Hi Team
We have a 2.9 instance of Moodle and have attempted numerous times to use the External Tool plugin to access the Mind Tools site based on information provided by the site. We seem to constantly have issues and lose the connection that allows the automatic password validation. I have contacted the site but would love some in put from anyone who maybe successfully using the external tool with Mind Tools (http://www.mindtools.com/community/index.php)
The following are the instructions provided by Mind Tools:
LTI integration – Learning Tools Interoperability
About LTI
LTI is a standard for integrating Learning Management Systems with other secure learning
content platforms, such as Mind Tools.
LTI may be installed natively within your LMS, which makes integration with Mind Tools
Connect quick and easy. A list of compatible systems can be found here, and you can find more
information about LTI here.
LTI Setup: Step-by-Step
This guide is based on the Moodle system of LTI setup. Although the concept will be the same,
the wording may vary depending on which personalized version you are using. This document
will explain how to:
● Set up a new link from your LMS to Mind Tools resources.
● Configure the connection.
● Add additional links.
● Deep link (choose a specific page for your users to be directed to).
● Edit links.
There is a small amount of extra information that you will need during the integration process.
For security reasons, we will send this to you by email.
Once you have completed the steps below, you will be able to access Mind Tools resources
from your LMS. Before your customized pages are ready, you will be temporarily directed to
our trial product.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Setting up Your First Link/Configuration
Step 1: Login to your LMS, and select “Edit Mode.”
Step 2: Select the page where you would like the Mind Tools link to appear.
Step 3: To create a link, click “Add an Activity or Resource” and select “External Tool.”
Step 4: Decide what you would like the link text to be. For example, “Mind Tools Learning.”
Type this in the “Activity Name” field.
Step 5: Click (+) in the “External Tool Type” field to add an external tool configuration. This will
open a new window. Note: you will only need to do this once, as this configures the connection
to Mind Tools.
Step 6: In the “Tool Name” field, enter “Mind Tools.”
Step 7: In the “Tool Based URL” field, enter:
https://www.mindtools.com/connect/LTI/basic/tool.php
Step 8: In the “Consumer Key” and “Shared Secret” fields, enter the information that has been
emailed to you separately.
Step 9: Click “Save Changes” to complete your configuration setup. You won’t need to do this
again.
Step 10: In the “External Tool Type” field, select “Mind Tools,” then click “Save and Return to
Course.”
Mind Tools should now appear within your page setup. Click “Mind Tools Welcome Page” – if
this launches Mind Tools as a page, it means that your configuration is correct. You can now
move on to use the system and add further links.
Adding Additional Links
Step 1: Select the page where you would like the link to appear.
Step 2: Click “Add an Activity or Resource,” and select “External Resource.”
Step 3: Add the activity name (this is what the user will see). For example, “Leadership Skills
From Mind Tools.”
Step 4: In the “External Tool Type” field select “Mind Tools.”
Step 5: Click “Save Changes.”
Repeat these five steps to add as many links as necessary.
Note:
As a default setting, additional links will direct your users to the Mind Tools homepage. To
link to specific content pages, you will need to Deep Link (see below).
Deep Linking
Step 1: Select the page where you would like the link to appear.
Step 2: In the “Custom Parameters” field, type: “url=” followed by the URL of the page that
you’d like to link to. For example:
“url=http://www.mindtools.com/community/pages/main/newMN_LDR.php”.
Step 3: Click “Save Changes.”
Editing a Link to Mind Tools
Step 1: Make sure “Edit Mode” is selected, and click the “Update” icon.
Step 2: Amend the information as necessary. You can also choose how the content is launched
in your LMS in the “Launch Container” drop-down menu