Integrating Assign2 with Blackboard
Published on: 2024-11-27 by Edufide
This guide provides step-by-step instructions for Blackboard administrators to register and configure Assign2 as an LTI 1.3 tool, making it available for instructors and students to use in their courses.
Contents:
Introduction
The Assign2 LTI 1.3 tool allows students and instructors to access Assign2 assessment features within their Blackboard courses. This integration uses the LTI 1.3 standard to provide seamless single sign-on and grade passback functionality.
This guide is designed for Blackboard administrators and covers both Blackboard Ultra and Classic interfaces.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, you will need the following from the Edufide support team:
- Client ID (Application ID): Your unique identifier for the LTI 1.3 integration.
- Target Link URI (Launch URL): The endpoint URL for launching the Assign2 LTI tool.
Registering the LTI 1.3 Tool
A Blackboard administrator must register the LTI 1.3 tool within your institution’s Blackboard instance.
Step 1: Navigate to LTI Tool Providers
The navigation differs depending on your Blackboard version:
For Blackboard Ultra:
Log into Blackboard as an administrator.
Navigate to Admin on the left-hand menu.
Under Integrations, click LTI Tool Providers.
For Blackboard Classic:
Log into Blackboard as an administrator.
Navigate to System Admin on the top right menu.
Under Integrations, click LTI Tool Providers.
Step 2: Register the Tool
Click Register LTI 1.3/Advantage Tool.
Paste your provided Client ID (Application ID) from Edufide into the Client ID field.
Click Submit.
Step 3: Configure Tool Settings
Find and copy the Deployment ID value.
Provide this Deployment ID to Edufide support for registration completion.
Update Tool Status to Approved.
Under Institution Policies, check all options under User Fields to Send.
Click Submit.
Creating the Placement
After registering the tool, you need to create a placement that determines how and where the tool appears in Blackboard courses.
Step 1: Access Manage Placements
Locate the newly created LTI 1.3 tool in your LTI Tool Providers list (it should be named “Assign2” or similar).
Hover over the tool name and click the dropdown arrow.
Select Manage Placements from the menu.
Click Create Placement.
Step 2: Configure Placement Settings
In the placement dialog, enter the following details:
Placement Information
- Label: Assign2 (this is what users will see in Blackboard)
- Description: Assign2 is a comprehensive assessment management platform that facilitates the creation, delivery, and grading of online assessments.
- Handle: 1
- Availability: Choose Yes
- Type: Choose Course Tool
- Type: Course Tool: Check Allow student access
Tool Provider Information
- Target Link URI: [Your provided Target Link URI (Launch URL) from Edufide]
- Tool Provider Custom Parameters: Leave blank (unless customizing - see note below)
Click Submit to create the placement.
Optional: Customizing the Integration
You can customize the Assign2 integration to modify user matching, change the landing page, or adjust menu items. Common customizations include:
- User Match Customization: By default, Blackboard matches users by email. You can configure it to match by username, student ID, or external ID by adding custom parameters.
- Landing Page Customization: Change which page users see when launching the tool (e.g., direct to assignments or specific assessment pages).
- Menu Customization: Control which menu items appear in the Assign2 interface within Blackboard.
Contact Edufide support for assistance with any custom configurations.
Testing the Integration
After completing the setup, test the integration to ensure it works correctly:
Navigate to a test course in Blackboard.
Go to the course menu or tools area where external tools are accessible.
Look for “Assign2” (or the label you configured) in the available tools.
Click on the Assign2 tool link.
Verify that the tool launches correctly and you can access the Assign2 interface.
Test with different user roles (instructor and student) to ensure proper access levels.
If you encounter any issues during testing, contact Edufide support for assistance.