Secure Browsers: Chromebook™ Star Assessments App, Renaissance LockDown Browser Chromebook™ Extension, and iPad® LockDown Browser App

To ensure a secure testing environment on Chromebooks or iPads, schools may use the Star Assessments App (Chromebook), the Renaissance LockDown Browser (Chromebook), or the LockDown Browser App (iPad). When students are taking a test within one of these apps, they are effectively locked into the assessment environment. They will be unable to go to a different URL, access other programs, print anything, or copy/paste anything. 

It is the responsibility of your school district's IT department to make sure the apps are installed on the necessary testing computers and to ensure they are kept up-to-date.

The Student Experience

When using the Chromebook app, students use the app by selecting Apps on their login screen and then selecting Star Assessments. When the app opens, the student sees the login page. There, they can enter their user name and password, and then begin the Star assessment. During the test, the student will not be able to navigate out of the testing environment until the assessment is complete. Once a Star assessment is complete, the Chromebook needs to be restarted to exit the app.

When using the Chromebook extension, students use their regular web browser to log into Renaissance; once they select a tile to begin a Star Assessment, the Renaissance LockDown Browser will open in a new window, and they will take the assessment in that window.

When using the iPad app, students will use their regular web browser to log into Renaissance; once they select a tile to begin a Star assessment, the LockDown Browser will open in a new window, and they will take the assessment in that window.

Installing and Enabling the Chromebook Star Assessments App

1. Go to your Renaissance login page and copy the URL.
   
2. On the Chromebook, log in to the Google Suite admin console at https://admin.google.com.
3. Select Devices Chrome Apps & extensions Kiosks.
4. Hover on the yellow circle with the + sign and then select Add Chrome app or extension by ID.
   
5. Enter the ID for the Star Assessments App: hdkncojidlfhhclmgnconmjolmkfejcj. Note: These particular settings might be slightly different based on your specific school or district, so please check with your school or district first to ensure you have the right app ID.
6. Select Save.
7. In the Kiosk Settings, copy the following JSON block into the “Policy for extensions” input field (replace the URL shown here with the URL you copied in step 1):
   
   {"DefaultServiceUrl":{"Value":"https://global-zone999.renaissance-go.com/welcomeportal/0123456789"}}
   
   Note: These particular settings might be slightly different based on your specific school or district, so please check with your school or district first to ensure you have the right JSON block.
   
8. Select Save.

The Star Assessments App will now appear on the login page of the Chromebook.

Proxy Server Troubleshooting

If you receive an error from the Star Assessments App about not being able to connect to the Internet, there may be a problem with a proxy server. Kiosk mode does not work with proxy servers unless a network configuration is defined and applied "by device" instead of "by user." Follow these steps to set up the network configuration "by device."

1. On the Chromebook, log in to the Google Suite admin console at https://admin.google.com.
2. Under Device Settings, select Device Management Network.
3. Select WiFi or Ethernet. (If no networks are defined, select Create.)
4. Enter the setting for your network. On the proxy settings, configure the proxy as required and be sure to select "by device" in the "Apply network" section.
5. Validate the setup by testing the network settings with the generic "Kiosk" App (App ID: afhcomalholahplbjhnmahkoekoijban). This App allows you to configure an arbitrary URL (such as https://www.renaissance.com) which is displayed when the App enters Kiosk mode.

Once networking has been validated with the Kiosk App, you can be confident that the Star Assessments App will be able to connect to the Internet via the proxy server.

Installing and Enabling the Chromebook Renaissance LockDown Extension

1. Open the Chrome web browser on your Chromebook and go to https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/renaissance-lockdown-brow/gnpjfmaddagncjkeclepmlgdpdpcphoe.
2. On the Renaissance LockDown Browser page, select Add to Chrome.
   
3. In the pop-up window, select Add extension.
   
   
4. When the extension is done being installed, you will see the following confirmation message; select the in the upper-right corner to close it.
   
   
5. Make sure the extension is active by selecting the three-dot menu in the web browser and then selecting Extensions > Manage Extensions. On the Renaissance LockDown Browser panel, make sure the switch is toggled on.
   
   

When a student is in a class that is required to use a secure browser (based on the setting of the Secure Browser Preference), after they log in and select a tile to begin a Star assessment, the Renaissance LockDown Browser will open, and the student will take the assessment in that browser window. When the assessment is done, the student will see a message telling them that their LockDown browser session has ended.

The student selects Continue to close the LockDown Browser and return to the Renaissance Welcome page.

Installing and Enabling the iPad LockDown Browser App

To download and install the iPad app, visit https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lockdown-browser/id659101775.

Questions? Need Help?

If you have questions or need help with the installation, please use Live Chat, call (800) 338-4204, or submit a Support ticket.

Chromebook™ notebook computer is a trademark of Google LLC.

iPad® is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc.