Using Honorlock in Canvas

Faculty FAQs

• ‌  Honorlock Overview & General Info

  ‌ Quick facts

  • What is it? Online proctoring integrated with Canvas to support exam integrity.
  • Supported exams: Classic Quizzes, New Quizzes, and approved third-party web exams.
  • Accounts: No separate account required. Students install the Honorlock Chrome extension.
  • Data & privacy: Records video/audio/screen during the active session only; access is limited to authorized faculty/proctoring staff and retained per university policy (typically ~1 year).
  • FERPA: Exam recordings are treated as education records. Access and sharing follow institutional FERPA policy and procedures.
  • ‌‌ Comprehensive Guide to Honorlock (PDF)

  Proctorio phase-out: Removed in December. Honorlock is the only available online proctoring service provided in Canvas at WSU.

  For scheduling and local procedures, see the Testing Center. For accommodations, coordinate with Disability Services.

• ‌  Turn on Honorlock for a Canvas Quiz

  1. Open your Canvas course → Honorlock (course navigation).
  2. Authorize if prompted, find your quiz, click Enable.
  3. Select options (ID check, room scan, allowed materials) and Save.

  Tip: If Honorlock isn’t visible, enable it in Settings → Navigation. Disable any Proctorio extension when testing Honorlock.

• ‌  Can I copy my Honorlock exams between semesters?

  When you copy or import a Canvas course into a new semester, quizzes that previously used Honorlock may appear to still be enabled. However, Honorlock must be re-enabled and configured each semester. Proctoring settings do not carry over automatically.

   ‌Important: If Honorlock is not re-enabled, students will not be proctored (even if the quiz looks unchanged after import).

  After copying your course, do the following:

  1. Open your new course and go to Honorlock in the course navigation.
  2. Locate each copied quiz and click Enable.
  3. Review and confirm all Honorlock settings (ID check, room scan, allowed materials, flags).
  4. Save your changes.

  Tip: To save time, use Honorlock Exam Profiles. Exam Profiles allow you to reuse the same Honorlock settings across multiple exams and future semesters. Just apply the profile when enabling the quiz!

  If you make changes to your exam structure or settings after copying, recheck Honorlock before publishing to ensure everything is correctly enabled.

  Using Exam Profiles  |  Enabling Honorlock in Canvas

• ‌  When should I use the "Block/Allow Apps" option?

  ‌ WSU guidance: Most courses should not enable the Honorlock desktop Application. The Honorlock Chrome extension already restricts the browser environment (tabs, copy/paste, search behavior, etc.). Turning on the desktop Application adds a required software install and increases setup friction without improving exam integrity for typical Canvas quizzes.

  Default: Leave “Block/Allow Apps” off unless your exam requires specific desktop software or you have a documented need that the browser controls cannot address.

  When it may be appropriate

  • Allowing required desktop software: Your exam depends on a local application (e.g., Excel for modeling, a Python IDE, SPSS) and students must be able to run it during the test.
  • Blocking specific desktop apps only: You have a vetted need to block named desktop applications (e.g., specific screen recorders or remote-access tools) that the browser extension cannot mitigate. This is uncommon and should be coordinated with WSU Online.

  Important notes

  • The Honorlock Application controls desktop software, not websites.
    It does not provide general AI blocking beyond the browser controls already in place.
  • The desktop application will only block or allow applications on the list. 
    Changes to the applications listed on the block/allow list must go through WSU Online.
  • Students will be prompted to install a separate desktop app (admin rights required) onto their device.
    This can increase support needs and exam start time.

  Faculty / Exam Administrator Checklist

  • ✔ Inform students early that they’ll be prompted to install the Honorlock desktop app during setup.
  • ✔ Clarify it’s a one-time install that requires admin rights and can be removed after the exam.
  • ✔ Add a note to your syllabus or exam instructions if you plan to use this option.

  Sample syllabus text:
  “For some exams, you will need to install the Honorlock Application. This one-time desktop app installation works with the Chrome extension to secure your exam. Administrator rights are required for installation. You can remove it after the exam.”

• ‌  Do faculty need the Honorlock extension?

  No—setup doesn’t require it! 

  Install the extension only if you want to test the exam from a student view. (If Proctorio is installed, disable it first.)

• ‌  Can I restrict which students use Honorlock?

  Honorlock applies to all assigned students for that quiz.

  To limit usage (e.g., remote students only), duplicate the quiz, enable Honorlock on the duplicate, and assign it only to the intended students/section(s).

• ‌  New Quizzes & third-party (non-Canvas) exams

  • New Quizzes: Supported. Student experience is similar to Classic when Honorlock is enabled.
  • Third-party: In Honorlock, choose Register Third-Party Exam, enter the exam URL, and align availability/passwords in both systems. Students can only access third-party exams through the Honorlock course navigation item.

