Steps
1. After creating your course with a start and date, navigate to Content > Table of Contents. Within a module of your creation select CertMaster LTI Advantage (or a variation of this name, such as CertMaster LTI 1.3) from the Existing Activities menu within your module. Links will be created within your module.
2. The first time you launch (or if it has been a while since you last used the tool), click Accept to launch the tool.
3. The tool will load, allowing you to select how your students gain access to CompTIA's products. Note: Activation and School License Pool options are omitted.
Note: If the tool does not load and you receive a blank white screen this may be for two reasons:
- You are not listed as "Instructor" in the "Classlist."
- You are blocking 3rd party cookies for your LMS site URL.
To create links to course resources such as videos, fact sheets, lab simulations, and section quizzes select Course Resources.
4. Choose your desired product from the list. Note: The list of products reflects the licenses that are available to your school. If a product is missing, please contact your CompTIA Account Executive or your Customer Success Manager.
5. If there are multiple versions of the product you are using and you have not specified which one you will be using (by creating a link already or by determining it from within your CertMaster class), you can change which version you use by selecting Select Version.
Select the chapter you wish to link to. The resources within that chapter will appear in the right-hand column.
Select a Section Heading and/or specific Resource to create an assignment link for each selected item. Tip: In order to avoid long loading times, create less than 30 links at one time.
Select Continue.
6. On this next Confirm and Finalize Links page, you will see a summary of the links that you are creating.
To create a link without a grade book column, in the Graded column uncheck the box next to the assignment. Note that all assignments are automatically published within your Brightspace course. Please Note: Section Headings (e.g., 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, x.x, etc.) are not graded and therefore cannot be checked.
Click Create Links.
7. Within Content, you will be able to see your created assignment links. You will also be able to see created columns within Grades. To access the CertMaster courseware, click the created link. Remember that ungraded assignments will not have a grade book column.
Important Information:
Automatically Creating a class and Enrolling students
Once you have links from your LMS integrated with CertMaster, AS THE INSTRUCTOR:
Click one of the CertMaster assignment links inside of your LMS class. When you click on the link, your class is automatically created in CertMaster. Make sure to do this for each class. When you do, a class matching your LMS class's name will be automatically created in your CertMaster account. As a best practice, don't rename it, archive it, or create a duplicate of it, at least until after your semester ends. DO NOT create your class manually in CertMaster.
Note: It is critical that at least one initial assignment be clicked to establish integration between your LMS and CertMaster account, which involves the creation of the automatic class. The End Date of each automatically created class is 12 months from the date of creation. If necessary, the End Date can be extended or shortened within CertMaster by choosing Edit Class for each class and adjusting the End Date. The End Date does not expire product licenses and does not impact your ability to create additional course copies within your LMS.
Regarding Start and End Dates of your CertMaster class (for LTI 1.3 Advantage, EduApp, and Plugin integrations):
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If the LMS course start date is known via the integration, this date will be used as the start date for the CertMaster class.
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If the LMS course end date is known via the integration, this date will be used as the end date for the CertMaster class. The end date shouldn’t exceed 18 months from when a course is first created in CertMaster.
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If the LMS course start date is NOT known via the integration, the date when the first initial CertMaster assignment link is clicked will be used as the start date for the CertMaster class.
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If the LMS course end date is NOT known via the integration, the CertMaster end date will be 12 months from the start date (the start date is based on the standards set above).
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If the LMS course end date is set to continuous, the CertMaster end date will be 12 months from the start date (the start date is based on the standards set above).
INSTRUCT YOUR STUDENTS:
Click one of the CertMaster assignment links inside of your LMS class. When they click the link it will automatically create the student account inside of CertMaster, and enroll them in the right class (with their CertMaster account being automatically created in the background, and license activated).
Note: It is critical that at least one initial assignment be clicked to establish integration between your LMS and CertMaster student account. This is how the CertMaster system knows that your student exists, and is important for multiple aspects of integration functionality.
- For students that already have CertMaster accounts, you want to make sure that the email address associated with their account is their school email address. This way the integration will be able to find and integrate with the existing student CertMaster account.
- DO NOT create your students' accounts inside CertMaster through CSV, individually, or through email.
- Students DO NOT need to create their accounts through comptia.com.