Respondus System Out of Pilot and Open to All

In the last half of the Spring 2020 semester, the University of Hartford conducted a pilot of the Respondus system. It is a system designed to ensure academic integrity with tests and quizzes given remotely through Blackboard. A handful of classes in multiple departments have tested the use of Respondus Monitor and Blackboard tests and quizzes. The University has decided to move forward with Respondus Monitor and agreed to license the product. The license is for the entire 2021 academic year, starting with Summer 2020

At the core of the system is a special web browser that is required to take the Blackboard tests and quizzes. Students do need to install this free browser to take the test. LockDown Browser®, unlike other browsers, does what its name implies; it locks down the testing environment to only Blackboard. The test taker cannot do things such as switching programs, copy/paste, or printing. There are some features that instructors can add, like access to a calculator or allowing them to print.

There is an additional option called Respondus Monitor. Respondus Monitor requires a webcam for the test taker and records the student's test session. Respondus Monitor's Artificial Intelligence analyzes the video file to identify patterns and anomalies associated with cheating and flags them for the instructor to review.

One of the main reasons the University chose this specific product was over concerns about student privacy. Unlike other systems in the marketplace, Respondus Monitor mimics the classroom experience the best. No third-party proctors are watching the student, and the only human eyes that see the video feed are of the instructor. This situation is comparable to the student taking the test in the classroom with the faculty member watching.

If you are interested in learning more about the system, you can visit the campus Respondus Support page at the following address. There you will find documentation on how to use the system as well as resources that you will need to share with your students. Please note that FCLD is not currently supporting this system.

https://bit.ly/UHART-Respondus

Make sure to become a member of the group to stay up to date on the news and documentation of Respondus at the University of Hartford. Also, some resources are only available to members, like the webinar calendar. 

You can always email the Respondus Support Team at respondus@hartford.edu at any time.