Use the Pearson LockDown Browser

The Pearson LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within a learning system. It prevents students from printing, copying, accessing other applications, opening other browser windows, or searching the internet during an online test or quiz.

For example, when taking a test using LockDown Browser, students cannot:

  • Navigate away from the assignment.
  • Open their device's calculator.

Within LockDown Browser, you can allow students to access a built-in calculator and StatCrunch for statistics questions. You can edit the assignment settings to allow question help when students review the test or quiz.

LockDown Browser must be enabled in your course settings and then applied to individual tests or quizzes.

LockDown Browser is available for PC, Mac, and Chromebook. It cannot be used with mobile devices.

The Pearson LockDown Browser is a separate application installed on a PC or Mac. It is an extension installed on a Chromebook.

The first time students take a locked-down test or quiz, they are prompted to install LockDown Browser. They see:

The lockdown browser message.

Students must have administrative rights to their computer to install LockDown Browser and launch it for subsequent assignments. They only have to install the LockDown Browser once.

Learn how students install the LockDown Browser.

For tests on school computers, LockDown Browser should be installed before it is needed by students.

  • Lab admins for Windows and MacOS can use executable files to install LockDown Browser in computer labs.
  • Lab admins for ChromeOS can update settings to allow automatic or manual extension downloads to install LockDown Browser in computer labs.

Learn about installation for lab administrators in the Pearson Installation Guide.

  1. Go to the Edit Course wizard, Learning Aids and Test Options.
  2. Select Use the Pearson LockDown Browser in this course.
  3. Select More Options to grant access to applications that your lab admins use to remotely manage the computer system. (This does not apply to ChromeOS devices since custom applications are not allowed.) If you're not sure which applications to allow, ask your campus lab admins.
  4. Optionally select Use automated proctoring to choose a proctoring tool to remotely monitor and record student work. See Use Respondus Monitor Proctoring for details.
  1. Go step 3 of the assignment wizard for an individual assignment or go to the Change Settings for Multiple Assignments page.
  2. Under Access Controls, choose:
    • Require the Pearson LockDown Browser
    • Require LockDown Browser only - lock down the test or quiz, but do not enable remote monitoring and recording. This option displays when your course includes proctoring.
    • Require LockDown Browser with Respondus Monitor Proctoring - builds upon Lockdown Browser by adding webcam proctoring to remotely monitor and record students taking an online test or quiz in the Pearson LockDown Browser. This option displays when your course includes Respondus Monitor Proctoring.
  3. Choose whether to allow students to use a basic or a scientific calculator.
  4. Under Presentation Options, Learning Aids, choose any question help options that students can use when they review. If it is enabled for the course, you can select StatCrunch to allow students to access statistical data needed to do the test or quiz.

You can import locked-down assignments into another course. However, the copied assignments are not locked down in the target course unless LockDown Browser is also enabled there.

The Pearson LockDown Browser does not work with the JAWS screen reader. To work around this restriction, you can:

  • Temporarily remove the locked restriction and have your visually impaired students take the test or quiz before the other students begin.
  • Copy the test and remove the locked restriction for your visually impaired students. Then manually enter the results for the copied test into the gradebook for the original, locked test and remove the copied test results.

Watch: Secure Testing (5:00)

 

See also: Restrict tests and quizzes to specific IP addresses