1. Best Practices for Integrating SAM in Canvas
Sandy Keeter
Seminole State College of Florida
March 17, 2017

2. Today’s Objectives Introduction and Background
Overview of Cengage Products
Benefits/Limitations of LMS Integration
Our Integration Process
Live in Canvas/Cengage Products
Best Practices
Questions

3. Background Summer 2015 Fall 2015 Spring 2016
Piloted Canvas and product integration in one course
Fall 2015
All online courses in Canvas, with full integration
Spring 2016
Entire college is using Canvas for all courses
Nervous start, but complete success! Teaching/Learning are better now than before LMS Integration!

4. MindTap
Highly personalized, interactive online learning platform (not just a book!)
Cloud-based learning solution that combines learning tools (readings, multimedia, activities and assessments) into a Learning Path that guides students through the curriculum
Personalize the experience by customizing the presentation of the learning tools and custom content
Highlight and take notes online, within the ebook on missed tasks
Peer-to-peer learning can also be facilitated through integrated tools

5. Single Sign-on and Grade Sync!
Benefits of MindTap
No worries about lugging a book around; reading can be accessed from anywhere at any time
Students can highlight reading, make flash cards, watch videos or have the book read to them
Everything accessed from one place
Customizable to suit teaching/learning styles
Additional learning tools/content can be added
MindTap App
MindTap makes this EASY with the many built-in Reading tools (ReadSpeak, TextSize, flashcards, Notes, highlighting, dictionary, RSS, videos, etc)
Single Sign-on and Grade Sync!

6. SAM
SAM is an interactive/hands-on online learning environment with Training, Projects, Exams and a Study Center
Helps students master Microsoft Office and computer concepts essential to academic and career success
Students observe, practice, and train, then apply their skills live in the application on real-world projects
SAM’s auto-graded assignments and flexible reporting tools saves instructors time and energy so they can focus on TEACHING!

7. Single Sign-on and Grade Sync!
Benefits of SAM
Single Sign-on and Grade Sync!
Challenging assignments
Training and remediation
Immediate grades
Consistency in grading
Real-life projects
Critical Thinking
Better learning and teaching outcomes

8. LMS Integration Embed Cengage Products in LMS
Link to a simpler, more engaging experience
Seamless user experience
Content customization with deep linking

9. Benefits of LMS Integration
Consistency across sections
Immediate feedback
Better learning outcomes
Higher student retention
Handles increased enrollment
Single sign-on
Deep linking
Grade return/sync with LMS
Supports multiple products
More time to teach/learn
Integration – Deep links guide students directly to specific assignment with single sign on
Grades sync automatically
Automated grading – Consistent grading, immediate feedback

10. Limitations of LMS Integration
Some loss of capability/Admin features in Cengage Product (for safety/security of students/links)
If Canvas goes down, students can’t get to deeplinks
Some products can be accessed from sso
If Cengage goes down, students can’t get to assignments

11. Our Course Integration Process
Lead Instructor:
Creates master course in Cengage product
Creates Canvas master course shell in “Commons”
Adjuncts:
Copy Canvas course down from “Commons”
Set up links to Cengage product by copying master course ID

12. Course Integration Process
Lead instructor sets up master course in Cengage Product including assignment selection and default dates (optional)
Lead instructor sets up master course shell (with or without deep links) in Canvas and uploads to Commons
Adjuncts download Canvas shell or linked course from Commons and set up their own deep links or activate deep links by using Master course key
Once a course has been taught in canvas, the roll-over process to a new semester is relatively easy OR a new course can be created by using the steps above

13. Check List for Start Up Talk to CSM at Cengage
Coordinates with college eLearning team to load content to LMS
CSM has to make sure all instructors have active Cengage accounts
No duplicate accounts and all are active
Create Master course in Cengage product (DSC)
Create Master course in Canvas with links to Cengage product (lead instructor)
Upload to Commons for adjunct access
Distribute Master Course Key
Talk to ITS (Implementation and Training Specialist) at CengageNOW. Thye have to coordinate with college eLearning team to set up books.
ITS has to make sure all instructors have an active accounts. (No duplicate accounts and all are active.)
As lead instructor, you don’t want to be loaded in Canvas course or you get all notifications.
Don’t let adjuncts have access to master cengage course. They must copy before they make changes.

14. Other Integration Options
One link to Course Content page in Cengage Product (MindTap, SAM)
Deep links to individual assignments
Either method, individual grades still sync to Canvas gradebook

15. Student Setup Tips
During first week of class, student can start assignments using grace period
Set up course start date in SAM for first day of semester.
Grace period last 14 days from this date.
Avoid “Not Now” button
Have students create FREE Cengage login accounts immediately

16. Other Tips – Handling Dates
Linked assignments in Canvas don’t show due dates set in Cengage Product
Add dates in one or both places
Pros Items appear on Canvas To Do List if set in LMS
Cons
Double work to set dates in both places
Items remain on Canvas To Do list until after due date

17. A Few Quirks
Synchronization one way (change grades in Cengage Product)
Canvas Gradebook – “Message students who have not submitted” does not work on linked assignments
Students who withdraw from course are removed from Canvas but not from Cengage Product
Can ignore or manually de-activate in Cengage or ask Tech Support
Students who repeat course
Must buy a new access code (or check with LC/CSM)
??? Add tip – If you end up having to copy a course again, and don’t use a course key, then contact Tech Support to remove.
Don’t deactivate course keys with data in it.

18. Go LIVE
Canvas
MindTap
SAM

19. CANVAS

22. SAM Activity List

23. SAM Reports (instructor and student)

24. Study Center

25. Best Practices Training/Orientation for Instructors
The sooner students get in and started, the more successful they will be!
Training/Orientation for Instructors
Getting Started Module for Students
Add Canvas/Cengage training tutorials/videos
Add links to Canvas/Cengage technical support
Create Master Course in Canvas and SAM/MindTap
In Cengage product, number assignments so you can control order of activity list
Consistent naming between Cengage/Canvas assignments
Locking down assignments in Cengage Product and LMS
Use of GRACE Period and REPORTS

26. Questions?
Sandy Keeter