Usability of Favorites in LTI view - How to access them
Using the LTI view (Blackboard Ultra site) the left menu (Lists and Favorites) is invisible which confines the view to the context of the LMS site the user is in. I can see why we would want to do that. However, it has the effect of making it virtually impossible for educator or student to be able to use their favorites.
Scenario: Educator adds a citation to their list in the LTI view, then decides it is so good they want to add it to their other lists. They copy it to their favorites.... then what! (They could just copy to other lists, but maybe it’s easier path from favorites to just suggest it a few times and then visit the list and decide where it best fits)
Scenario: Student is viewing their reading list and decides they want to use a citation in their assignment. They save it to their favorites.... then what!
Scenario: Educator wants students to suggest readings to the list, and tries to show them how to do it in class. Umm.... not sure how to get to Favorites.
Their only option is to open in a new tab - but they don't know that, there is no clue.
A couple of visual clues to students and educators to escape the LTI view if they want to:
When the user saves a favorite, modify the confirmation message to give them a link/hint how to view manage their favourites and open in a new tab.
Display an LTI-customised view of the user icon at top right with links to:
My lists [external link icon and/or text "in new tab"
My favorites [external link icon and/or text "in new tab"
Hide the "logout" menu option in LTI view.
If these personalised My Lists/My Favorites were also added to the standalone (not LTI) view then they should not open a new tab, but just work the same way as the left menu.
See attachments
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Peta Hopkins commented
1. Confirmation message now appears to provide link/hint to open in new tab to get to favourites - thank you.
2. There is now a single link in LTI view to open in new tab - goes to lists, but not one for favourites.Users still have to open in a new tab. What do folks think - should favourites be more accessible via LTI???
Also noted - I can no longer see the "logout" menu option in LTI which is good.
There has been some progress with this so I am open to seeing what others think whether more is needed here.