your exam will ensure students can troubleshoot potential issues beforehand, reducing the possibility of any unforeseen technical issues on the day of the exam.
4. Request an Exam Settings Review
Arts ISIT offers an Exam Settings Review where we go over your exam settings and ensure everything is properly set up.
This technical review of your online exam catches avoidable issues that may affect your online exam delivery. If there are any issues with your exam, our team works with you to make the required adjustments to ensure a smooth delivery.
5. Staggering start times (130+ students)
For courses that have 130+ students, it is recommended to stagger the start times of the exam by at least five minutes apart per group of students. This will help with performance and reduce load issues of the exam in Canvas. Please contact us for assistance on how to bulk assign your students for your upcoming exam.
6. Prepare to deliver your exam
In preparation for exam day, instructors can prepare for exam delivery through the following actions:
- Review our troubleshooting guide: We share helpful advice on how to troubleshoot the most likely technical difficulties and how to get help if you cannot resolve the issues on your own. We recommend that you bookmark or keep this page handy before beginning the exam in case any issues arise.
- Review best practices: Revisit our tips for online exam delivery.
- Bring paper copies of the exam: It’s important to have a back-up plan in case something goes wrong with the online exam. We recommend keeping a few paper copies of the exam. Arts ISIT can generate a PDF version of your Canvas Quiz.
