Blackboard Integration

VivaEdu integrates with Blackboard Learn using LTI 1.3 plus additional REST API features for enhanced functionality.

Integration Features

Core LTI 1.3 Features

• Single sign-on from Blackboard courses
• Automatic user and course provisioning
• Secure authentication with signed tokens
• Grade passback to Blackboard gradebook
• Deep linking to specific VivaEdu features

Enhanced Blackboard Features (REST API)

• Announcement Creation: Automatically post announcements when vivas are published
• Content Area Links: Add VivaEdu links to course content areas
• Gradebook Column Management: Create and update grade columns
• Assignment Metadata: Sync due dates and availability settings
• Submission Tracking: Monitor Blackboard assignment submissions for linked vivas

Initial Setup

Step 1: Register VivaEdu in Blackboard (Administrator)

1. Log into Blackboard as administrator
2. Navigate to System Admin → Integrations → LTI Tool Providers → Register LTI 1.3/Advantage Tool
3. Enter VivaEdu configuration:
   • Client ID: Provided by VivaEdu
   • Tool URL: Your VivaEdu instance URL
   • OpenID Connect Login URL: Provided by VivaEdu
   • Redirect URLs: Provided by VivaEdu
   • Target Link URI: Your VivaEdu instance + /lti/launch
   • Tool JWKS URL: Provided by VivaEdu
4. Enable Services:
   • Names and Roles (membership)
   • Assignment and Grade Services
   • Deep Linking
5. Set Institution Policies as appropriate
6. Save and activate

Step 2: Configure REST API (Optional, for Enhanced Features)

1. Create a Blackboard REST API application
2. Generate application key and secret
3. Grant permissions:
   • Course content read/write
   • Gradebook read/write
   • Announcements write
4. Provide keys to VivaEdu team for secure storage

Step 3: Add VivaEdu to a Course (Instructor)

1. Enter your Blackboard course
2. Navigate to a content area or create a new one
3. Click Build Content → Web Link or LTI Tool
4. Select VivaEdu from available tools
5. Name it (e.g., "VivaEdu - Oral Assessments")
6. Set availability
7. Save
8. Link appears in your course

How Students Access VivaEdu

1. Student clicks VivaEdu link in Blackboard course
2. LTI 1.3 authentication occurs automatically
3. Student lands in their VivaEdu dashboard
4. Sees vivas from this course (and other integrated courses)
5. No separate login required

Creating Vivas with Blackboard Integration

Option 1: Standalone Viva

• Create viva in VivaEdu normally
• Don't link to Blackboard assignment
• Students access via VivaEdu
• Manually push grades to Blackboard when ready

Option 2: Link to Existing Blackboard Assignment

• In Step 6 of wizard, select "Link to LMS Assignment"
• Choose an existing Blackboard assignment
• Viva responses evaluated via VivaEdu
• Grades push to that Blackboard column
• Due date can match or be relative to Blackboard assignment

Option 3: Create New Blackboard Assignment

• In Step 6, select "Create new LMS assignment"
• VivaEdu creates assignment in Blackboard when you publish
• Due date syncs to Blackboard calendar
• Announcement posted automatically
• New grade column created

Pushing Grades to Blackboard

Individual Push

1. Complete review of a student's viva
2. Click "Push Grade to Blackboard"
3. Rubric score syncs to gradebook
4. Text feedback included
5. Student sees grade in Blackboard

Batch Push

1. Review all submissions
2. From batch review completion page or assignment page
3. Click "Push All Grades to Blackboard"
4. All reviewed sessions sync at once
5. Logged in audit logs
6. Students see grades simultaneously

Blackboard-Specific Features

Announcement Creation

When you publish a viva (if configured):

• Announcement automatically posted to Blackboard course
• Title: Your viva title
• Body: Description + due date + link to launch
• All students see in their Blackboard announcements

Submission Tracking

For linked Blackboard assignments:

• VivaEdu polls Blackboard for submission timestamps
• Can configure viva to unlock when Blackboard assignment is submitted
• Useful for sequential assessments (essay → viva)

Course ID Normalization

Blackboard course IDs vary by format:

• VivaEdu handles both UUID and string formats
• Automatic normalization for API calls
• Ensures reliable course matching

Troubleshooting

Launch Fails

• Verify LTI tool is registered and active
• Check that tool is added to course
• Confirm user has appropriate role (instructor/student)
• Try launching in incognito mode (cookie issues)

Grades Not Syncing

• Verify AGS service is enabled in Blackboard LTI registration
• Check that viva is linked to Blackboard assignment
• Ensure REST API credentials are configured (if using)
• Check audit logs for error messages

Students Not Seeing Viva

• Verify viva is published (not draft)
• Check publish date (may be delayed)
• Confirm student is enrolled in Blackboard course
• Verify student was selected in Step 5 of viva creation