Discussion:
Locked-down browser for online testing on Linux?
Todd O'Bryan
2013-05-05 21:54:35 UTC
Permalink
Sorry for cross-posting, but I know some people are only on one list...

Does anyone know of a way to lock down a browser in Linux for online
testing? Ideally, I'm imagining a plug-in or something that, when it
accesses a testing site, would make the browser full screen, not allow
the user to open new tabs or windows, and would keep the user from
switching to other applications during the time that the test is going
on. Once the test is submitted, the browser would return to normal.
(There would probably also need to be a "Cancel" or "Abort" or "Quit
Now" button, that would submit an incomplete test and return control
to the user.)

I realize you'd have to do some extra stuff outside the browser to
prevent savvy users from disabling such a plug-in, but the last time I
checked, the only "Lockdown" browser available was a commercial
product for Windows.

Given the proliferation of online courses, online tests, and the move
by many states to do high-stakes testing online, I'm thinking there
must be someone working in this area. In fact, creating a bootable CD
or USB that had just the testing environment on it might be a good way
to ensure that students can't use anything else while they're testing.

Anybody know of any development in this direction?

Todd
Rippl, Steve
2013-05-06 18:18:30 UTC
Permalink
I don't know of any general plugin that would do this. Creating a bootable
USB environment that you configured to only go to a specific site would
work, there may be kiosk distros that already do this?

The Smarter Balanced Assessment testing tool coming in a couple of years
for quite a few States in the US is based on Firefox,
http://www.smarterbalanced.org/smarter-balanced-assessments/technology/, I
have no idea whether anything could be done with that, they have some kind
of adaptive test engine behind it.
Post by Todd O'Bryan
Sorry for cross-posting, but I know some people are only on one list...
Does anyone know of a way to lock down a browser in Linux for online
testing? Ideally, I'm imagining a plug-in or something that, when it
accesses a testing site, would make the browser full screen, not allow
the user to open new tabs or windows, and would keep the user from
switching to other applications during the time that the test is going
on. Once the test is submitted, the browser would return to normal.
(There would probably also need to be a "Cancel" or "Abort" or "Quit
Now" button, that would submit an incomplete test and return control
to the user.)
I realize you'd have to do some extra stuff outside the browser to
prevent savvy users from disabling such a plug-in, but the last time I
checked, the only "Lockdown" browser available was a commercial
product for Windows.
Given the proliferation of online courses, online tests, and the move
by many states to do high-stakes testing online, I'm thinking there
must be someone working in this area. In fact, creating a bootable CD
or USB that had just the testing environment on it might be a good way
to ensure that students can't use anything else while they're testing.
Anybody know of any development in this direction?
Todd
--
edubuntu-users mailing list
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/edubuntu-users
--
Steve Rippl
Technology Director
Woodland Public Schools
360 841 2730
Barry Cisna
2013-05-09 14:27:33 UTC
Permalink
Todd,

About 3 years ago,our K-12 school had some sort of student assessment
program that was browser based and was on a 'bootable CD' just as you
was mentioning.

It was actually an Ubuntu based boot up and went directly to a full
screen web browser Firefox,that couldn't be exited.

It worked flawless once we found a couple dozen machines that still had
cd-rom's that would still function:).Most had bubble gum,,suckers and
everything else imaginable shoved in the cd-rom tray..

Doing what you are wanting to do the only practical way would be,to use
usb sticks as an boot device

Take Care,
Barry
p***@gmail.com
2013-05-09 14:52:58 UTC
Permalink
If it is possible to boot from CD or USB then PXE boot should also be feasible, no? Plus PXE is easier to tamper-proof
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Cisna <***@eazylivin.net>
Sender: k12osn-***@redhat.com
Date: Thu, 09 May 2013 09:27:33
To: K12LTSP Mailing List<***@redhat.com>
Reply-To: "Support list for open source software in schools."
<***@redhat.com>
Subject: Re: [K12OSN] Locked-down browser for online testing on Linux?

Todd,

About 3 years ago,our K-12 school had some sort of student assessment
program that was browser based and was on a 'bootable CD' just as you
was mentioning.

It was actually an Ubuntu based boot up and went directly to a full
screen web browser Firefox,that couldn't be exited.

It worked flawless once we found a couple dozen machines that still had
cd-rom's that would still function:).Most had bubble gum,,suckers and
everything else imaginable shoved in the cd-rom tray..

Doing what you are wanting to do the only practical way would be,to use
usb sticks as an boot device

Take Care,
Barry


_______________________________________________
K12OSN mailing list
***@redhat.com
https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn
For more info see <http://www.k12os.org>
Huck
2013-05-09 15:08:11 UTC
Permalink
http://wiki.koha-community.org/wiki/Linux_Kiosk

or

http://jacob.steelsmith.org/content/ubuntu-kiosk-based-10041

should get you going...

--Huck
Post by p***@gmail.com
If it is possible to boot from CD or USB then PXE boot should also be feasible, no? Plus PXE is easier to tamper-proof
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
-----Original Message-----
Date: Thu, 09 May 2013 09:27:33
Reply-To: "Support list for open source software in schools."
Subject: Re: [K12OSN] Locked-down browser for online testing on Linux?
Todd,
About 3 years ago,our K-12 school had some sort of student assessment
program that was browser based and was on a 'bootable CD' just as you
was mentioning.
It was actually an Ubuntu based boot up and went directly to a full
screen web browser Firefox,that couldn't be exited.
It worked flawless once we found a couple dozen machines that still had
cd-rom's that would still function:).Most had bubble gum,,suckers and
everything else imaginable shoved in the cd-rom tray..
Doing what you are wanting to do the only practical way would be,to use
usb sticks as an boot device
Take Care,
Barry
_______________________________________________
K12OSN mailing list
https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn
For more info see <http://www.k12os.org>
_______________________________________________
K12OSN mailing list
https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn
For more info see <http://www.k12os.org>
Loading...