External tool activities differ from URL resources in a few ways.

• External tools are context aware (ie they have access to information about the user who launched the tool, such as institution, topic and name).
  
• External tools support reading, updating, and deleting grades associated with the activity instance.
  
• External tool configurations create a trust relationship between your site and the tool provider, allowing secure communication between them.

---

1. Plan

Decide what external tool you want to use from the University-wide pre-approved list:

• Statement of Assessment Methods (SAM)
  
• Cengage Learning
  
• Collaborate
  
• Studiosity (view information about Studiosity from the Student Learning Centre)
  
• Readings (Leganto) (view 'Leganto for topic coordinators' for more information)
  
• Assignment extension requests
  
• Past Exam Papers
  

To create an external tool not listed above, please contact your eLearning support team before you sign up for a product. External tool requests are not automatically added. Requests are reviewed and assessed on a case by case basis.

---

2. Build

You have planned what external tool to use, now follow these steps to set it up in your topic.

1. Click Turn editing on 
   
   
2. Click Add an activity or resource 
   
   
3. Select External Tooland click Add
   
   
4. Give the tool a name in the Activity name section
   
   
5. Select the tool required  from the Preconfigured tool list
   
   
   
6. Click Save and display

---

3. Test

Click on the recently added external tool to make sure it is working as expected.

---

Training and support	Troubleshooting
Support Please contact your eLearning support team	You may have one of the following issues: External tool not showing in the pre-approved list? Contact your local eLearning support team to discuss