Lock In Your Assessment And Assignment Security With LockDown Browser

@LisaBerghoff

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." I read A Tale Of Two Cities when I was in high school. It was required reading. I didn't love it. I also didn't really understand most of it until I decided to reread it as an adult. While we are not experiencing the French Revolution, we are certainly experiencing a time of contradictions in education. We have new AI tools coming at us at a frantic speed while also understanding the need for our students to have their own thoughts, ideas, and understanding of the new content they are learning. We want to be innovative, to encourage utilizing resources and maximizing what we have at our fingertips, while also clinging to our own experiences of teaching and learning. 

This duality can be frustrating when we need to plan for a group of eager and not so eager students in our classrooms everyday. Here is a perfect opportunity to practice dialectical thinking, a way of accepting that two things can be true at the same time, even when they seem to contradict one another.

I generally intend for this blog to push the boundaries and promote innovation and newness. Today, I'm pulling it back a bit to highlight a tool that I first wrote about in 2018 and haven't highlighted since 2021. I'm excited to share information about LockDown Browser in Schoology. 

What Is LockDown Browser?

LockDown Browser is a custom browser that integrates with Schoology to lock down a testing or assignment environment, preventing students from accessing other applications, websites, or files. When lockdown browser is enabled, students are unable to print, copy, visit other websites, access other applications, or close an assessment or assignment until it has been submitted. I say assessments AND assignments but in Schoology, it only works with the assessment tool on your materials page. However, you can use those assessments as assignments whenever you want, it's really a matter of semantics.

How Does LockDown Browser Work?

Step 1: Create your assessment in Schoology and deploy it to your course.

Step 2: Select the LockDown Browser dashboard on the left side menu of Schoology. You will see a list of your assessments. Here is where you can configure the LockDown Browser settings. 

Step 3: Have students click on the assessment. LockDown Browser will launch automatically.

Within LockDown Browser, there is a getting started guide, video tutorials, as well as guides and support. 

Here is the dashboard:

It is HIGHLY recommended that you have students use their school-issued chromebooks when using LockDown Browser. If you allow students to use their own devices, they will need to download the program. 

There are several options within LockDown Browser. If the choices seem confusing, just hover your mouse over them and an explanation will appear. 

Here is an introductory video for students that explains what they need to do.

I have many thoughts on students cheating. I have thoughts on why they cheat, how they cheat, and what would get them to stop cheating. I welcome any conversation about this topic. Until we have some sort of a solution, it's good to know we have LockDown Browser. The fact that it is embedded within Schoology makes it even more secure and easier to use.

Want some help getting started?

Just let me know. I am always happy to help.