Apps for LMS Integration

We have several apps that integrate to an external LMS. The goal of the integration app is primary to synchronize Gradebook data from the external LMS with the local Gradebook in QuickSchools. But some of these apps also provide rostering capabilities (i.e. exporting of data).

This article described the differences in how each integration app integrates with QuickSchools.

Mapping data

In order to facilitate the synchronization of the Gradebook between an external LMS and QuickSchools, we first need all the individual data to be mapped (i.e. Students, Teachers, Courses, etc). Here is a list of data that can be mapped.

NOTE: The Google Classroom app does not have mapping capability for Academic Terms and Gradebook Categories. 

Google Classroom actually does not have academic terms. To compensate, the integration app will pull data from Google Classroom by comparing the dates of the assignments with the start/end dates of the activated Academic Term in QuickSchools. So a single Gradebook in Google Classroom can be synchronized with multiple Gradebooks in QuickSchools (i.e. same subject, but separate academic terms).

As for the Gradebook Categories, Google Classroom does not yet have an API available in order to pull this information. So for right now, Grading Categories (called Marking Categories in Google Classroom) will need to be manually re-entered into the Gradebook in QuickSchools (after the grades have been imported).

Export Roster

For the Canvas and Schoology Integration apps, we support full export of the roster (from QuickSchools to the external LMS). This means that you can export students, teachers, courses, etc. All exported data is automatically mapped. This would typically be done in the beginning of the year, if courses have not been created in the LMS. If courses have already been created in the LMS, then you’d have to go with the mapping option mentioned above.

For Google Classroom, we don’t support rostering yet. This would actually be done via Google Apps For Education (GAFE), which we are still developing. So for right now, if you’re using Google Classroom, you’ll need to map the roster every semester.

Odysseyware and Ignitia are actually Curriculum Management Systems, which means that they come with their own courses. Hence, there are no courses to export. You’d just need to map the courses in order to facilitate the Gradebook Synchronization. Teachers and Students can still be exported though.

FYI, Gradebook Categories are always mapped and never exported, since each LMS has a different way of handling categories.

Also, only new enrollments can be exported (when supported). If a student is unenrolled from a subject, the change will need to be made in both systems.

Gradebook Sync (no changes in External System)

Once data is mapped, you can start synchronizing the roster from the external LMS into QuickSchools. In addition to importing the raw column names, column dates, and grades, the system also handles enrolling and unenrolling students too. 

It’s important to note that the Gradebook Sync simply reads the data from the external LMS, and adjusts/synchronizes the local Gradebook in QuickSchools to match. It will not change/update any information in the external LMS. Essentially, it will treat the external Gradebook as the Master copy. For example, if the system detects a new (mapped) student in the external LMS, the system will enroll the student in QuickSchools during the sync process, instead of unenrolling the student in the external LMS. This is true for all the LMS that we integrate with.

The same if true for Unenrollment. So if a student is unenrolled in the external system, the Gradebook Sync will unenroll the student in QuickSchools. The Gradebook sync will NOT re-enroll the student in the external LMS.

Please note that we have disabled the automatic unenrollment capability for Google Classroom and Odysseyware / Ignitia. So for these 2 systems, if a student is unenrolled from a course, the change must be made in both systems.

When Final Grades are synchronized, only the raw grades are transferred. The calculation is not exported as a formula in QuickSchools. This is because the calculation algorithm within each LMS may be slightly different from QuickSchools, and having the raw grades transfer it the only way to ensure the grades are exactly the same.

Note: The Google Classroom API currently does not have support for Marking Categories and Final Grades. As such, these are not transferred during the Sync process. However, if you update the grading categories or manually add columns and final grades in QuickSchools, these will not be overwritten by the Sync process.

Managing Enrollment Changes

When a student’s enrollment into a subject changes, as long as the student and the subject are mapped, you should make the change in the external LMS. The Gradebook Sync will automatically enroll or unenroll the student in QuickSchools from the subject, based on enrollment info in the external LMS. 

If you did make the change in QuickSchools, you’d have to re-export the subject (which includes the enrollment) to the external LMS. And this function is only available for the Canvas and Schoology integration apps. This process is also not automatic, meaning you have to press a button that will export the information to the external LMS.

The only exception is with Google Classroom and Odysseyware / Ignitia, where we have disabled automatic unenrollment by default. If enabled, the system will again treat the external LMS as the master. And enrollment changes should be made in the external LMS, after which the change will propagate to QuickSchools during the Gradebook Sync process.

Note: When exporting courses (which include enrollments), this process only creates new enrollments in the LMS, and does not remove students from courses.

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