Set up Access Pearson - Blackboard Original

  1. If your course will belong to a course group, set up the template first.
  2. From your Blackboard course, add the Access Pearson link. Select the applicable content area, or select the plus sign (+) to add one and make it available to students.
  3. Select the Tools tab, More Tools, and then Access Pearson. (Or select the Build Content tab and Access Pearson.)
  4. Create a new link with a name like Access Pearson and make it available to students.
  5. If prompted, select Get Started. Then follow the prompts to link your accounts and pair your LMS course with new or suggested materials, if available, or an existing MyLab or Mastering course.
  6. Open your MyLab or Mastering course to turn on any grade settings and create assignments.
  7. From the Pearson Home page, select Grade Sync. Then select whether to sync grades automatically and choose any specific assignments to sync.
  8. Select Sync Grades Now to create assignment links and to initially populate the Blackboard gradebook.

Transitioning your course from MyLab and Mastering (LTI 1.1) to Access Pearson (LTI 1.3)? Learn how to prepare.

To set up Access Pearson:

  1. Add the Access Pearson link if you don't see it.
  2. Pair your Blackboard course with a MyLab or Mastering course.
  3. Add assignment, course tool, or eText links.
  4. Get students started.
  5. Sync grades.

You have the Blackboard Original course view if you see Course Management in your course's left (base) navigation.

Screenshot of the Home Page in the Original course view or Screenshot of the Home Page for the Blackboard Tool version

Not sure which integration you're using? This topic covers the Access Pearson integration (LTI 1.3), including Pearson Seamless. The link for this integration is usually named Access Pearson. The link for the MyLab and Mastering integration (LTI 1.1) is usually named MyLab and Mastering. Check with your LMS administrator or go to Diagnostics if you're unsure which integration was set up for you. The Launch Type for the Access Pearson integration is Standard integration LTI 1.3.

Step 1: Add the Access Pearson link

If you don't see the link, add it to your Blackboard course.

  1. If your course will belong to a course group (copied from a template or a coordinator course), set up the template before creating student-use copies.
  2. Open your Blackboard course.
  3. If you're transitioning your course from the MyLab and Mastering (LTI 1.1) integration to the Access Pearson (LTI 1.3) integration, you'll need to prepare your course. See Transition your course for instructions.
  4. Select an existing content area, such as Content, from the left navigation. Or select Plus sign icon and Content Area to create a new one.

    Add menu

    Enter a name, such as Access Pearson. Select the Available to Users check box, so students can access the new content area, and Submit.

    Add Content Area window

  5. Select the Tools tab, More Tools, and then Access Pearson. (Or select the Build Content tab and Access Pearson.)

    Access Pearson link

    If you don't see the tool you want, contact your system administrator. Provide the administration guide for the Pearson integration.

    Create a new link. We recommend you name the link Access Pearson.

    Create Link page

  6. Make the link available to students, and complete any other fields. Then select Submit.
  7. Select Access Pearson.

    Access Pearson icon

  8. Agree to any authorization requests.

Next, pair your courses.

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Step 2: Link accounts and pair courses

To open MyLab and Mastering from your LMS course, link your accounts once. Then pair your courses and set up assignments in your MyLab or Mastering course.

Watch how to link accounts and pair courses (1:48)

Link your accounts

If you're a section instructor or teaching assistant, see Register as a section instructor or TA.

  1. Select the MyLab and Mastering or Access Pearson link. (Add the link if you don't see it.)
  2. Select Open Pearson.

    Screenshot of the Open Pearson button

    If the Pearson Home page isn't already open in another tab, return to your LMS course navigation and select the MyLab and Mastering or Access Pearson link again.

  3. If you're asked to choose your product, select MyLab | Mastering. (For Revel, eText, or Live Response, go to Revel and Pearson eText for your LMS Help.) Your selection is permanent and can't be undone.

