This semester, I used the Respondus LockDown Browser system to take my midterm exam in INF101, and also my first exam in MKT463. It was my first time using the browser for an exam. For those who may not have heard of or used this browser before, Respondus LockDown is meant to prevent students from opening up other tabs to look for answers or any other purposes while taking an exam online. The browser has good intentions to say the least, but I found that the system is far from perfect.
First of all, it’s difficult to try and get the system downloaded onto an Apple Mac laptop, which is the computer that I, and most likely, other students, use for homework and other college-related subjects. Even a few of my professors, including Professor Megan Wilson of INF 101 and Professor Sarah Lefebvre of MKT 463, have told me that the browser doesn’t work 100% on a Mac Computer. So, right away, I could already sense that this new browser would be problematic to say the least.
Thankfully, Professor Lefebvre offered a solution to me and the other students in the class by letting us know the library had special laptops already equipped with the Respondus LockDown Browser. Sounds like crisis averted, but that sadly isn’t the case. While I did appreciate the fact that the browser takes you right to Canvas after clicking on the icon, the loading times in-between clicking on the different areas leading to the exam can be rather infuriating. Though to be fair, that could also be the result of the special laptop I was using.
On the topic of waiting time, it’s even worse whenever you have to set up the configurations for the laptop camera. For my first exam in MKT 463, myself and other students had to also implement use of the front-facing camera that’s built into the laptop and utilized by Respondus LockDown. Along with setting up the camera, there’s also a series of questions that the system asks you before even starting the exam, which can take an extra bit of time to complete. This is most troublesome in the situation where you only have a set amount of time to take the exam before either going to your next class or if something else important is coming up.
I suppose the camera is needed so that the professor in charge could check to see if a student was checking their phone for possible answers, since they wouldn’t be able to open another tab on the browser. In that case, if whoever’s in charge is dead-set on making sure that nobody is trying to cheat on the exam by using the internet or other sources, then why not simply have the exam take place in the classroom where they can keep an eye on the students as they take the exam? I can at least understand this not being possible with an online class where the professor and students may not be able to meet face-to-face. But if it’s with a class where students and the professor already meet in a classroom weekly, then what’s the point? Implementing the Respondus System in a situation like this is simply an overcomplicated solution to a simple problem. It would be like using a sledgehammer to nail a picture on the wall of your house.
As for an alternate solution for taking exams with the Respondus Browser, aside from simply having exams in class like usual, I would suggest taking your exam at the testing center in Wells Hall. They provide a nice and quiet space for exam taking, and also have people there to look over students to make sure no cheating is going on; whether during a written or online exam. Also, if possible, talk with your professor about any other possible alternative solutions. I do believe that Respondus LockDown was made with the best intentions, but it unfortunately makes the test-taking process more stressful than it already is.