In this entry in the Canvas Magic Series, learn about three Canvas quiz features for securing exams and combating academic dishonesty.

For some students, cheating has never been easier.  Artificial Intelligence (AI), online computation software, and the ability to “Chegg it” are only a few of the ways students may practice academic dishonesty.  

While no system is foolproof, Canvas does include several quiz features to ensure students are upholding academic integrity. This article reviews three Canvas features and provides guidance on how to prevent cheating on Canvas Quizzes.  

Feature One – Utilizing Question Banks 

When utilizing question banks in Canvas, instructors give students quiz questions in random order. Question banks allow instructors to incorporate different sets of questions from a randomized question pool, ensuring no two students see the same answer choices on their multiple-choice exams 

For Canvas to give questions in a random order (or give students different sets of questions from a larger pool), you must first create your quiz questions in Canvas’ Question Banks feature, then add these randomized banks to your quiz.  

To do so, select Quizzes from your course’s navigation menu, click the three dots to the far left of the screen, and select Manage Question Banks.

To create a question bank, select + Add Question Bank.

After giving your new question set a name and hitting enter, select your new question bank to open it. 

Next, select + Add a Question to create a question in your new question bank.

Once you have created all your quiz questions, click the Quizzes tab from the navigation menu. From this tab, select + Quiz in the top right corner of the screen.

In your new quiz, select the Questions tab. Select + New Question Group then click Link to a Question Bank. 

Look for the question bank you just created and then Select Bank.

Once you select the correct bank, type the number of questions that are in the bank (or fewer if you would only like a few randomized questions in your new quiz). Select Create Group, then click Save. If you are ready to publish your quiz, click Save and Publish. 

Note: If you are working in New Quizzes, question banks will look different. After selecting Build, you will open Item Banks and have the option to filter question banks by course, institution, or shared banks. After selecting the category you would like to work from, select the question bank you would like to add to your quiz. Unlike old quizzes, you will need to manually select questions from your bank to the new quiz.  

Feature Two – Locking/Single Quiz Questions 

Another method for securing exams is to lock quiz questions, which becomes available when you opt to show one quiz question at a time in Canvas’ Quiz settings.   

When quiz questions are locked, students are unable to revisit questions after submitting their answers. Notably, this allows you to reveal an answer to an earlier question without worrying that students may change their answers. Locking quiz questions also discourages answer sharing and collaboration, as students cannot change their answers after consulting with peers. This option is particularly useful paired with set quiz time limits, as students must commit quickly to their answer without the extra time to research and later change it. 

To show one question at a time, navigate to the quiz you want to edit. After selecting Edit, scroll down to the Assignment Group section of the quiz settings. Lastly, select Show one question at a time and Lock quiz questions after answering to enable these settings.

Once you are satisfied with your new quiz settings, you can either select Save or Save & Publish to create your new, secure quiz.  

Note: If you are working in New Quizzes, locking/single quiz questions will be a different process. After selecting Build, select Settings to see a variety of quiz feature options. Toggle on One question at a time and deselect the Allow Backtracking option to ensure students are unable to revisit questions.  

Feature Three – Pairing Canvas with Respondus LockDown Browser 

In a previous blog, we highlighted how Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor may be the most appropriate tool to use to mitigate academic dishonesty. Learn more about the implications of using proctored exam tools and how authentic assessments can provide an alternative to online proctoring.  

For instructors looking for more security than Canvas may provide, requiring Respondus LockDown Browser for exams offers a solution. Respondus LockDown Broswer is a tool that monitors students completing Canvas Quizzes from any location—as long as the student has a computer with a functioning webcam. Importantly, after the exam sessions are recorded and analyzed, instructors can review both Respondus’ analysis and recording to ensure academic integrity.  

To enable Respondus LockDown Browser on Canvas, add the Respondus link to your course navigation menu. To do so, go to your course Settings, then select the Navigation tab at the top of the page.

Scroll to the bottom of the navigation menu options until you locate the LockDown Browser option (tip: this menu item will be under the Drag items here to hide them from students’ section). Once located, drag the LockDown Browser option to the course’s visible navigation menu at the top of the page.

After dragging the LockDown Browser option to your desired section of your course’s navigation menu, scroll down to the bottom of the screen and select Save to apply your changes.

To add Respondus to individual quizzes, select LockDown Browser from your course’s navigation menu. After locating the quiz you would like to apply LockDown Browser to, select the icon to the left of the quiz name and click Settings.

After selecting Require Respondus LockDown Browser for this exam, adjust the settings as desired.

Tip: select Advanced Options to see the full range of exam security options. 

Conclusion 

Despite an instructor’s best efforts, students may still cheat. However, taking steps to secure exams in a course via Canvas and external tools such as LockDown Browser decreases the likelihood of academic dishonesty, especially paired with educating students on the importance of academic integrity. 

For additional questions about securing your exams, please email strategiclrn@bsu.edu.