    Choose your product options

  4. Agree to any authorization requests and accept cookies.
  5. If prompted, select Get Started to link your accounts.

    Screenshot of the Pearson Home page for a validated instructor

    If prompted, select Authorize to automatically migrate your Pearson assignment links from LTI 1.1 to LTI 1.3. Without authorizing LTI 1.1, your links won't migrate and you'll get a Socket_RP_84 error message.

    Sample Canvas message:

    Canvas authorization message

    Sample D2L Brightspace message:

    D2L authorization message

    For Pearson Seamless, go to step 6 to link accounts.

  6. Enter the username and password from your existing Pearson instructor account and select Link accounts. If you don't have an account, select Create an account and follow the prompts. You can only link one LMS account to one Pearson account.

    Link your accounts page

  7. Select Continue.

    Link accounts confirmation

  8. If prompted, select Get Started on the Pearson Home page to pair your courses.

    Screenshot of the Pearson Home page for a validated instructor

    Select Get Started and follow the prompts to enter details about your role. Wait for a confirmation email.

    Screenshot of the validation message

Tips

If you see a blank white page, you might need to temporarily disable the AdBlock browser extension. See your browser Help for instructions.

If you have a valid Pearson account and get the message, "Account Upgrade Needed," contact Pearson Support. Your account is active but needs a subscription to the MyLab and Mastering course.

If you get the message, "To create courses you need a MyLab and Mastering educator account," contact Pearson Support for assistance.

Screenshot of message saying you need an educator account

Next, pair your courses.

Pair your courses

Start from your LMS course to pair it with a new or copy of a MyLab or Mastering course. You can't pair MyLab or Mastering courses you created outside your LMS course such as from the MyLab and Mastering website. However, you can pair copies of these existing MyLab or Mastering courses.

Most assignment and course tool links automatically migrate to LTI 1.3. To ensure this works when pairing a new edition of a Mastering platform update course, copy your previous paired course. Go to Diagnostics for your previous course and note the course ID. When you pair the new LMS course, enter the course ID you noted under Copy an existing course.

Links to eText sections, Scheduled Reading, and Adaptive Followups in a new edition aren't included in the course copy or the link migration. You'll need to manually add these links to your LMS course.

  1. To create or copy a MyLab or Mastering course, choose an option. Depending on your setup, you'll see different options.
    • If available, search the catalog for new course materials.

      Your browser may have an ad blocking extension, such as AdBlock Plus or uBlock Origin. Temporarily disable the extension for this site. See your browser Help for instructions. Then open Pearson and resume pairing your courses.

    • Copy a previous course you’ve taught with. (Learn what's included in the copy.)

      You might be offered the option to copy a paired course. Select Yes, copy this course to copy the course and its assignment or course tool links.

      If you select Yes, copy this course, you can't rename the MyLab or Mastering course or change due dates for assignments from the Enter Course Details page that appears later (see steps 4 and 5 below). Instead, after you finish pairing your courses, go to https://mlm.pearson.com/ to edit the course name and dates. See My Courses Help for instructions. If you select No, create another course, use the same course ID as the original to copy the assignment or course tool links and avoid duplicate grades.

      Mastering platform update: If you're transitioning to Access Pearson and copying a new edition with the Mastering platform update, select No, create another course. To ensure assignment and course tool links automatically migrate to LTI 1.3, go to Diagnostics for your previous course and copy the course ID. When you pair your new course, enter the course ID under Copy an existing course.

       

      Screenshot of the "Your course is a copy" page

    • Enter a course ID to copy another instructor's course. For a member section in a course group, enter the course ID of the MyLab coordinator course.
    • Select the course materials provided to you.

    Screenshot of the Create a Course page

    For Pearson Seamless, select the suggested course or enter a course ID to copy an existing course. You can't pair a new course or a course you created outside the LMS such as from the MyLab and Mastering website. However, you can make a copy.

    Select or copy a course page

  2. If you searched the catalog, select your course materials. Otherwise, skip to step 3.

    Screenshot of the Select Course Materials page

  3. If prompted for course details, choose a course type:

    • If you want students to enroll in the course, select Student-use Course.

