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Course Element: LTI Page

By means of the course element "LTI page" it is possible to integrate external learning applications in your course before having their content displayed in an OpenOLAT window. LTI means "Learning Tool Interoperability" and is an IMS standard to embed external learning applications such as e.g. a chat, a media Wiki, a test editor, or a virtual lab. More information about LTI can be found on the LTI project page: http://www.imsglobal.org/lti/

Indicate the URL to be referenced in the tab "Page content" along with its key and password. When selecting this LTI page in the course navigation, the user must accept the data transfer for privacy protection reasons first, before any user data, course information or keys will be transferred to the embedded application, password controlled and in the background. Your learning application will check access rights and grant access with a valid key.

When selecting a LTI page from the navigation users will see any learning applications that are embedded in an OLAT course. Any user data, course information or keys will be safely transferred to your embedded learning application in the background. Your learning application will verify any rights to grant access if the keys provided are valid.

To conform with data protection laws and privacy the user has to accept the transmission of personal data the first time he launches the service and whenever the configuration about transmitted data changes.

Configure LTI page

The following parameters can be configured:

URL: Please indicate the address of your external learning application in the format "http://wiscrowd.appspot.com/wiscrowd/" inside this input box.

Key: Please indicate the key provided by the supplier of your external learning application (in the example above this would be "12345").

Password: Please indicate the corresponding password to your key provided by the supplier of your external learning application (in the example above this would be "secret").

Transmit firstname/name: By checking this box a user's first and last name will be transferred to your external learning application. Otherwise users will be able to use this application anonymously.

Transmit e-mail address: By checking this box a user's e-mail address will be transferred to your external learning application.

Additional attributes: You can add additional parameters inside this input box that should be transferred to a learning application. You can e.g. tell this learning application to transfer a query from the learning platform OLAT. (External learning applications have to be able to process such transferred information; therefore it is necessary to have an agreement with your provider.) You have the choice between text attributes (identical values for each user) and additional dynamic user attributes (different for each user). You can add as many attributes as you wish, but note that the LTI resource must know which attributes are sent as this is not specified in the standard.

OpenOLAT roles: Here you can configure which role the user will have when launching the LTI resource. The three OpenOLAT roles Author, Coach and Participant are supported. For each role the mapping can be defined to a corresponding role on the LTI resource. The following LTI roles are available: Learner, Instructor, Administrator, Teaching assistant, Content developer and Mentor .

Transfer score: Select this checkbox when the LTI resource is generating a score value that can be transmitted to OpenOLAT using the LTI 1.1 standard. This is optional. The submitted score will appear on the users start screen of the LTI course element as well as in the efficiency statement of this course. Please be aware that according to the LTI standard only values between 0 and 1 are allowed.

Scaling factor: With the scaling factor the LTI results, which must have a value between 0 and 1 according to the LTI specification, can be scaled to a more practical value for the OpenOLAT course. For example, if you want an LTI exam to have a maximum of 10 points in OpenOLAT, you must specify a scaling factor of "10". If you want the transmitted score to be unmodified, use the factor "1".

Score needed to pass: Here you can configure an optional cut value to define when the LTI course element is considered as being passed. The cut value relates to the score value after scaling and not to the raw value transmitted by LTI. In the example above a cut value of "5" is equivalent to "50%".

Display: Select the option "Embedded in course (iFrame)" to embed the LTI resource within the course layout. The option "Display only module, hide LMS (iFrame)" completely hides OpenOLAT while the LTI module is active. With the option "Open in new window" the LTI resource is opened in a separate window. This can be useful in case the resource needs a lot of space or has to be used in parallel with other course elements.

Display height: Select "automatic" or an explicit size in case the automatic feature does not work properly.

Display width: Select "automatic" or an explicit size in case the automatic feature does not work properly.

Show all information transmitted on launch (Debug): By checking this box other users will be able to see the information sent. This information includes parameters such as user identification, course title, course element, etc.By clicking on "Launch Endpoint with BasicLTI Data" in the course view on top of your display of the data sent you will get to the homepage of your learning application.

If the option "transfer score" is activated, the LTI page can be added as an assessable course element to the course, which then appears in the assessment tool. In addition to that, the score also appears on the homepage of the LTI course element.

The display options allow you to determine how the page is displayed for your students. Detailed information on these options can be found in the context-sensitive Help of the tab "Page content".

Course Element: Topic Assignment

The course element "Topic assignment" is useful if you want to announce e.g. topics for term papers in your course before having them supervised. Course authors determine the detailed configuration of their topic assignment. This comprises e.g. who has the right to announce and supervise topics, how topics have to be described, or how many topics can be selected by one course participant. What makes this course element so special is the fact that not course authors but topic authors will announce and supervise such topics.

