Since the beginning of the pandemic and the increase of online learning, many universities have relied heavily on lockdown browsers and other remote proctoring technologies as a form of exam proctoring. However, these remote proctoring technologies have more disadvantages than benefits. Lockdown browsers have increased students’ academic anxiety, may discourage student/instructor rapport, have created equity issues, have exposed students to potential invasions of privacy, and done little to encourage academic integrity.

Because of these issues, the University Center for Teaching and Learning recommends that instructors do not use lockdown browsers and other remote proctoring technologies and instead modify their exam design or delivery. The Teaching Center provides support for faculty in this regard on our website and through individual and group consultations and training.

Although the Teaching Center discourages faculty and academic units’ use of lockdown browsers, Respondus is licensed to Pitt for use by the University Center for Teaching and Learning. It is used for a specific application only. It is used at the Teaching Center’s Testing Center where the conditions are carefully controlled:

1. Students use computers provided by the Testing Center. They are NOT required to install the software on their own devices.
2. The testing is done in-person with human proctors. Only the browser lockdown features are enabled. No remote proctor features are used.

We find that this resolves many of the issues discussed above. There is no invasion of student privacy or risk to their personal data. In addition, staff are always immediately available for assistance, which may reduce anxiety related to technology troubleshooting.

Therefore, outside of this specific Testing Center application, the Teaching Center is unable to recommend or support the use of these technologies for the larger Pitt community, and the individual schools or departments must assume any associated risks with the decision to deploy them.