5.How To Configure Course Certificates - WestBayResidential/wblms GitHub Wiki

Certificate Problems in Courses Restored from a Backup File

You might encounter problems with the link to the course certificate in a new course instance that you've created by restoring from a course backup file. Most problems with the certificate link are the result of internal changes in the Moodle plugin that generates the course certificates between the Moodle version from which the course backup file was made, and the Moodle version that you've restored the course into.

It's a recommended practice that whenever you create a new re-certification course instance from a backup file, you should review and test the settings for that course's certificate, including any links in the course's content that produce or display the certificate. If trying to open the certificate link in a course results in an error, the most efficient way to fix the problem is by deleting the existing certificate link that came with the restored course instance, and replacing it by adding a new certificate link that you configure in the new course instance.

Delete the "Restored" Certificate

To delete the faulty certificate link in a restored course instance, navigate into the course content using the Administration block navigation menu:

Site administration > Courses > Manage courses and categories

From that index page continue navigating to the course's content by clicking on the appropriate course category and subcategory until you see the list of courses that includes the course instance you're interested in fixing. When you see the course list, click on the target course so that you see the course's settings summary appear as a third column. From that settings summary column, click the View tab at the top.

The View tab will take you to the course's top-level index page. Since most West Bay LMS courses are made up of two Topic areas, scroll to the bottom of the index page so that Topic 2 comes into view, and you'll likely see the link that leads to getting a certificate when the course is completed.

When you've confirmed where the certificate link is located in the course's content, return briefly to the top of that same course index page, and click the button in the upper right corner of the page (there's a pencil icon in the center). This will change the mode of the current course page, and place it into edit mode so that you'll be able to make changes to its content.

Once the course is in edit mode, return to the spot on the page where you found the link to the certificate. Notice that to the right edge of the link's line is a link to small menu, indicated by the word "Edit" followed by a triangle, as well as a small silhouette of a person's head. Click on the triangle to reveal a short menu which, among other commands, includes "Delete". Highlight and click the "Delete" command.

A dialogue box will appears asking you to confirm the deletion of the certificate, and in which you can proceed to click the Delete button. The certificate link should then disappear.

Install New Certificate

After you've deleted the faulty link to the course certificate, you can replace it by installing a new certificate.

Start the installation by clicking on the + Add an activity or resource link in the Topic 2 area where the original certificate was found. A large popup box - titled "Add an activity or resource" at the top - will appear. Select the radio button beside the item Certificate in the list of activities, then click the Add button at the bottom of the box. This will bring up the settings page for the new certificate.

You'll need to fill in some (not all) of the settings according to the following:

General

  • Certificate Name -- fill in the certificate title as desired

Issue Options

  • Save Certificates -- change from "no" to "yes"

Print Options

  • Print Date -- change from "no" to "Date issued"
  • Print Code -- change from "no" to "yes"
  • Print Teacher Name(s) -- change from "no" to "yes"

Design Options

  • Certificate Type -- change from "A4 Non-Embedded" to "Letter Non-Embedded"
  • Border Lines -- change from "no" to "yes"
  • Signature Image -- change from "no" to "GMQuinn_title"
  • Seal or Logo Image -- change from "no" to "WBRS_seal"

Common Module Settings

  • No changes to the default values in this settings category

Restrict Access

  • Grade Condition -- replace "none" by selecting the item referring to the course's quiz
  • ...must be at least... -- enter the minimum passing score for the course quiz (digits only)
  • ...and less than -- enter "100"

When these settings changes have been made, click the Save and Return to Course button.

Add More Links to Certificate

To help ensure that West Bay's employees who complete a certification course must request their Certificate of Completion by clicking the appropriate link at the bottom of each course's index page, we've typically added a couple of additional links in the descriptions text in Topic 2 reminding them to "...request your certificate...".

Here's an example of some common text included in Topic 2 of many of West Bay's re-certification courses:

This is Topic 2: Testing and Certification

Take the HIPAA Recertification Quiz by clicking on its link. A passing test score is 80% or better.

After you successfully completed the quiz with a passing grade, you can then request to receive a certificate for this course by clicking on the next link in this topic Obtain Your Certificate of Completion for HIPAA Re-Certification Course. Your certificate will be emailed to your West Bay email account immediately. If you have any problems with receiving your certificate, please inform your supervisor or manager as soon as possible.

You must obtain a certificate in order to receive credit for the training. Keep a copy of the certificate for your records.

Here's how to include links in this text:

  • Hover your mouse over the certificate link in Topic 2 and right-click your mouse, selecting the local menu item "Copy link address"
  • Ensure that "Editing is on" in the course index page, and select the Edit link to the right of the Topic 2 description, then select the Editing settings option in the local menu, which will bring up an editing page.
  • On the editing page select (highlight) the word or phrase in the description that you want to convert to a link to the certificate, such as "...Obtain Your Certificate of Completion..." or "You must obtain a certificate...".
  • After selecting text, click the Insert/Edit Link button (chain link icon) in the editing window's command bar. This will bring up a dialogue box.
  • Position the cursor in the top line of the dialogue box, labelled Link URL, and right-click the mouse button selecting Paste or Paste link in plain text. The URL of the certificate request will be inserted in the field.
  • Click the Update button at the bottom of the dialogue box.