Editor view

How to configure topic assignments

In the tab "Configuration" you determine first how many topics can be selected by one participant, if this selection is definite or if it has to be accepted by the topic author first. Furthermore you can add additional fields to describe a topic in more detail. This description will then be displayed in the table containing all topics announced. Here you can also determine if registrations and submissions shall only be possible within a certain period of time. In the tab "Sub-elements" you can choose if there should be a drop box as well as a return box in your topic assignment. Course participants will then upload their files to that drop box while topic authors will return those files by means of a return box.

Configure

Do you want to limit the number of Topics per participant?: When selecting this option a field will pop up to indicate the number of Topics a participant may choose from the course element Topic assignment

Topic authors have to accept participants: When selecting this option participants can only register for a Topic temporarily. Topic authors will then have to select their candidates before finally accepting them.
When deselecting this option all participants already registered for this Topic will be accepted automatically. However, topic authors are able to define the maximum number of participants first.

Only one Topic allowed (participants accepted will be signed out automatically from other Topics): When selecting this option all users accepted as participants will be automatically signed out of all other topics selected before. This means that participants may be registered for only one Topic

Add additional fields:

By means of "Add field" you can create fields according to your needs. You can create up to five additional fields for further details.

In the field "Name" you can indicate a favored field name.

You can offer your topic authors a selection of predefined values displayed in a pull-down menu. Please indicate the corresponding options in the field "Value" separated by semicolons or line breaks. When using a free-text field you can leave the field "Value" blank. Topic authors can then fill in a value of their own choice.

When selecting "Appears in table" this field will be displayed in the overview as requested. Apart from that this information will appear in the detailed topic description.

By means of "Delete field" you can delete additional fields.

Manage dates:

You can choose which dates should be at the disposal of topic authors.

Registration date: A topic author can determine a registration deadline for a Topic . After this deadline participants will no longer be able to select or deselect that Topic . However, a topic author still has the option to sign participants in or out.

Deadline: After a deadline the drop box will be closed. Participants will then no longer be able to upload documents to that drop box.

When selecting "Appears in table" your event will be displayed in the overview.

How to appoint topic authors

In the tab "Persons in charge" you add those OpenOLAT users who should be able to announce and supervise topics. These persons do not necessarily have to hold author rights.

If you remove a topic author who has already announced a topic he will still be able to supervise it. However, this person will no longer be able to announce new topics.

Role of topic authors

When being authorized by a course author to act as topic author you can announce as well as supervise topics. Just open the course view and navigate to your topic assignment. . As person responsible for a topic you can edit that Topic, administer its participants or add more persons responsible for that topic. In the box "Supervised groups" you will see those groups you are in charge of.

Select elements

Here you can determine if the elements Drop box and Return box should be activated in the course element Topic assignment . In the Drop box participants will be able to upload files. Topic authors can store files in a Return box . If there are no modifications all elements will be enabled. When deselecting the Drop box its tab will be dimmed and no longer accessible.

Confirmation of submission

You can optionally enter a text to be presented to the user in a new window after successfully handing in a file. If you do not enter a text, the following message (or similar) will appear: This is to confirm that John Miller (jmiller) has sent the file "test.html" on 21-09-04 at 00:14:42.

By selecting the option Send text additionally as e-mail the user will get an e-mail with the above mentioned confirmation after successfully handing in a file.

Course view

How to create a new topic

Click on "Create new topic" and indicate its title as well as a description. Depending on the configuration of your topic assignment you can add further details to the topic's description, determine deadlines for registration and submission, decide how many course participants are allowed to select your topic, and upload additional files if needed. In addition to that you can decide whether participants have the right to deselect already selected topics, and whether topic authors should receive e-mail notifications on de-/selections of topics.

A topic in detail

Topic: Via Topic you will find the topic's title, which can be edited by the person responsible.

in charge: Here you have a list of topic authors. When clicking on these authors' names you will get to their visiting cards to contact them.

When creating a Topic you will automatically be the person responsible for this topic. However, you can put others in charge of that role in the tab Administration of participants or appoint other users to persons responsible for your topic.

Description: The field Description contains more detailed information on this Topic.

Additional fields: There are so-called "Additional fields" course authors can define. Course authors determine if topic authors should select within the so-called "Topic assignment : add additional fields" a value from a pull-down list or if they are to indicate a value of their own. Here you can either indicate some free text or choose a value from a list.

Registration deadline: If topic authors define a registration deadline you will only be able to select or deselect a topic within a certain period. Before and after that deadline the links "Select" and "Deselect" will be deactivated; users will not be able to sign in or out of your Topic . The person responsible for that topic can nevertheless sign users in or out manually.

Due date: If topic authors define a deadline you will only be able to upload documents to the drop box within a certain period of time. Please indicate either a start date or a Deadline or both.

Topic status: In this field you will see the Topic status . If the Topic status is set to "Vacancies" you can register for a Topic as long as the maximum number of topics is not exceeded. If the Topic status is set to "Filled" no more users will be able to register. If you have already selected a Topic its Topic status is either "Temporary assignment" (a topic author has to accept you first as participant) or it is "Assigned" (automatic registration). As soon as a topic author accepts your registration your Topic status will be set to "Definite assignment".

