Can a module completion be performed by the instructor, so they control when Catalog sends a certificate?

[ChristopherRice]

We have "contact hours" as part of the student requirements for completing our safety training classes, and the contact hours are verified by an admin or the instructor after the class has finished.  We would like to utilize the certificate awarding system in Catalog, but we want that to be initiated by the instructor, not triggered by the students completing a module requirement in Canvas. The way I understand it is that Catalog can only see that a student has completed a course once a module's completion criterion has been set by the admin and met by the students engaging with it.  We would rather have a way for the instructor or admin to be able to initiate the course completion for each student by engaging with that module(s) that signals to catalog.  The students pass if they score high enough on the test and have met all their contact hours in class (admin verifies after class).  The module completion that signals to Catalog that the course is complete should be initiated by the instructor in our case as far as I can tell.  Is this possible, or is there another way or work around?

[JenniferJWhite · Accepted solution]

Hi, @ChristopherRice - We've had similar scenarios at our institution. This can be accomplished by creating an assignment (with text entry, for example) and putting it in its own module. You can then set the requirement for that module to be a nominal score (say, 1 point). Once the student has completed all of the course requirements, the instructor can go to the gradebook and score this assignment as 1 point, which will then trigger the completion of the module, and hence, the course. So this is something of a dummy assignment, which gives control of triggering completion to the instructor. 

You can include text in this assignment that completion certficates will be sent once the instructor has reviewed the required work for the course. (Note that the student would not have to submit anything for this  dummy "trigger" assignment, but you could use this assignment to collect feedback on the course, if you wish.)

This is one way we've managed this kind of need -- hope it helps! 🙂

[JenniferJWhite · Accepted solution]

Hi, @ChristopherRice - We've had similar scenarios at our institution. This can be accomplished by creating an assignment (with text entry, for example) and putting it in its own module. You can then set the requirement for that module to be a nominal score (say, 1 point). Once the student has completed all of the course requirements, the instructor can go to the gradebook and score this assignment as 1 point, which will then trigger the completion of the module, and hence, the course. So this is something of a dummy assignment, which gives control of triggering completion to the instructor. 

You can include text in this assignment that completion certficates will be sent once the instructor has reviewed the required work for the course. (Note that the student would not have to submit anything for this  dummy "trigger" assignment, but you could use this assignment to collect feedback on the course, if you wish.)

This is one way we've managed this kind of need -- hope it helps! 🙂

[hechla · Accepted solution]

I haven't had a need for this but I was going to suggest the same thing. A dummy assignment that the Instructor can "grade" after the contact hours are complete. 

[ChristopherRice]

Thank you!  We will try this, sounds like a great strategy. 

[michael_lockshi]

This is one of the ways that I accomplish this. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.