Smartlinks

Smartlinks are just one step in creating a task. To learn more about creating a task, visit our Create a Task with Task Tool article.

Smartlinks are links generated by instructors that can: link to external content, prompt students to visit a link or download a file, to course content, like quizzes, posts, polls, etc. or to activities, like prompting students to create their own post, etc. Below are the various options instructors can choose from when building tasks with Smartlinks.

EXAMPLE1: Upload a file for Students to Download

STEP1: Enter a task Title, choose a highlight Color, and a task visibility setting. In the rich text editor, write your step-by-step instructions. To create a SmartLink:

1. Highlight the text you wish to create a SmartLink on (see #1 in the screenshot below)
2. Click the CN icon in the toolbar (see #2 in the screenshot below)

STEP2: Select “Upload a File for Students to Download”

STEP3: Choose a File for Students to Download by clicking on Browse

Then select your file and choose “Add Files”

STEP4: Once your file is added, click “SAVE”

Your SmartLink should look like the blue link below. Then click “Create Task”

Once saved, the task will look like the following

TIP1: When students complete action items through Smartlinks, like downloading a file or watching a video, a number will appear next to the Smartlink representing the number of downloads, views, etc.

To view the task the way students do, read the Student Task View support article.

EXAMPLE2: Show Students a Post

STEP1: Enter a task Title, choose a highlight Color, and a task visibility setting. In the rich text editor, write your step-by-step instructions. To create a SmartLink:

1. Highlight the text you wish to create a SmartLink on (see #1 in the screenshot below)
2. Click the CN icon in the toolbar (see #2 in the screenshot below)

STEP2: Select “Show Students a Post” from the dropdown list

STEP3: Choose which post to show students. Either create a post or choose an existing post within the course.

Here, we’ve selected an existing post

STEP4: Click on SAVE

Your SmartLink should look like the blue link below. Then click “Create Task”

The completed task is as follows, to view the task the way students do, read the Student Task View support article.