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Link to SAM Activities and Resources

After setting up your SAM course, create links from LMS to activities or other content in SAM. Linked graded activities are included in the LMS gradebook unless you choose to exclude them.Linked graded activities are included in the LMS gradebook.

Note In Moodle™ versions older than 3.10, each activity link must be added individually. In this case, consider using the SAM gradebook to calculate an overall course score for all SAM activities and syncing that course score to Moodle instead.

Before adding links to SAM activities, make sure your SAM course is set up the way you want it.

  • Add and organize the assigned activities and course materials for your SAM course.
  • Configure assignment settings such as grading, attempts, feedback, time limits, due dates, point values, and grade categories.
Best Practice Use consistent assignment settings and a consistent schedule for due dates and times.
Prerequisites
Integrate SAM With Your LMS Course

Links created in this way are sometimes called deep links because they are not just web links but allow data to be exchanged between LMS and SAM.

  1. Open your LMS course.
  2. Select Lessons from your navigation.
  3. Click Add Content > Add Learning App.
  4. Click the Cengage tool.
    If the tool is not available, contact your administrator.
  5. Click the Content tab.
  6. On the Materials tab, click Add Materials > Cengage LMS Integration.
  7. Add SAM content to your course.
    Blackboard Original
    1. Click Content > Build Content > Cengage Content.
      If the Cengage tool is not shown under Build Content, see Can't Find Cengage Content in Blackboard.
    Blackboard Ultra
    1. Click + > Content Market.
    2. Click Cengage Content under Institution Tools.
      Important If you see a Cengage tool shown under Content Market, do not select it. This is an outdated version of the integration that will be removed soon. Only add the Cengage tool under Institution Tools.

      If the Cengage tool is not shown under Institution Tools, see Can't Find Cengage Content in Blackboard.

  8. In your module, click Add Existing Activities > Cengage.

    The Cengage tool may be named differently for your school. Ask your LMS Admin if you are unsure.

    If you do not see the Cengage tool, try this instead.

    1. Click Related Tools > Course Builder.
    2. Drag New Cengage Learning from Add Content to your module.
  9. Click actions menu > Turn editing on.
  10. Click Add an activity or resource.
  11. Select the Cengage tool and click Add.

    The Cengage tool is created and named by your Moodle administrator.

    The Willo tool is created and named by your Moodle administrator.

    If a Willo tool is not listed:

    1. Select External tool and click Add.
    2. Under General > Preconfigured tool, select the Willo tool.
  12. Under General, click Select content.
    Note The Activity Name and Tool URL are set automatically after selecting the content.
  13. From the course navigation, click Cengage.
  14. Select your linked SAM course from the list of content sources.

    A list of assigned activities for your linked SAM course is shown.

  15. Click Select Content.
  16. Select activities to include in your course.
    Note When using Willo, it's not possible to add activities to the LMS gradebook without also adding an activity link to your LMS course.

    By default, when you include a graded activity it is added to the LMS gradebook.

  17. Configure grade syncing with LMS.
    Note Depending on your course and LMS configuration, some of the following options might not be available.
    To do this Do this
    Add a graded activity to the LMS gradebook Select Add to Gradebook for the activity.
    Exclude a graded activity from the LMS gradebook Clear Add to Gradebook for the activity.
    Add a graded activity to the LMS gradebook without adding the activity link
    1. Select Add to Gradebook.
    2. Clear Add to Course.
    Sync only the overall course score and not individual activity scores
    1. Click Activity Scores > Course Score.
    2. Click Synchronize Overall Course Score.
    Sync individual activity scores (after previously choosing to sync the course score)
    1. Click Course Score > Activity Scores.
    2. Click Synchronize Individual Activity Scores.
  18. Select a content link to include in your course.

    Select Add to Course for the activity you want to link from LMS. Expand or collapse the course outline if needed.

    If you sync activity scores, only SAM graded activities that you link to will be synced to LMS. Scores are not synced for SAM activities that are not linked from LMS.

  19. Click Continue.
  20. Blackboard Original: Review the settings, select where to put your course links, and click Submit.
  21. Save your changes at the bottom of the page.

    Click either Save and return to course or Save and display.

  22. Optional: Repeat these steps to add another link.

The content page displays all the links you have added to your SAM course and activities.

The selected links are added to the module.

Your link is added to the Sakai® Lessons area.

If needed, you can reorganize the links in LMS.