Computer Exam Recommendations

Syllabus & Expectations 

• Communication: Include all exam dates, required software (Canvas, Zoom, LockDown Browser, etc.), and contingency plans in your syllabus. Clearly communicate expectations to students on how the computer exams will function, and how students will be accommodated if issues related to technology access or failures arise.  
  • Students can reach out to Student Tech Support if they have technology-related questions.   

• Run a Practice Quiz: Provide a low-stakes or non-graded practice assessment at least two weeks prior to exam day so students can test their software and personal devices.
  • If using LockDown Browser, ensure all students are using the most up-to-date version of the software. There is a student guide available: UBC Respondus LockDown Browser Student Guide | Learning Technology Hub   

• Room & Power Outlets: If the computer exam is in person, inform your administrator about the need for scheduling your course in a room with electrical power.  

Scheduling & Time Limits 

• Exam Duration: Match the Canvas quiz time limit to your scheduled exam duration. 

• Buffer Times: Set the Available From time to the exact start of the exam but extend the Available Until time by 10-30 minutes. This buffer provides room to handle technical disruptions without granting extra writing time. 

Computer exams have higher academic integrity risks. Handling potential integrity violations is problematic and challenging. Instructors should consult with their Associate Deans or Heads to understand best practices and how academic integrity cases are handled.  

To reduce network strain and minimize technical issues during the exam: 

• Display All Questions on One Page: Avoid forcing Canvas to load a new page for every question, which increases WiFi traffic and risk of loading errors. 

• Optimize Media: Minimize the use of large images or high-resolution graphics. 

• Use an Access Code: Require a password to enter the exam for in-person delivery and reveal it only when exam writing begins. This step will require that students be present to gain access.   

• Allow Multiple Re-entry Attempts: Enable settings that allow students to log back in if their connection drops briefly. 

• Confirmation of Submission: Advise students to not to leave the exam until they have confirmed their exam is submitted.  

Additional resources: 

• Zoom: Exam Invigilation Checklist 

• Invigilating with Zoom   

• Assessment for Learning Resources (CTL)   

• Designing Assessments for Integrity   

Exam Delivery Options & Integrity Risks 

1. Supervise the room actively. TAs circulate, watching for anyone closing laptops, packing up early, or appearing to exit mid-attempt. 
2. Do not rely on IP or location restrictions. Campus WiFi subnets span large areas and cannot confine students to one room. Instead consider doing a check-in list or doing an ID check at the beginning of the exam to ensure no students are attempting the exam from outside the classroom. 

Instructor Setup Instructions 

1. Enable RLB in Canvas: Go to Settings → Navigation, drag LockDown Browser into the active menu, and click Save. 
2. Configure Quiz Settings: Open the LockDown Browser dashboard in Canvas, locate your quiz, and select Require Respondus LockDown Browser. 
3. Lock Browser Settings: Under Advanced Settings, check “Lock students into the browser until exam is completed”. This setting ensures students’ attempts will be ended if they attempt to leave Respondus LockDown Browser and is crucial to ensure security in your exam. 

Advanced Security Options (Not Recommended for Large Exam Settings) 

Before the Exam 

1. In your Canvas course menu, navigate to LockDown Browser. 
2. Click the drop-down arrow next to your quiz and select Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam. 
3. Set an Access Code: Under “Password Settings”, enter a password in the Access code for this exam (optional) field. 

   
   Do not publish or share this access code in Canvas beforehand; it should only be provided verbally or written on the board at the start of the exam.
   
   

4. Lock the Browser: Expand Advanced Settings and check Lock students into the browser until exam is completed. 
5. Set an Early Exit Password (Optional): Enter a secondary password in the Password to close browser and exit exam early (optional) field. 

   
   Keep this password confidential. Invigilators will enter this code manually if a student submits early and needs to close the browser before time expires.
   
   

6. Configure Availability Buffers: Because manually verifying students takes time, set your Canvas quiz Time Limit to the actual writing duration, but set the Available Until time 30+ minutes later. This buffer ensures late-starting students still get their full allotted time without affecting the quiz timer. 

During the Exam 

1. Verify the student’s photo ID and confirm their device is running Respondus LockDown Browser. Before providing the access code, confirm all three of the following elements are visible on the student’s screen: 
   1. Full-Screen Browser: Respondus is running full-screen with no taskbars, desktop icons, or other apps visible. 
   2. Canvas Quiz Page: The active window is the Canvas quiz page. 
   3. Access Code Prompt: The Respondus password field is actively displayed.
2. Once all three criteria are confirmed, provide the access code. Watch the student enter the code to verify it successfully loads the Canvas quiz questions.
   If a student is using a fake Respondus LockDown Browser, they will not be able to proceed past this authentic Canvas prompt.
   
   
3. Actively monitor the room throughout the session to ensure students do not use secondary devices to share the access code with an external person. 
4. At the end of the exam, have students sign out and if an early exit password has been setup, only share it then. 