    • If you don't intend students to enroll in the course, select Instructor-use only. For managing multiple sections for a MyLab course, consider using a MyLab coordinator course in a course group. For MyLab IT courses paired with your LMS, you must copy an existing coordinator course.

    Screenshot of the course details page

  4. Enter the course name and description. Use something specific for the name like your term and class section. This helps you quickly identify the course later.

  5. Select the course dates.

    • Students who try to register before the start date get a course2 error.

    • Students can no longer open the Pearson course on the course end date (Eastern Time, US). Set a date after the last re-take opportunity for the final exam.

  6. Select whether to allow other instructors to copy your course using your course ID. You can change this setting later.

    Screenshot of the Instructors can copy this course check box under Allow copy

  7. Select Create course. You'll see a confirmation message.

    Screenshot of confirmation with course details

  8. Wait for email confirmation your course is created. This might take up to 3 hours.
  9. Close the browser tab, and return to your LMS course

Next, set up assignments.

Set up assignments

  1. From your LMS course, select the MyLab and Mastering or Access Pearson link. Don't see the link?
  2. Select Open MyLab & Mastering.

    Screenshot of the Open MyLab & Mastering button

  3. Make sure assignments are set up in your MyLab or Mastering course. Assign due dates in your Mastering course. Manage due dates only from your MyLab or Mastering course, not your LMS course.

    To successfully sync grades and open assignments, make sure assignment names are fewer than 128 characters. Avoid UTF-8 or these characters \ / " * < > + = | , % ! &

    Using the Mastering platform update? Learn about differences in how assignments are handled.

  4. Return to your LMS course.

Open MyLab and Mastering or Access Pearson tools. Add links, including any assignment or tool links to your course. Select Submit.

Screenshot of the Add MyLab & Mastering Links page with available links and the Select button

Choose the folder containing the links, and then select Submit.

Screenshot of the Pearson Confirmation Page with the Destination Folder under LOCATION, links, and Submit button

Repeat these steps anytime to update links.

Next, add assignment or tool links or get students started.

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Step 3: Add assignment, course tool, or eText links

Optionally, you can add links that students use to open MyLab or Mastering assignments, course tools, such as Grades, or eText (also called eTextbook) from your Blackboard course. Learn how assignment, course tool, or eText links function.

Prerequisites: First pair your MyLab or Mastering and Blackboard courses and set up assignments in your MyLab and Mastering course.

In most cases, assignment links will automatically be available in the copied LMS course after pairing. You'll have the option to see a status or list of links. Instructor course tool links aren't supported by the Access Pearson integration and aren't copied. You need to manually delete any instructor course tool links from your course. See Transition your course for details.

Copying links message

Watch how to add assignment links

  1. In the left navigation, go to the content area where you want the assignment, course tool, or eText links. If you like, select the plus sign (+) to add a new content area or module for the links. Select the Available to Users check box, so students can access the links. (See Blackboard Help for details.)

    Add content area window

  2. Select Build Content and then Pearson Links or the name your admin chose.

    Sceenshot of the Build Content menu

  3. From the Add links from list, choose whether to see assignments, course tools, or eText. Then scroll to see all the links or search for a specific link. Choose a column heading to sort.

    Screenshot of the Add links page

  4. Select one or more links from and repeat for any option in Add links from.

    Select a Chapter to see its associated links.

    Sample eText links

  5. Select Add links at the bottom of the page.

    You'll see the new links in your content area. Delete any characters you don't expect in the headings of your links. Select a link and then Open Pearson to open the link in a new browser tab or window.

    Sceenshot of a sample content area

Next, get students started.

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Step 4: Get students started

After you pair your LMS course with a MyLab or Mastering course, it’s simple for your students to open MyLab and Mastering. They need to link their LMS and Pearson accounts. They might be prompted for a username and password or to create an account. Depending on the course setup, we might automatically create a new account for them if it's their first time opening a Pearson product from your LMS. The username is the institution email address. We recommend students create the optional password to use the account to access other Pearson products, including mobile apps. Students can create the password later on from Forgot username or password or by selecting the link in their account confirmation email.

