Respondus LockDown Browser - Swipe or Trackpad Gesture Lock Out

Respondus LockDown Browser - Swipe or Trackpad Gesture Lock Out

Students will get a warning message about a Swipe Gesture, which occurs when a swipe gesture is detected on a laptop's touchpad (or possibly a specific type of external mouse) by LockDown Browser, and if their behaviour is repeated, LockDown Browser will kick the student out of the exam. By monitoring for swipe gestures, Respondus aims to deter students from trying to access unauthorized materials during an exam by switching to other applications on their device.

The current "swipe away" detection work flow is as follows in Respondus LockDown Browser:

  1. The first time LockDown Browser detects a swipe away, a warning is given. The student can then return to their exam. But they're not able to access any app in the background for more than a second or two.
  2. When the second swipe away is detected by LockDown Browser, the LockDown Browser session is ended after first presenting a notice to the student. Again, the student isn't given more than a second or two before the message appears.
  3. When LockDown Browser is started again on the computer, LockDown Browser sends a swipe away message to the Dashboard, so as to inform the instructor.

The message looks similar to this:

example-of-lockdownbrowser-student-exit

This can also occur if they use the ALT/TAB key combination.

Once a student is kicked out of the Canvas quiz, as long as there is still time left for the student to take it, they should be able to go back in and complete it.

 We RECOMMEND that you either use a mouse or turn off these gestures when taking a test in Canvas on a device using a trackpad.

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