If you are a topic or course author and there are no registered participants for your Topic your Topic status is set to show "No participants to check". If there are participants already registered the status is set to show "Check participants". In case you have already selected some participants the status "Participants accepted" will be displayed.
The person responsible for a topic can modify the Topic status . Just save and select "Topic set status on "Filled"" or "Reset Topic status to "Vacancies"".

Number of vacancies (filled/total): Topic authors can limit the number of vacancies.

Attachment: In the field Attachment topic authors can upload a file. Several files can be uploaded as single ZIP file.

E-mail notification when selecting/deselecting Topics: When choosing this option you will get an e-mail notification in case a course participant selects or deselects your Topic.

Via "Edit Topic" you will get to the editing mode. Click on "Delete Topic" to delete your topic from the Topic assignment . Choose "Topic set status on "Filled"" if no further participants should be able to select a Topic . Via "Reset Topic status to "Vacancies"" you can open a Topic anew--even if there are participants that are registered and accepted already. Please keep in mind that the last two buttons will only be visible if the course author has provided the Topic assignment with the option to accept participants manually.

How to configure topics

If you want to modify your configuration later on just click on the topic's title. Now you will be able to edit that topic, change its status from "Open" to "Closed" or vice versa, or delete that topic.

How to manage participants

If the configuration of your topic assignment requires that course participants have to be accepted by the topic author you will see on the home page of topic assignments the note "Check participant" in a table as soon as somebody has applied for your topic. Now open the tab "Topic assignment" and accept the application of your candidate(s).

Candidates are course participants applying for your topic. By means of "Accept participant as" you can decide to whom your topic should be assigned. All participants accepted will be added to the list "Participants accepted" and can be notified via e-mail if you wish. Just highlight those candidates you do not accept and click on "Delete." If you wish those candidates will be notified via e-mail as well.

If you have not limited the number of vacancies you can repeat this procedure several times. Please remember to select "Topic set status on "Filled"" in the tab "Description" to avoid further applications for your topic.

It is also possible to add or remove participants in this tab manually, as well as additional topic administrators. Participants will not be allowed to edit their Topic

How to upload and return files

In the tab "Folder," section "Drop box," you will find all those files course participants have submitted. In the section "Return box" you can put files already corrected. There will be one sub-folder for each course participant.

Course Element: Link list

The course element "Link list" enables the author to quickly assemble a collection of links relevant to the course. No HTML proficiency is required. Simply open the course editor, navigate to the link list course element, open the "Configuration" tab and enter either the URL of the website you wish to add as a link, or select a target file by clicking on the magnifier icon. You can upload files in the now open modal window. Next, select whether the link should open in a new or in the same window, and enter the title of the link. A description or other additional information on the link can be added through the comment field, located beneath the address field. Remove or add links by using the trash / + buttons.

Course Element "Assignment of dates"

Here you can create and edit those dates for which users can enroll. It is also possible to define if cancelling an enrollment shall be allowed. Furthermore you can manage your participants.

Assignment of dates

Manage events Opens the tools for creating and changing events. The link "Create event(s)" allows you to create one or more events at the same time. You can either edit events one at a time or multiple simultaneously. If a single event is being edited, the current properties are already preset in the input boxes; therefore it will be easier to make modifications. When editing multiple events, the input boxes are initially all empty. Only if an empty box is overwritten will the corresponding property be changed. If you just want to move your events, the boxes remaining can be left blank.

Events: create & and edit

By means of this tool you can create many enrollment dates without any effort. Attributes for these dates are defined by Default values. If all mandatory fields regarding Default values are filled in you can start creating events with the button Create event(s)

Default values

Title: Please indicate a title for this event. An entry is mandatory (mandatory field).

Begin of event: Please fill in the date and time for the beginning of a series of dates. Be aware that your input must have the correct format. When clicking on the symbol next to the input field a calendar will open to choose a start time. This is more or less fail-safe. An entry is mandatory (mandatory field).

Duration of event: Fill in here the duration of a single event in hours and minutes regarding a series of dates. An entry is mandatory (mandatory field).

Interval: Fill in an interval between the dates in a series of events in hours and minutes. An entry is mandatory (mandatory field).

Number of events: Fill in the number of events to be created. 0 or negative values are not allowed. An entry is mandatory (mandatory field).

Number of participants per date: Fill in the maximum number of participants to be enrolled at this date. 0 or negative values are not allowed. An entry is mandatory (mandatory field).

Location: Fill in the venue here. An entry is mandatory (mandatory field).

Comment: Fill in an optional comment here.

Multiple Events: Move dates

This input field allows you to move the choosen dates or events. Enter hours and minutes to move those dates. A preceding + or - indicates whether those dates should take place sooner or later. An entry is mandatory (mandatory field).

Manage participants Opens the tool for deleting, adding, and notifying participants.

Signing out allowed: Here you can define whether users should be able to cancel their enrollment.