Using LMS Integration to place CertMaster Learn content into Canvas (LTI 1.3)

Applicable products: CertMaster Learn

Method 1 (Recommended): From the Modules view

1. In your Canvas course, click Modules in the course navigation bar on the left.

2. Find (or create) the module you want to place CertMaster Learn content in.

3. Click the '+' icon at the right of the module title bar.

4. Select External Tool from the dropdown at the top of the dialogue that appears.

5. Select the desired CertMaster Learn tool from the list that appears and a content selector will open.

   • The tool name can be altered in the LMS tool configuration, but if you followed our configuration documentation, it will be called ‘CertMaster Learn for <Certification Name>’

6. Check the boxes next to as many items as you wish to add to the module, then click the blue Submit button at the bottom of the content selector.

   • See the Known Issue Warning at the top of this article.

7. Canvas will process the selected items automatically: ungraded readings will be processed into direct LTI links, and graded items (from the Practice Questions, Performance-Based Questions, and Assessments categories) will be processed into Canvas assignments with a corresponding column in the Canvas Gradebook.

8. CertMaster Learn items will not function for new students in an embedded context, so you must configure all items to open in a new tab.

   • For direct links, you can do this via the three-dot menu to the right of the item in the Modules view, and checking the box in the dialogue that appers.

   • For Assignments, navigate to Assignment settings by clicking the item, then clicking the Edit Assignment Settings button in the upper right. Then scroll down to the Submission Type section and check the box to ‘Load This Tool In A New Tab’.

Method 2: From the Assignments view

1. In your Canvas course, click Assignments in the course navigation bar on the left.

2. Click the three-dots button in the upper-right, and select the desired CertMaster Learn tool to display the content selector.

   • The tool name can be altered in the LMS tool configuration, but if you followed our configuration documentation, it will be called ‘CertMaster Learn for <Certification Name>’

3. Minimize the Lessons section by clicking the blue header. Check the boxes next to as many graded items from the Practice Questions, Performance-Based Questions, and Assessments categories as you wish, then click the blue Submit button at the bottom of the content selector.

   • See the Known Issue Warning at the top of this article.

4. Canvas will process the selected items into assignments with a default point value of 100.

5. CertMaster Learn items will not function for new students in an embedded context, so you must configure all items to open in a new tab. Click the three-dot menu to the right of an assignment, click Edit, then click the More Options button. Scroll down to the Submission Type section and check the box to ‘Load This Tool In A New Tab’.

6. After that, you can add the Assignments to Modules as you would normally.

Method 3: From the Editor Button

1. In any Canvas text editor window (for example, in a Page), click the External tools button, which looks like an electrical plug.

2. Select the desired CertMaster Learn tool from the list. (You may need to click ‘View all’ if it doesn’t show).

3. Check the boxes next to as many items as you wish to add to the module, then click the blue Submit button at the bottom of the content selector.

4. Integration links will appear, which you can reformat as desired.

Functionality and Tips

What should I use in my course?

The short answer is: Anything you want! However, being greeted by a list of many reading pages the first time you open the content selector can be a bit overwhelming. We recommend one of the following two structures.

• Create a Module for each Lesson in CertMaster Learn – this method is good for holding the student’s hand and making sure they go through the items in the order you intend. Create a module for each Lesson in the course, and in each module, use Method 1 above to add:

  • Lessons (readings): Use just the first item in each Lesson, and students can continue reading from there. If you wish to be slightly more granular, you can link the first item in each Topic instead. These will not pass back grades or completion to the LMS.

  • Practice Questions: In the Practice Questions section, you’ll find one question set for each Lesson, which is a set of 10-20 multiple choice questions. These will pass grades back, and so can be used as graded quizzes, or simply as ungraded review material.

  • Performance-based Questions (PBQs): The number in the title of each PBQ is the Lesson it’s associated with. Not every Lesson has a corresponding PBQ, and some have multiple, but most Lessons have at least one. These are alternate question types, like drop-downs, drag-and-match, etc., and pass grades back to the LMS. Place a link and try one out if you’d like to see for yourself!

  • Assessments: For each course, there is a single final assessment meant to mirror the certification exam. These have around 90 questions, which are a mix of multiple choice and PBQs. These do pass grades back to the LMS.

  • (Optionally, CertMaster Labs: If you’re also utilizing our CertMaster Labs product, you can link these practical experiences to give your students practice in an actual Windows or Linux environment. There is documentation available for where to place each Lab within each CertMaster Learn lesson; just ask your CompTIA rep!)

• Single Entry Point – Students enter CertMaster Learn through a single integration link to the CertMaster Learn landing page, and grades pass back via student-invisible Canvas Assignments. This will use the CertMaster Learn platform to provide the structure and ordering of the course, while still allowing you to monitor assignment progress through the Canvas gradebook.

  • Using Method 2 above, add each graded asset to the Canvas Assignments list in one go. Publish them, but do not add them to any modules. This will create the gradebook endpoints and allow grades to flow from CertMaster Learn to Canvas without flooding the student with links.

  • Speak with your integration specialist about creating an integration link to the Landing Page for the course. This involves a bit of unintuitive manipulation of Canvas functionality, but with their help you’ll be done in minutes.

Assignment and Grade Services (AGS) Functionality

Our tools utilize LTI 1.3’s Advantage Services – specifically Deep Linking and Assignment and Grade Services (AGS) – to allow grades to automatically pass from our platform to the LMS gradebook as they’re completed. See our article LMS Integration: Assignment and Grade Services (AGS) for Technical Requirements, Frequently Asked Questions, and other information on this process.

Other Tips

• Other CertMaster Learn functionality from the native platform (like the Boost Dashboard and Group Reporting) is still available to integration customers.

• You can navigate the content selector more easily by clicking the blue header bars to expand or contract the sections you’re interested in.

• Though they don’t appear in the content selector, you can also create links to other CertMaster Learn assets, like the Learning Plan page, Flashcard games, or the Boost Dashboard for Instructors. For more info on this, reach out to your CompTIA integration specialist.

For more assistance, see the screenshots below.

Location of the Modules '+' icon in Method 1.

1.4 Select ‘External Tool’ at the top, and then click the desired CertMaster Learn tool.

1.6 Expand each section, check off as many boxes as you like (except ‘Study Tasks’, see warning at top of article), and click Submit.

An example of how a Lesson might look in Canvas using all of our learning products. The first section is the CertMaster Learn content.