External tool

What is External tool?

Many websites provide materials and interactive learning exercises different from and complementary to Moodle's own resources and activities. The external tool offers a way for teachers to link to these activities from within their Moodle course page and where available to have grades sent back into Moodle. Students only need to log in to Moodle; they do not have to log in a second time to the connecting site.

Sites which allow connection to Moodle in this way are known as LTI compliant and are called Tool providers. The "tools" are the exercises or materials which Moodle can connect to.

The External tool enables participants to interact with LTI-compliant learning resources and activities on other web sites. (LTI is an IMS standard for Learning Tool Interoperability.) For example, an external tool could provide access to a new activity type or learning materials from a publisher.

How is it set up?

1. In a course, with the editing turned on, choose 'External tool' from the activity chooser.
2. Give it a name and, if needed, a description.
3. Add the tool URL, either one configured by your sits admin or create your own external tool activity, for which you need the Consumer key and Shared secret, both provided by the external tool provider. For more information see External tool settings
4. Specify the Launch container (how the external tool will display)
5. Select the services you want
6. Specify the privacy settings
7. Save the changes.

Other settings

Depending on what is enabled for your site and course, you may also need to explore Common module settings, Restrict access, Activity completion, Tags and Competencies

More information

• External tool settings
• Using External tool
• External tool FAQ
• LTI and Moodle