• ‌  Student Guidelines (full text example)

  During the Honorlock presentation, Honorlock shared an example set of student guidelines. This example is provided as a starting template for faculty to copy into their Canvas quiz instructions and into Honorlock’s Student Guidelines field.

  Do not link students directly to this example as your course policy. This template includes sample rules that may not apply to every course or exam. Faculty are responsible for copying and updating the guidelines for each quiz, including allowed materials, exam rules, time limits, technology expectations, and any course-specific instructions. Students should see the finalized version in the Canvas quiz and Honorlock exam settings.

  Review and customize before sharing these guidelines with students.

  ‌This is a CLOSED note exam. Using your ebook or textbook is NOT ALLOWED. You may use two sheets of scratch paper. You must remain in front of your computer for the entire duration of the exam. NO BATHROOM BREAKS OR LEAVING THE WEBCAM VIEW. Cell phones, tablets, laptops, smart watches, secondary monitors, and any other electronic devices are NOT PERMITTED. Failing to follow these instructions and comply could result in a violation or significantly impact your score. Make sure to SLOWLY show your entire work area, including the table/desk you are sitting at and the surrounding space during the room scan or you will be penalized. Required Testing Area (failing to also follow these guidelines and instructions could result in a violation): • Lighting in the room must be bright enough to show the student’s face and surrounding area in a clear and detailed manner. • Be sure the desk or table that you are sitting at is cleared of all other materials. This means the removal of all books, papers, notebooks, calculators, etc. unless specifically permitted in posted guidelines for that particular examination. • Students must SLOWLY show work area as well as the entire room during the room scan. • During room scan, students MUST show their cell phone device to the webcam and show it being powered off, as well as placed away from the testing environment. Failure to comply with this step can impact your score. • No visible writing on desk or on walls. • All other programs and/or windows on the testing computer must be closed prior to logging into the proctored test environment. • Loud music, television, or other distractions playing in the background are prohibited. • No other persons or parties aside from the exam taker should be permitted near the testing environment, and all communication between exam taker and third parties is prohibited. The behaviors listed below are prohibited during your assessment. If you are observed breaching anything that is listed below, your exam will be penalized and/or voided. • The use of secondary devices (including, but not limited to, phones, tablets, smart watches, other computers) • The use of additional monitors • Moving out of camera view or covering your face • Obstructing the webcam • Manipulating the lighting within the testing environment • Manipulating the webcam recording (Virtual machines, webcam loops) • Leaving the testing area • Muting your device • Frequently looking away from the screen • Using false identification • Interacting with third parties • Taking screenshots or screen recordings of the exam content

  ‌ Example Student Guidelines Template (DOC)  |  Standard Exam Guidelines  |  Proctoring Policy Template  |  How to Make Test Rules for Online Exams

• ‌  Allowed materials & calculators

  List permitted items in both places:

  1. Canvas quiz instructions, and
  2. Honorlock Student Guidelines (e.g., scratch paper, notes, specific calculator models, websites).

  Allowing Scratch Paper  |  How to Make Test Rules for Online Exams

• ‌  Accommodations & extra time

  • Extra time/attempts: Set in Canvas (Moderate for Classic; Moderate → Accommodations for New Quizzes).
  • Coordinate other accommodations with SSD and reflect them in Honorlock settings.

  Setting Availability Dates  |  Moderating a Quiz  |  Granting Extra Attempts  |  Granting Extra Time

• ‌  Availability windows & dates

  Set availability open/close and due dates in the Canvas quiz; Honorlock enforces those timeframes.

  Setting Availability Dates  |  Assigning Individual Students and Sections

• ‌  Offering an Honorlock exam in the Testing Center

  If your Canvas quiz is set up with Honorlock, students can take it in the Testing Center without any additional setup in Honorlock or Canvas. The Testing Center can provide live in-person proctoring for the same Honorlock-enabled exam. Note that Honorlock does not record exams taken in the Testing Center (no webcam, mic, or screen capture).

  Make sure your exam has all of the following:

  • Honorlock is enabled on the quiz.
  • Honorlock has generated an access code. Do not edit this code. You do not need to give it to the Testing Center (they already have access).
  • Availability dates and a due date are set in Canvas.
  • The quiz is assigned to the full class/everyone, not just an individual student.

  Faculty do not need to use the Testing Center check-in app for standard Honorlock exams. Only use the check-in app or send additional notes if you have special requirements (e.g., paper formula sheets held at the desk, special groups, or other directions the proctors need).

  For procedures and scheduling details, see the Testing Center Faculty page.

• ‌  Can I edit my exam or quiz after students have started?

