This article covers the process of using LMS Integration to place links to learning resources in the CertMaster products.
Steps
1. Navigate to the desired course, and then to Modules. If your course is empty, click +Module to create one.
2. In the title bar of your module, click the three-dot menu on the right and select the CertMaster tool.
Note: The default tool name is 'CertMaster LTI Adv'. If your integration was configured before June 2024, your tool title may use ‘LabSim’ or ‘TestOut’ instead of ‘CertMaster’. Your LMS Administrator also has the power to change the tool name.
3. Once the tool loads, click Course Resources.
4. Search for and select the desired product.
- If your institution purchases license pools or uses Usage-based Billing, you can check Only show institution licensed products to show only the products that have been set up for those purchase methods.
Please note the different CertMaster product types, and only select one for any given certification line you wish to place into your course. Not every Certification offers every product, though almost all of them do.
- Learn (and TestOut Pro): The base-level product. Contains reading content, interactives, quizzes, simulation-based Labs, as well as Assessments and Practice Exams.
- Labs: Supplementary product that contains Virtual-Machine-based Labs that allow students to practice in a full version of the operating system in question. Only available for products released in 2024 and after.
- Perform: The flagship product. Contains all of the above. Only available for products released in 2024 and after.
5. On the left, select the chapter you wish to link to from the list. The resources within that chapter will appear in the right-hand column.
6. 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.
Tip: You can select the filter icon to filter by content type.
7. Click Continue.
9. On the next page, you will see a summary of the links that you are creating. By default, all gradeable items are set to create both a grade-synced Assignment in Canvas with a corresponding gradebook column, as well as a link to that Assignment in the Canvas Module. If you only want a link in the Module and don't want to create a Canvas Assignment, uncheck the item's box in the Graded column.
Note: Section Headings are not graded and therefore cannot be checked. The link will still show up in your module.
10. Click Create Links.
11. To Publish your content click the Publish radio button for your module. Optionally, you may publish individual Assignments by clicking each respective Publish radio button. Note that grades will only sync to published Assignments.
12. You may Edit any Canvas Assignment to set a Due Date or to adjust Points. Other Canvas supported options are available within More Options. Then click Save.
13. Test at least one Assignment link to make sure it functions properly and that grades are successfully returning to the LMS gradebook where expected. Finding that grades aren't syncing properly on the first day of class is unpleasant for all parties involved!
- As instructor/admin, confirm both the course and the assignment you wish to test is Published.
- Log in as a test student account. "View as Student" will not function for integration links.
- If you need access for your test student, ask the CompTIA Technical Implementation Manager on your LMS Install ticket, telling them the email address associated with the test student account.
- Click a graded link and complete the activity.
- Grades should appear in the gradebook within a minute of completion.
14. After successfully building and testing your course, send instructors and students the below information:
Instructors
- Instructors must click at least one integration link in each LMS course they teach. This automatically creates their user account (if it doesn't already exist), assigns it the Instructor role in CertMaster, creates a corresponding Class on the CertMaster side, and enrolls their account in that Class as an Instructor.
- You can view your Classes on the CertMaster Home page under the My Campus tab.
- Please note that using the following features alongside LMS integration can cause duplication problems, as user account and class setup is handled by the integration automatically:
- Do not create your CertMaster user account manually or have your students do so
- Do not create CertMaster Classes manually
- Do not use CertMaster's "Invite students to Class" feature
Students
- Student accounts are created and enrolled in the corresponding CertMaster Class automatically the first time they click a CertMaster link in a given LMS course.
- If students have purchased or been given an Access Key, they will be prompted to enter it the first time they click an integration link for a given product. If the institution is purchasing student access another way, access will be granted automatically on click.
- In order for grades to sync to the LMS gradebook properly, students must have entered CertMaster through one of the integration links in the LMS course where the grades need to sync. Logging into CertMaster through its normal login page or through an integration link in a different LMS course can disrupt the grade syncing process.