Depending on the course setup, students might need to purchase access. Options include pre-purchased access code or credit card. If available, they can also use Apple Pay or PayPal. Temporary access without payment for a limited time is an option for some courses but isn't supported for Access Pearson Codeless integrations.

Barnes & Noble, Follett Willo, RedShelf, or VitalSource: If a student is incorrectly prompted to purchase access, remove the Pearson integration settings.

RedShelf: To opt in to getting access to MyLab and Mastering through the RedShelf bookstore, students select the Course Materials link for RedShelf and then Access Courseware. To opt out and get access through Pearson, students select Access Pearson. Afterward, they must open MyLab and Mastering by selecting the Course Materials link to RedShelf and then Access Courseware.

RedShelf opt note

For the second half of a multi-semester course, students might be prompted to link their LMS and Pearson accounts the first time they access the MyLab or Mastering course. Students must use the same Pearson username and password as the first part of the course. Otherwise, they might be prompted for payment again.

You don't need to give students course IDs or invite links. Communicate your course activity expectations and grade weighting with students. Let them know what's required for your course, including purchase options. Also, like instructors, students can download diagnostics to provide to Pearson support.

To access the student view of the MyLab or Mastering course as an instructor, remove the LMS Student View filter, and then select a student assignment, course tool, or eText link. If you select the Access Pearson link from the Student View, you’ll get error code SOCKET_LS_T_03.

Student resources

Share registration instructions and other resources with your students early, so they can immediately engage with course materials. We suggest copying and pasting these URLs into an email to students before classes start or your syllabus. Another option is to add these URLs as web links in a getting started section of your Blackboard course. See Blackboard Help for how to add links.

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Step 5: Sync grades

Sync grades one-way from your MyLab and Mastering course to your Blackboard course. Learn how grade sync works.

Calendar: You need to sync grades to see assignment due dates in the Blackboard calendar.

Watch how to sync grades (1:01)

Prepare for grade sync in your MyLab or Mastering course

  1. Access the Pearson Home page and select Open Pearson.
  2. Select Open MyLab & Mastering.
  3. In your MyLab and Mastering course, turn on any grade settings and create assignments that meet the guidelines below. If needed, set availability/due dates and choose grade sync settings.

    Guidelines: To avoid problems opening MyLab and Mastering courses and syncing grades, make sure names, including course and assignment names, and settings don't have UTF-8 and these special characters: \ / " * < > + = | , % ! &

    Depending on your MyLab and Mastering platform, there are different ways to prepare for grade sync.

    See Mastering Help for grade sync considerations.

    Using the Mastering platform update? Learn about differences in how assignments and grade settings are handled.

    See MyLab Help for how to set up grade sync from your MyLab course and choose how to sync scores.

    See MyLab Help for how to set up grade sync from your MyLab course and choose how to sync scores.

Next, return to your LMS course to set up grade sync.

Set up grade sync from your Blackboard course

Prerequisite: To avoid problems opening your MyLab or Mastering course and syncing grades, make sure names and settings in your LMS course don't have UTF-8 and these special characters: \ / " * < > + = | , % ! &

  1. Access the Pearson Home page and select Open Pearson.
  2. Select Grade Sync.

    Screenshot of grade sync settings

  3. To automatically sync grades as they become available, select On for Automatic Grade Sync. This doesn't sync past grades. (If Off is selected, MyLab and Mastering grades only sync to your LMS when you select Sync Grades Now.)

    Screenshot of the Automatic Grade Sync option

    Regardless of whether automatic grade sync is turned on, use Sync Grades Now anytime to manually sync all existing grades, including grades available before you turned auto sync on.

    Sync Grades Now button

  4. Make selections in the Items to Sync list. You might need to wait up to 15 minutes after you set up grade sync to see these items.

    Screenshot of the Items to Sync list

  5. Select Sync Grades Now to create links for any assignments and to initially populate the LMS gradebook.

    Sync Grades Now button

See also: Get diagnostics

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Updated 30 May 2024