  Adjusting Honorlock settings (e.g., flag sensitivity, allowed materials, student instructions) after the exam is enabled is safe and will not impact student attempts or existing proctoring records.

  However, we strongly recommend avoiding edits to a quiz or exam content and availability after students have started taking it. Changes made mid-exam can lead to inconsistent grades, access issues, or unsubmitted attempts. Editing quiz availability or questions after students have already started or completed the exam can also cause complications with Honorlock’s proctoring and records.

  If edits are unavoidable, we recommend disabling Honorlock before making edits, then re-enabling it once edits are done. This helps ensure a smoother experience for students and reduces the risk of losing existing exam results or test-taking issues.

  Editing a Published Exam in Canvas  |  Disabling Exams in Honorlock  |  Enabling Exams in Honorlock

• ‌  Data & Privacy (FERPA & Retention)

  What data is collected, and who has access? Honorlock collects video, audio, and screen recordings during an active exam session. Recordings are accessible only to authorized faculty and proctoring staff, in compliance with FERPA.

  Is Honorlock FERPA-compliant? Yes. Recordings generated during proctored exams are education records under FERPA. The university controls access and retention according to FERPA and institutional policy; Honorlock supports these controls.

  How long are recordings stored? Recordings are retained for the duration required by university policy (typically one year) and then deleted.

  Does Honorlock access files on my computer? No. Honorlock does not read or collect personal files on your device. Monitoring is limited to webcam, microphone, and screen capture of the exam session. You may be prompted to close unauthorized apps or browser tabs while testing.

• ‌  Reviewing results & interpreting flags

  Use Honorlock → Results to review sessions (timestamps, video). Flags are indicators for review, not automatic misconduct. Evaluate context and follow WSU academic integrity policies.

  ‌ Reports/recordings can be downloaded from the results page.

  Save time with Exam Profiles  |  Reviewing Session Results  |  What are Action Items?

• ‌  What if a student loses connection?

  Students should reconnect and continue. Canvas auto-saves answers; interruptions appear in the Honorlock results log.

  Honorlock will never kick a student out of their test.

Student FAQs

• ‌  Before your Honorlock exam

  • Computer: Windows 10+, macOS 13+, or Chromebook (phones/tablets aren’t supported for proctored exams).
  • Browser: Google Chrome (120+). Other Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Opera, Brave, etc.) may install the Honorlock extension, but aren't officially supported. If you have issues, switch to Chrome. Disable Proctorio first.
  • Equipment: Webcam, microphone, and stable internet (1.5 Mbps download, 750 Kbps upload).
  • No quiet space? Choose the quietest environment you can. If needed, contact your instructor before the exam to discuss possible accommodations.
  • Practice Test! If your course offers a practice test, take it to test your setup before a high-stakes exam. 
    Or, complete the Honorlock Student Tour (HonorPrep) and run the system check so you're ready on the exam day.

  ‌ Install the Chrome Extension  |  Run the System Check  |  24/7 Student Support

• ‌  Proctorio extension conflict (Honorlock won’t launch)

  Symptoms: “Not authorized” or unexpected access code prompts, Honorlock extension won’t install or start.

  1. Open Chrome → chrome://extensions (Menu → Extensions → Manage Extensions).
  2. Toggle off or Remove the Proctorio extension.
  3. Ensure the Honorlock extension is enabled.
  4. Quit and relaunch Chrome.
  5. Return to Canvas and run the System Check.

  ‌ Tip: Only one proctoring extension should be enabled at a time (Honorlock or Proctorio).

  ‌ Install Honorlock  |  Run System Check  |  24/7 Student Support

• ‌  ID check & room scan

  If required by your instructor, you’ll be prompted for a brief room scan and a valid photo ID.

  Accepted ID: Government-issued ID or school ID that shows your name and photo. Your Canvas display name must match your photo ID.

  How to Complete ID Verification  |  How to Complete a Room Scan

• ‌  What materials can I use?

  Only the items your instructor allows (e.g., specific calculators, notes, websites). Check the quiz instructions and any Honorlock “Student Guidelines.”

• ‌  During the exam

  • If you disconnect: Reopen the quiz and continue. Canvas auto-saves as you go.
  • Live help: Use the Honorlock chat inside your exam window.
  • Recording: Your webcam, mic, and screen may be recorded for the duration of the exam.

  Test Taker FAQs

• ‌  After the exam

  • Canvas shows a submission confirmation when you finish.
  • If your session shows flags, that does not mean misconduct. Your instructor will review context.

  What are In-Exam Flags?  |  End of Exam Procedures

• ‌  Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

  • PLA exams are for current/former Weber State students. New students must be admitted before testing.
  • Sign in with your Weber credentials; your Canvas display name must match your photo ID.
  • Review your department’s PLA policies and direct questions to the department.