How does LTI 1.3 integration grade sync work?

Step 1: Release scores to students

To sync scores with the Learning Management System (LMS), they must first be released in the Perusall gradebook. Instructors can do this in several ways.

• Scores are released manually by default, letting instructors review grades first. To release, click the button at the bottom of the assignment column in the Perusall gradebook.
• Or set automatic release: Go to Settings > Scoring > General > Release scores to students.

Step 2: Send scores to the LMS

To select how scores are sent to the LMS, go to Settings > Scoring > LMS Grade Sync > Grade sync to LMS, and pick an option:

• Select this option to prevent Perusall from sending scores to your LMS.

• Select this option to create a gradebook column that syncs these scores.

  With this route, you do not need to build individual Perusall assignment links. Students will click on the generic Perusall link that you added to your LMS course. For more information, see the following:

  • Blackboard Instructor Setup
  • Canvas Instructor Setup
  • Desire2Learn Instructor Setup
  • Moodle Instructor Setup
  • Sakai Instructor Setup
• Select this option so that all released scores (visible to students in Perusall) will sync automatically to separate gradebook columns in the LMS. Most sync immediately, but some may take up to an hour. You can force a sync anytime by selecting Gradebook > Sync to LMS at the bottom of the gradebook column.

• Select this option to prevent Perusall from sending scores to your LMS automatically. Instead, sync grades for each assignment manually by clicking Gradebook > Sync to LMS at the bottom of the gradebook column.

  Alternatively, you can manually sync all assignments via the Sync to LMS > Sync All Assignments button at the top of your Perusall gradebook.

Step 3: LMS gradebook column management

For instructors using automatic syncing of individual assignment scores, there are two ways Perusall shares grades with your LMS.

• Selecting Perusall creates gradebook columns in LMS for each assignment automatically lets Perusall send the assignment name, points, and deadline to your LMS (some LMSs may ignore the deadline) and updates this info when you change assignments.
  • Using this option, students can access Perusall via a generic link without creating individual LMS links.
  • In Canvas, Perusall auto-creates assignment links on the Assignments page, linking directly to each reading..

• Selecting Instructor creates deep links in LMS; no Perusall gradebook columns will appear in LMS until deep links have been created, does not let Perusall to automatically create and manage gradebook columns in your LMS. Instead, Perusall sends student scores to the gradebook columns created by your LMS for the deep links you set up. To learn how to create a deep link see below:

  • Blackboard Integration Features
  • Canvas Integration Features
  • Desire2Learn Integration Features
  • Moodle Integration Features
  • Sakai Integration Features

   

 Click the video below to learn more.

Troubleshooting

• When Perusall encounters a grade sync error, it should be reported in your Perusall gradebook.
  
  Green check marks beside scores indicate a successful grade passback to the LMS gradebook, while orange exclamation marks indicate errors. Scroll over the icon to get the direct error message.

  

• With the first option (automatic gradebook column management), Perusall automatically creates gradebook columns in your LMS for each assignment. If you delete a Perusall-created column by mistake, restore it by clicking Sync to LMS at the bottom of the gradebook column in Perusall to resync grades.
• Duplicates in the LMS generally occur when a course is set to auto-create mode, and the instructor is also manually adding deep links. 
  
  To remove the duplicates, navigate to Settings > Scoring > LMS grade sync > LMS gradebook column management, and switch Instructor creates deep links.  When you do, you'll see a pop-up says "Also delete existing gradebook columns in my LMS that Perusall is currently syncing to."
  
  Enable this, and Save Changes. Perusall will delete the duplicate columns that we have automatically created, and then when you launch the deep links from your LMS course, the grades will appear in the LMS gradebook columns you've created.
• After you've created deep links in your LMS course, the final step is to open the link, taking you from your LMS course to Perusall. (Anyone in the LMS course can do this, students or instructors.)
  
  If you've already opened the link, and the scores are still not syncing, try creating a brand new assignment in your LMS course, and adding the deep link, there. Then, the scores from Perusall should sync to the new assignment in the LMS. You are safe to delete the non-functioning link.
• If the Perusall gradebook error reports "Course has no LTI item URL," navigate to the assignment settings, and ensure that grading is enabled for the specific assignment, and verify that your LMS admin has enabled grading for the Perusall LTI 1.3 tool. If you need further support, contact Perusall support.
• When a Perusall course is set to Perusall creates gradebook columns in LMS for each Perusall assignment automatically, this error generally stems from the automatically created assignments/gradebook columns being deleted in Canvas. This can usually be fixed by clicking Sync to LMS beneath the corresponding assignment in the Perusall gradebook to force Perusall to recreate the gradebook column.
• If you or your students see this error, it means the link in your LMS is pointing to a Perusall assignment that isn't being recognized.
  
  Quick fixes by scenario:
  • Did you recently copy this course? Ensure the assignment was actually included in the copy. If it's missing, copy the assignment into the new course and relaunch it from your LMS.
  • Did the assignment exist before? Check your deleted assignments. If it was accidentally removed, restore it and try the link again.
  • Is the link broken? If the assignment exists in Perusall but still won't open, the "ID" might be mismatched. The best fix is to recreate the deep link in your LMS to "reset" the connection.
  • Are you using specific student groups? If only some students see this error, check the assignment Options. Ensure the student is actually part of the specific group or individual selection assigned to that task.