Course Accessible to Users out of District

[lhenson]

We are wanting to create a course which contains documents/information for users throughout our County (which would be outside our district). I don't want to create a public course because the information is a little sensitive and don't want this available to the general public. 

What would be the best approach to this? I tried to test this a little bit, but couldn't get a feel for the best way to do this. I created a course that has open enrollment with a Join this Course button. When I tested it as a user without an account, I could get to the course through browse and click join course. When I clicked on 'New User' and added a username, it never did anything - Didn't create an account and didn't give access to the course. Obviously, this would be easiest way to have them access the course, but...

Is there a better way to create the course or set up accounts?

[penny_christens · Accepted solution]

If the users are known to you, and of a manageable number consider creating them in your instance and providing them with "backdoor entry" to your instance YourInstitution.instructure.com.

If the users are unknown to you, consider the enroll with this URL option: Settings>Course Details>More Options>Let students self-enroll by sharing with them a secret URL or code. For this option you would still have to test if they can create their own user account or if you have to create their accounts. Your CSM may know your settings better to help with that phase of the project.

[lhenson]

Thank you for the information. Setting the course as self-enroll was my first thought, but when I couldn't create an account as an outside user, I was thinking that there might be a different way to approach this.

I think I will reach out to our CSM to find out if self-enrollment is turned off for us. I looked everywhere on the admin side and couldn't find anything about it.

Thanks again.

[lhenson]

I figured out the setting to allow all users to create an account. I think we have it set up now. Thank you for your help.