Getting started
TeachFORGE.ai
Getting started / Your learning platform
Connecting your learning platform
How an organisation connects Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard or Brightspace to TeachForge by LTI 1.3: who does it, the two lists of details, and testing it.
Two lists swap hands, then one test.
Who sets it up
The connection belongs to an organisation, not to one teacher. It is set up by the organisation's administrator, in the organisation portal under LMS, on the card LMS integration. The administrator needs two-factor sign-in switched on to open it.
Four platforms are supported: Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard and Brightspace, all by LTI 1.3. A teacher does not set anything up: once it is on, a teacher meets TeachForge inside their course. Classes linked to your learning platform covers the teacher's side.
Usually two people are involved: the TeachForge administrator, and whoever runs the learning platform for your school (the LMS administrator). They swap two lists of details.
Before you start
Ask TeachForge support to set your organisation's default student ID pattern first. The page says so too. It decides how a learner arriving from the platform is matched to a record, and it has to be in place before the first launch.
Write to us through the contact form or a ticket and say which platform you use. Student ID patterns explains what the pattern is.
The steps
Choose the platform
Pick it under LMS and type its LMS address. Press Fill URLs from the preset to fill in the usual addresses for that platform. On Canvas, tick This Canvas is hosted by Instructure (Canvas cloud) if it is.
Give the first list to your LMS administrator
Under Give these to your LMS administrator the page lists the OIDC login URL, the Launch URL, the Public JWKS URL, the Deep-linking URL, the redirect addresses and a Custom parameter. Each has a copy button. On Moodle the same details have Moodle's own names, which the page shows beside them, such as Tool URL and Public keyset.
Get the second list back
Your LMS administrator registers TeachForge and gives you the details for Platform details from your LMS: the Issuer, Client ID, Deployment IDs, Authentication URL, Token URL and Platform JWKS URL. Choose where Student ID comes from.
Choose two switches, then save
An LMS launch counts as the student's password for that activity lets a learner start straight from the course. A linked teacher is signed in by the LMS launch does the same for a teacher whose account is linked. Press Save.
On Canvas, the page warns that the tool's Privacy Level must be set to Public. If it is not, the details TeachForge needs are not sent and launches fail.
Testing it
Press Test configuration. TeachForge fetches your platform's keys and shows Connected with the number of keys found, or Could not read the platform JWKS with the reason:
- the platform answered HTTP and a number: the address is wrong, or the platform refused.
- that address is not one TeachForge may fetch: only public https addresses on port 443 are allowed.
- the response is not a key set with RSA keys: the address points at the wrong page.
- the address could not be reached: check for a typing error, or ask your LMS administrator whether it is public.
When the test passes, switch on Integration active. The status shows Connected, Not tested, Test failed or Off.
What it does once it is on
- Learners and teachers open TeachForge from inside a course.
- The first time a teacher launches from a course, they link it to one of their classes.
- Sync roster brings in the course's learners. Names are never stored.
- A teacher can place up to 20 items in the course at a time from the content picker.
- Each placement gets one gradebook column. Grades are sent automatically, and Send grades now sends them at once.
Turning it off
Switching the integration off asks Turn the integration off?. The links between courses and classes are removed; your classes and their learner records stay. To unlink just one course, use Linked courses and Unlink. Removing the registration completely is done by TeachForge staff: write to us if you need it.
Messages a launch can show
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| This course is not linked to TeachForge yet | The teacher launches once from the course and links it to a class. |
| TeachForge is not switched on for this organisation | The administrator switches on Integration active. |
| Your course role cannot open TeachForge | The learning platform sent a role TeachForge does not accept. Ask your LMS administrator. |
| Continue in a new tab | The browser blocked TeachForge inside the course frame. Press it to open TeachForge in its own tab. |