While the UBC Okanagan Library has technology loans available, including laptops and adapters, these do not contain Respondus LockDown Browser and it cannot be installed by students using the device. Please note, there are also a limited number of laptops (30) that are available first-come first-serve, and students may not have access to a laptop at the time of the class.   

If students require a campus computer with Respondus pre-installed, instructors can book or direct students to the following computer labs: 

Booking: Contact academic.scheduling@ubc.ca for curriculum-based exams or submit an AdHoc request via BookSpace. 

A list of all the software installed on the labs can be found here: https://it.ok.ubc.ca/services/computers-printers/labs/lab-details/

• Notify Support Early: Submit a ticket to the CTL Helpdesk at least 48 hours (preferably 1 week) in advance with your exam date, time, location, and student count. CTL will coordinate with IT services to share this information.  
• In practice, CTL and IT services are not able to respond in real-time to resolve any technology related issue that affects the entire class (e.g., Canvas, WiFi outage) or individual students (e.g. laptop failure, unable to access Canvas). 
• Instructors must have contingency plans (paper exam, backup laptops) for these situations. Adding time to an exam to handle technology issues is possible but may be limited based on room time-slot availability.    

Managing Technical Issues During the Exam 

• Moderate Quiz in Canvas: Keep the Moderate Quiz page open on your instructor device to monitor progress, extend time, or grant extra attempts in real time. (Do not edit settings on the main Quiz Details page while an exam is in progress). 

• Troubleshooting Student Devices: If a student’s personal laptop fails or freezes, have them restart the machine. If unresolved, transition them to a spare lab machine or provide an alternative paper copy. 

UBC Secure WiFi Bandwidth and Connectivity:   

• UBC IT Okanagan (UBCO IT) cannot guarantee WiFi network bandwidth and connectivity.   

• The UBC Secure WiFi service is configured to allow multiple connections. 

• Available bandwidth is divided among all devices/connections. 

• UBCO IT is unable to limit access to ‘UBC Secure’ to only those within the exam environment.  

• There are many people on campus that have multiple devices accessing UBC Secure.   

Canvas and Internet Disruption:   

• Students are notified within Canvas that internet connection has been lost.   

• Any answers submitted after internet connection has been lost will not be retained; students should refrain from continuing the exam until internet connection has been regained.   

• Without internet connection, Canvas will not allow students to move to the next page or the next page will fail to load.   

• The exam timer will continue even though the student has lost internet connection.   

Respondus LockDown Browser (RLB) and Internet Disruption:   

• RLB recommends using a device connected directly to the internet via an ethernet cable.   

• If WiFi is going to be used, RLB recommends avoiding networks with heavy traffic (i.e., open WiFi networks such as UBC Secure).   

• RLB will attempt to re-establish a connection every 5 seconds. 

• If the internet connection is lost for an extended period of time:   

• RLB will lock up – the student will not be able to save answers, move on to other questions, or submit or exit the exam.   

• The student must exit out of RLB, re-establish their internet connection (if necessary), and re-open the exam in RLB.   

• The student may need to turn off and restart their computer if their device has outdated and/or multiple Java installations.   

Other Risks:   

• Student devices may not be in an appropriate working, exam readiness state to successfully complete the exam. 

Computer exams can significantly improve the speed and accuracy of some assessments when integrated with a planned assessment methodology. The risks and issues with computer exams can be mitigated by designing assessments that incorporate randomizing student seating, questions, question-order as well as combining auto and manual grading for more authentic assessments. The technology issues primarily relate to having students complete exams on their own devices (Bring Your Own Device BYOD). CTL supports the development of new pedagogical approaches and technical deployments to improve these exams. As an example, UBCV has developed a computerized testing lab that allows students to write computer exams on devices that are secured, Internet-stable, and can be customized so students can only access certain internet resources as well as physical resources (calculators etc.). This environment satisfies the key requirements of student identity verification and controlled access to resources that is only partially possible with in class computer exams. There are also some solutions that could dramatically help faculty members run assessments in general (both traditional and computer-based). Below are some suggestions that will require coordination from various levels of the university to cooperate to enable:  

• Numbering desks in classrooms to permit instructors to assign students randomized seats to promote academic integrity.   

• Implement student ID card readers for attendance, and to check-in and check-out students from exams   

• Crowd-sourced reports of classrooms where instructors have attempted computer exams as well as any observations of WiFi stability, power availability, invigilation notes, and other logistical issues   

• Expanding the Library laptop loan program to allow instructors to borrow laptop carts for tests, midterms, and final exams (only for use of laptops, not the use of Respondus LockDown Browser)   

• Invest in free and open-source software solutions to help facilitate the creation and administration of computer exams including scheduling, accommodations, extended times, proctoring, and invigilation   

CTL is interested in supporting and working with instructors and administration on how to improve the support for computer exams on campus. For more information, please contact CTL at ctl.ubco@ubc.ca .