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𧩠Respondus Functionality Updates in Blackboard Ultra
Summary:
Respondus LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor are available in Blackboard Ultra. Students still need to install LockDown Browser on their device, but the launch experience in Ultra is different from what many faculty may remember from Original. After any course copy or migration into Ultra, instructors should review each exam in the LockDown Browser Dashboard before students begin. Respondus 4.0 Test Generator is not officially supported for Blackboard Ultra courses.
π What changed in Blackboard Ultra?
Students still need to have Respondus LockDown Browser installed on their computer or iPad before taking an exam that requires it. That part has not changed. What has changed in Ultra is the launch workflow: students now begin in Blackboard Ultra using a standard browser, open the exam, click Start Attempt, and LockDown Browser launches from there. If LockDown Browser is not installed yet, they are prompted to install it.
β
What has not changed
- Students still need the LockDown Browser application installed on their device before taking a LockDown Browser exam.
- If you use the webcam/video proctoring option, that is still handled through Respondus Monitor.
- Faculty should continue using Respondus only for exams where the added security is truly needed.
π What is different in Ultra
In Blackboard Ultra, the student workflow is now:
- Log in to Blackboard using a standard browser such as Chrome (recommended) FireFox (recommended), Edge or Safari.
- Open the course and navigate to the exam.
- Click "Start Attempt".
- If the exam requires LockDown Browser, it launches from there.
- If LockDown Browser is not already installed, the student is prompted to download and install it.
This means students should not be told that they no longer need LockDown Browser. They still need it installed; Ultra simply changes how the exam is launched.
β οΈ Important best practice after course copy or migration
If you copied tests from an Original course into Ultra, do not assume the prior Respondus settings are ready to use automatically.
After any course copy or migration, open the LockDown Browser Dashboard in your Ultra course and verify each exam’s settings before students begin. Respondus and multiple Blackboard institutions recommend this because settings need to be synchronized after copy/migration, and copied assessment settings can sometimes behave unexpectedly.
Check the following for each copied exam:
- LockDown Browser requirement
- Respondus Monitor/webcam requirement, if used
- Password or access code settings
- Availability dates and times
- Any advanced settings you normally use
π₯ Respondus Monitor (webcam/video)
If you plan to use the webcam/video component, make sure Respondus Monitor is enabled for the exam in the LockDown Browser Dashboard. Schools using Blackboard Ultra generally treat Monitor as a separate option faculty enable within the Dashboard, rather than assuming it is automatically part of every LockDown Browser exam.
π Student download link
Students should use CCRI’s Respondus LockDown Browser download link:
https://download.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=573738902
Respondus uses institution-specific download links tied to the school’s ID.
π¬ Suggested student messaging
You can paste the following into your syllabus, exam instructions, or course announcements:
Respondus LockDown Browser Requirement
This exam requires Respondus LockDown Browser. You must have LockDown Browser installed on your computer or iPad before taking the exam.
To begin, log in to Blackboard in your regular web browser, open the exam, and click Start Attempt. LockDown Browser will launch from there. If it is not already installed, you will be prompted to download and install it.
Download LockDown Browser here:https://www.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=573738902
If using webcam/video:
This exam also requires Respondus Monitor. Be sure your webcam is working and allow enough time before the exam to complete any startup checks.
π£ Suggested faculty reminder to students
Before an exam, consider posting a brief course announcement such as:
If your upcoming exam uses Respondus LockDown Browser, please make sure it is installed on your device before the exam. In Blackboard Ultra, you will start the exam from within Blackboard by clicking "Start Attempt", and LockDown Browser will launch from there. If it is not installed, you will be prompted to install it.
π Best practices for faculty
- Review every Respondus-enabled exam in the LockDown Browser Dashboard after any course copy or migration.
- Do a quick test of the exam settings before students begin.
- If using Respondus Monitor, verify webcam settings separately.
- Do not rely on Respondus 4.0 Test Generator as a normal Blackboard Ultra workflow.
β οΈRespondus 4.0 Test Generator
Respondus 4.0 is not officially supported for use with Blackboard Ultra courses. Although limited publishing to Ultra may work in some cases, Respondus notes that retrieval is not supported. For that reason, faculty should not plan to use Respondus 4.0 as a regular exam-authoring or management workflow in Ultra. Support for Blackboard Learn Ultra
Recommendation: Faculty should not plan to use Respondus 4.0 as a regular exam-authoring or management workflow in Ultra. Support for Blackboard Learn Ultra.
π Related resources
Respondus official articles
Examples from other Blackboard Ultra institutions