Respondus Lockdown Browser vs Honorlock: Implications for Students & How to Avoid Accusations
Respondus Lockdown Browser vs Honorlock: What Students Need to Know and How to Protect Yourself
Online exams have become a standard part of education, especially with remote learning on the rise. To ensure academic integrity, schools and universities often require students to use online proctoring tools such as Respondus Lockdown Browser or Honorlock. While these tools help prevent cheating, they also raise concerns for students regarding privacy, false accusations, and technical difficulties.
This article will explore the differences between Respondus Lockdown Browser and Honorlock, the risks students face when using these tools, and what to do if you’re accused of cheating.
Respondus Lockdown Browser vs Honorlock: What's the Difference?
Respondus Lockdown Browser and Honorlock are both widely used proctoring tools, but they operate differently:
Respondus Lockdown Browser:
Locks down your device, preventing access to other applications, websites, or functions.
Does not allow copying, printing, or taking screenshots during an exam.
Requires students to remain within the exam window, making it impossible to multitask or access unauthorized materials.
Some institutions use Respondus Monitor, which records students through a webcam during the exam for review by the instructor.
Honorlock:
In addition to locking down the browser, Honorlock uses AI-driven monitoring and live proctors to supervise exams.
Monitors your screen activity and browser usage while using the webcam to track eye movement, facial recognition, and suspicious behavior.
Can detect if a student attempts to access test banks, unauthorized websites, or uses secondary devices such as a phone.
May also monitor ambient sounds and pick up on external voices or noises, flagging these as suspicious behavior.
Implications for Students
While these tools aim to ensure fairness, they can raise significant issues for students, including:
False Accusations of Cheating: Both Respondus and Honorlock use AI to flag potential cheating behaviors. Unfortunately, this technology is not perfect, and students have been falsely accused of cheating based on harmless actions, like looking away from the screen or experiencing technical glitches.
Privacy Concerns: Students may feel uncomfortable with the level of surveillance, especially with Honorlock’s ability to monitor external sounds, capture screen activity, and track student behaviors via webcams.
Technical Issues: Technical failures, such as a webcam malfunction or lost internet connection, can trigger a flag for cheating or lead to incomplete submissions, adding stress to an already pressured situation.
What to Do If You’re Accused of Cheating
Being accused of cheating can be devastating, especially when you believe you’ve done nothing wrong. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s important to stay calm and take the following steps:
Review the Evidence: Schools typically provide students with the opportunity to review the flagged behaviors or actions that led to the accusation. Look over the evidence carefully and try to identify any technical issues or behaviors that may have been misinterpreted.
Gather Your Own Evidence: Document your experience during the exam. This could include screenshots of any technical issues, emails to the professor or IT team regarding exam difficulties, and a detailed account of what occurred during the test.
Seek Legal or Administrative Help: If you believe the accusation is false or unfair, contact a lawyer who specializes in education law. Legal representation can help you navigate the school’s disciplinary process, protect your rights, and ensure that the evidence is reviewed impartially.
Participate in the Disciplinary Process: Most schools will have a formal process for handling academic misconduct. It’s crucial to participate fully, provide all relevant evidence, and clearly explain your side of the story.
How to Avoid Being Accused
While you can’t control every technical glitch or AI misjudgment, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of being falsely accused of cheating during online exams:
Prepare Your Exam Space: Ensure you are in a quiet, distraction-free environment. Remove any extra devices, notes, or materials from your workspace, and make sure no one enters the room while you are testing.
Familiarize Yourself with the Software: Before the exam, take time to practice using the proctoring software. Understand the rules regarding camera positioning, behavior, and what actions might trigger a flag.
Communicate with Your Instructor: If you have any technical difficulties or anticipate issues during the exam, let your instructor know beforehand. Having a documented record of your concerns can help in case of any disputes later.
Follow the Rules Strictly: Be mindful of every action you take during the exam. Avoid looking away from the screen, making excessive movements, or interacting with anyone else in the room. Even innocent actions can be flagged by AI-driven monitoring systems.
Check Your Equipment: Ensure your webcam, internet connection, and other devices are working properly before the exam begins. Technical issues during the test can raise suspicion, so it’s best to avoid them.
EducationLawyers.com
The use of online proctoring tools like Respondus Lockdown Browser and Honorlock comes with challenges that students should not take lightly. While these tools can help maintain academic integrity, they also carry risks for false accusations, privacy concerns, and technical mishaps.
If you find yourself accused of cheating, don’t panic. Gather evidence, seek legal help if necessary, and participate in your school’s disciplinary process to ensure your rights are protected. And to avoid such issues in the first place, prepare your testing environment and understand the rules of the proctoring software well in advance.
If you need help navigating an academic misconduct case, EducationLawyers.com is here to help. Contact us today for a consultation.