any advice on how to persuade my school against Linux-proof browsers?
 

I have discovered my school's online classes use something called the Respondus browser. My attempts to use it, and then only a little research (here and elsewhere online), indicate it doesn't work in Linux, even with wine or virtual machines. The school is effectively forcing me to use Windows (or maybe Apple, except I haven't used one of those in many years and would have no idea how to).

I'm not really posting to ask how I should deal with this; I can figure that out. (The two simplest things for me to do are: spend a lot of time at the school using the Windows computers; or perhaps dig out my Windows laptop and hope it still works--the connection was iffy last time.) What I really want to ask is, do you have any advice on how to talk to the school to urge it not to use this Respondus browser in the future?

I read this thread-- https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...er-4175471917/ -- in which an LQ member complained about this same problem (because evidently Respondus has been around for a while) and UnSpawn advised him to talk to the school. I'm prepared to try that. (Although I know I can't expect them to change things right away; perhaps by next semester?) I've never had to do this--talking to the administration (aside from minor tech support issues) about the need for Linux-friendly software. I suppose someone else has experience with this?

The only related issue I ever faced since using Linux was: seven or eight years ago, some online classes required me to switch from my usual browser to Seamonkey, which we do have for Linux. (I don't remember why.) But nothing like this. I can't pass the class unless I submit to Windows.

(information about Respondus: https://vtluug.org/wiki/Respondus_LockDown_Browser)

I haven't used Respondus but on searching just now I found mention of a no longer available site that supposedly had instructions for WINE setup. Further searching found this thread that someone pasted the cached instructions from the other site in the comments. Maybe they will help you get it going via WINE?

Trying, but I can't expect it to work. Other sources (e.g., the link I posted) say they have not been able to verify those results.

UserAgent switcher?

Worth a try. That browser is written to specifically 'lock' the content to a particular school, and prevents cheating/copy/paste between students. Works fairly well, for what it is. Personally, I find it hard to stomach that they don't support Linux in 2018, especially since Chromebooks are on the rise. Regardless...I'm puzzled as to why it wouldn't work if you spun up a W10 machine on VirtualBox. That would get you what you need, and if your school participates in that program, you can probably get a free copy of W10 Education edition if you talk to your school.

That said, I seriously doubt that (unless you go to a VERY exclusive private school), that one school can make a decision about what to use. These are typically things that go through school boards, vendor meetings, council meetings, etc., and moving an ENTIRE system to another platform isn't something that's going to happen easily or quickly. And even IF you go to one of the aforementioned private schools, unless most of the school whines about it as well, chances are they won't change either.

This might work, unless the teaching system also uses strange proprietary technologies that are not supported by other browsers.


Anyway, letting students do exams on their own computers and relying on such software to protect against cheating sounds like a really bad idea.

what was it that i seen on getting around things setting up a proxy on home then logging into it at work to get around their blocking. ???

Motive and reasons aside, the OP asked for help in presenting an argument for non-Respondus access.
"Not everyone uses Windows"
And "use" Respondus where exactly?

If it is on-site via school resources, you are A.O. IMO.
Off-site: ???

I'd then suggest talking to a lawyer instead of Linux Heads.

It is specifically used in secure teaching and testing environments and is definitely not designed for personal use so I would suspect you will get short change in getting it changed.

Furthermore, most school administrators and teachers don't know anything about Linux, and therefore tend not to be a receptive audience.

Heck, you're lucky if they anything about Windows other than point-and-click!

Further to my comment about it being used in a teaching environment, I used to teach computing to apprentice type people from a group of large companies. One of the biggest problems you get is that the students tend to "play" and try to do web browsing and you end up spending a huge amount of time reverting the machines to the state they should be in at that point in the course. A decently locked down system helps a lot.
I made sure that there were a few spare unlocked machines in the lounge area that they could fight over during breaks.

smart thinking 101.

Maybe appeal to Respondus? I see they already support: I wouldn't expect the school to change, for the reasons others have stated.

Either on- or offsite, but always on my own computer, because the school computers don't actually have Respondus (which indicates a lack of thought and planning) and don't allow students to install software.