How do I integrate OpenStax Assignable with D2L/Brightspace?

OpenStax Assignable Checklist

  • Coordinate with administrators who have developer or admin access to LMS settings.
  • Ensure compatibility with LTI 1.3.
  • Note that beta, sandbox, or test environments are not supported.
  • Assignable only needs to be integrated once. Please double-check that the tool isn’t already available in your LMS.
  • Complete all steps outlined in this help article.

Integrating Assignable in D2L

  1. Log in to your D2L account. Navigate to the Admin menu by clicking the gear symbol in the upper right-hand corner. Click “All” and scroll down to “Manage Extensibility.”

    The D2L Admin menu expanded, with Manage Extensibility listed among the tools

  2. Click the “Register Tool” button.

    The Manage Extensibility page showing the Register Tool button

  3. Select “Dynamic” for the registration type. Enter this URL in the “Tool initiation registration endpoint” field: https://lti-gateway.openstax.org/lti/register. Make sure to select the “Configure Deployment” checkbox, then click the “Register” button.

    The tool registration form set to Dynamic, with the endpoint URL entered and Configure Deployment checked

  4. The next screen should be the OpenStax LTI registration form. Fill in the LTI admin contact details and select your institution from the dropdown menu, then click “Submit.”

    The OpenStax LTI registration form with admin contact fields and an institution dropdown

  5. Return to the D2L/Brightspace admin menu and click “External Learning Tools.”

    The D2L admin menu with External Learning Tools listed

  6. Click the deployment name (OpenStax) to check that all settings are correct.

    The deployment list showing the OpenStax deployment name

  7. Make sure the deployment is enabled, all extensions are enabled, Org Unit Information is checked, and all sending usernames and email addresses are enabled.

    The OpenStax deployment settings with the deployment and its extensions enabled

    User information settings with Org Unit Information, usernames, and email addresses enabled

  8. Select “Auto Create Grade Items” in the Configuration Settings area. Grades will now be created automatically in the grade book after the LTI tool sends a score for the first time.

    The Configuration Settings area with Auto Create Grade Items selected

  9. Click “Add Org Units.”

    The deployment page showing the Add Org Units button

  10. Select the organizational units that can access the tool. To enable the tool for the entire organization, select an organization and check “This org unit and all descendants.” Then select the checkbox on the left and click “Add.” When finished, click “Save and Close.”

    The org unit selection screen with a unit and all its descendants checked

  11. Return to External Learning Tools and click the tool to edit it.

    The External Learning Tools list with the OpenStax tool available to edit

  12. Make sure the tool is enabled and click “Save and Close.”

    The tool edit screen with the tool enabled

  13. The next screen should confirm that the tool is enabled. Global setup is now complete, and you can proceed to course setup. Continue to step 14 to make sure instructors have access to grading using the tool.

    A confirmation screen showing the tool is enabled

  14. Return to the administrator settings and click “External Learning Tools.”

    The administrator settings with External Learning Tools listed

  15. Select OpenStax to adjust the settings for this tool.

    The External Learning Tools list with OpenStax selected

  16. Under “Security Settings,” make sure “Org Defined ID” is selected. Under “Configuration Settings,” make sure “Auto Create Grade Items” is checked so that OpenStax Assignable can receive context information and avoid grading issues. Save and close.

    The Security Settings with Org Defined ID selected and Auto Create Grade Items checked

  17. Click View Links at the bottom of the page, then select “Create a deep linking link.” For the URL field, enter: https://lti-gateway.openstax.org/lti/app. Under “Type,” select “Deep Linking Quicklink.”

    The View Links area with the deep linking link field and the app URL entered

    The link Type dropdown set to Deep Linking Quicklink

  18. Setup is complete. The instructor can now find the tool under “Third Party” when adding a Quicklink to an assignment.

    The Quicklink menu with the OpenStax tool listed under Third Party

Once your school has successfully integrated the Assignable tool, you will not need to repeat these steps. You’re all set to create assignments. To continue the Assignable setup process, please see the help article How do I create an OpenStax Assignable assignment in Brightspace by D2L?

Assignable