Packback is compatible for integration with most Learning Management System (LMS) platforms, including Blackboard, Canvas, D2L, and Moodle. This article lays out how to go about setting up your Learning Management System with Packback and our Gradebook Sync feature.
This article will cover the entire setup flow across the following steps:
- Adding the Packback Tool/Link To Your Learning Management System
- Connecting Your Learning Management System Course to Packback
- Turning on Gradebook Sync and Adding Assignments in Packback
Follow along with instructions below to learn how you can go about enabling the Packback integration in Canvas.
PLEASE NOTE: For users at schools with Deep Linking enabled, an alternative set of connection instructions is available here.
How to Add Packback to Canvas Navigation Bar
If you're an instructor looking to add a Packback link to your Canvas Navigation bar, here's how:
- To enable Packback in your course on Canvas, open the module/course where you'd like to enable Packback. Then, click Settings.
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From here, click Navigation.
If your institution has enabled Packback as a tool that can be displayed in the navigation bar for a course, you should see Packback as an available tool at the bottom of the page, below your active navigation elements. - If you do not see Packback as an available tool, you may need to contact your school's IT department and ask them to enable the "Navigation" placement for Packback in your course. If you need any assistance, please contact our team at help@packback.co.
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To add Packback to your course, simply drag the item "Packback” into the desired spot in the navigation bar and then click Save. You'll immediately see Packback appear in the left hand sidebar navigation for your course.
Connecting Your Learning Management System Course to Packback
In order to utilize Packback in your LMS course, you will need to connect your course to a Packback community. When accessing Packback for the first time from within your LMS (from the Navigation link or through the assignment (deep) linking process), you will be prompted to connect to a Packback community.
After launching Packback from your LMS for the first time, you’ll be shown a list of Packback communities associated with your account. Click Connect next to the one you’d like to connect your Learning Management System course to. To complete the Learning Management System setup process, simply verify that the connection information is correct and Confirm Connection.
Still need to create a Packback community to connect to?
After launching Packback from your LMS for the first time, click Create a New Community and fill out the community details. Make sure to double check the information and finally select Create Community at the bottom of the page.
Congratulations, you’ve successfully created a new community and connected it to your Learning Management System!
Already created a Packback community but don’t see it?
If you’ve already created a Packback community but don’t see it when you click the Packback link in your Learning Management System, it’s possible you created the community under a different email address than is logged into your Learning Management System.
In this case, please reach out to our Support team for assistance. You can contact us via email at help@packback.co. We’ll be happy to help!
Turning On Gradebook Sync and Adding Assignments in Packback
This guide will walk you through setting up Gradebook Sync in Packback and adding Packback assignments to your Canvas course.
Setting Up Gradebook Sync
If you are hoping to have Packback sync to the gradebook built within Canvas for LTI 1.3, you’ll have the opportunity to set up Gradebook Sync right after you connect your LMS course to a Packback community. You can also skip that step and return to the Gradebook Sync page in the Packback page later, if you prefer.
Gradebook Sync Options: Gradebook Sync can be turned on/off for Discussion Assignments and Writing Assignments, separately.
For Discussion Assignments, you also have the choice to sync automatically or manually:
- Auto = Packback will do the work for you by automatically syncing your gradebook to your LMS after each deadline you’ve set up has passed
- Manual = You will have the autonomy to send your Packback grades to your LMS at your discretion!
After setting your Gradebook Sync preferences, click Save Changes.
Adding Assignments and Creating LMS Gradebook Columns
You have two primary ways to add Packback assignments to your LMS: using a Resource Link or the Deep linking process.
If you are connecting your community and assignments via the Deep Linking process, please follow these steps instead: How to Add Deep Linked Assignments
Resource Link (Basic External Tool Link)
This method involves creating an external tool link that directs students to the overall Packback community. You'll then manage individual assignment details within Packback.
- Follow the instructions for adding Packback as an external tool to your course’s Navigation bar.
- Click on the Packback link you have added.
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If you have not already made the connection, you’ll be shown a list of Packback communities associated with your account. Follow the connection instructions.
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Turn on Gradebook Sync and Create Grading Columns: If you would like Packback grades to sync over to the LMS gradebook, choose your preferences on the following Gradebook Sync page. After setting your Gradebook Sync preferences, click Save Changes.
If your assignments have already been created in Packback, you can import the grading columns over to Canvas now. These will be the columns Packback will sync grades to.Note: If you have any old Packback assignments copied over from a previous shell, please delete them from your Canvas gradebook first to prevent duplicate assignments!
Scroll down to Create Grading Columns and click the blue button for the desired assignment type(s), then Continue.
If you have yet to create your assignments or if you would like to skip this step for now, the column import buttons can later be found by clicking on Gradebook Sync in the sidebar of your Packback community.
Note: If you choose not to import all columns at once, Packback will create individual columns as deadlines pass or as you manually sync grades. For Writing Assignment grades, scores will only sync after you select Post Grades in Packback for the specific assignment. - If you have initiated Gradebook Sync, confirm that your community posting deadlines and grading requirements are set up to your liking. You may refer our instructions for setting up your assignments and requirements here:
- You have successfully set up your assignments for Gradebook Sync!
- Assignments will be managed directly within your Packback community, accessible via the Navigation link you have placed. Note: You can modify assignment dates in Packback, and these changes will automatically update in Canvas!
Having trouble?
If you are running into issues with the above instructions or just have a question, please reach out to our Support Team at help@packback.co.