Platform: Schoology
This guide will assist in creating Schoology assignments that will link directly to a LabSim course resource.
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Steps
1. From within the Schoology course navigate to:
Add Materials | Add Files/Link/External Tool | External Tool.
The Add External Tool dialog box appears like this:
2. After choosing TestOut from the Tool Provider pull-down menu the dialog box will appear like this:
3. Populate the Add External Tool dialog box as follows:
Title: This is at the discretion and choice of the instructor. Often the title of the TestOut learning resource is copied and pasted from the TestOut product title course outline (available here by clicking on the name of the respective product title) into this field.
URL: Leave as Custom (this value carries through from the TestOut External Tool configuration).
Consumer Key: Leave as Custom (this value carries through from the TestOut External Tool configuration).
Shared Secret: Leave as Custom (this value carries through from the TestOut External Tool configuration).
Custom Parameters:
labsim_course_id=<the TestOut product title ISBN, which is available here>
labsim_section_id=<the outline number for the learning resource within the TestOut product title, which is available here by clicking on the name of the respective product title)>
The resulting External Tool assignment should appear similar to the below image of the below dialog box, which you can use to verify settings:
4. Click Submit to save the External Tool assignment.
NOTE: When creating additional External Tool assignments the only information that needs to change from assignment to assignment is the Title, and the outline number that is set equal to labsim_section_id in the Custom Parameters field. To reduce necessary typing and possible errors, it is advisable to copy and paste the contents of Custom Parameters from assignment to assignment, changing only the outline number.
5. If when clicking on an assignment linking you are prompted click "Launch TestOut" this is likely because pop-ups are being blocked by your browser. You can always allow pop-ups and redirects from https://apps.schoology.com to avoid the need of clicking on "Launch TestOut" for each assignment.
Important Information:
Automatically Creating a class and Enrolling students
Once you have links from your LMS integrated with LabSim, AS THE INSTRUCTOR:
Click one of the TestOut assignment links inside of your LMS class. When you click on the link, your class is automatically created in LabSim. 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 LabSim 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 LabSim.
Note: It is critical that at least one initial assignment be clicked to establish integration between your LMS and LabSim 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 LabSim 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 TestOut/LabSim class (for LTI 1.3 Advantage, TestOut 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 TestOut/LabSim 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 LabSim class. The end date shouldn’t exceed 18 months from when a course is first created in LabSim.
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If the LMS course start date is NOT known via the integration, the date when the first initial TestOut assignment link is clicked will be used as the start date for the LabSim class.
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If the LMS course end date is NOT known via the integration, the LabSim 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 LabSim 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 TestOut assignment links inside of your LMS class. When they click the link it will automatically create the student account inside of LabSim, and enroll them in the right class (with their LabSim 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 LabSim student account. This is how the TestOut system knows that your student exists, and is important for multiple aspects of integration functionality.
- For students that already have LabSim 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 LabSim account.
- DO NOT create your students' accounts inside LabSim through CSV, individually, or through email.
- Students DO NOT need to create their accounts through testout.com.