Requiring a Second Camera in Respondus Monitor (Faculty Guide)

Respondus Monitor allows instructors to require students to use a second camera during an exam. This provides an additional view of the student’s testing environment using a mobile device (phone or tablet), in addition to the student’s primary webcam.

This feature is commonly used for higher-stakes assessments where additional proctoring visibility is needed.

NOTE: Requiring a second camera significantly increases technical complexity for students. Consider accessibility, device equity, and student stress when deciding whether this feature is necessary for your assessment.

Contents:

• Instructor Responsibilities
  1. Camera Positioning Requirements
  2. Environment Expectations
  3. Student Preparation

• What Students Will Need
• Important Limitations
• How the Second Camera Works
• Best Practices for Faculty
• What You Will See in Review

Instructor Responsibilities

As the instructor, you are responsible for clearly communicating:

1. Camera Positioning Requirements

Decide what the second camera must show, such as:

• Side view of the student

• Keyboard and mouse

• Desk and surrounding area

These instructions appear directly to students during exam setup.

2. Environment Expectations

Explain to students:

• Whether phones must be plugged in

• Whether earbuds or headphones are allowed

• Whether external monitors or keyboards are permitted

3. Student Preparation

Encourage students to:

• Test their second device before exam day

• Charge both devices fully

• Set their phone to Do Not Disturb

• Find a stable surface for the mobile device

What Students Will Need

Students must have:

• A computer with a working webcam for the exam

• A second device (phone or tablet) with:

  • iOS 18+ or a recent Android version

  • A working camera and microphone

  • The ability to scan a QR code

• A stable internet connection on both devices

Students can test their second device in advance at:
https://respondus.com/camera2

How the Second Camera Works

During the exam startup process:

1. Students complete the standard webcam check on their computer.

2. Respondus displays your instructor instructions for second camera positioning.

3. A QR code appears on the student’s screen.

4. Students scan the QR code with their mobile device.

5. The mobile device connects as a live second camera.

6. Both video feeds are recorded and attached to the exam session.

Example Below (Provided by Respondus) 

Best Practices for Faculty

• Only require a second camera when it is justified.

• Provide positioning examples (images or diagrams if possible).

• Add expectations to your syllabus or exam instructions.

• Offer a practice quiz so students can test the setup in advance.
   

What You Will See in Review

In the Respondus review dashboard, you will see:

• The primary webcam recording

• The second camera recording

• Both synchronized in the exam timeline

This allows you to:

• Cross-check behaviors

• Verify screen usage

• Review flagged events with additional context