SOLE Certificates

SOLE’s Certificate Tool can be used to issue a certificate after a defined goal or set of goals has been achieved. To access the Certificate tool, select Information from the left navigation menu then click Certificate.

Create a Certificate

1. Select Certificate from within Information and click Add Certificate.

2. The General Tab will open automatically. This is where you will define General settings for the certificate. Additional tabs for Availability and Access Control settings are available here as well.

3. The following Basic Settings are required:

   • Title – enter the title of the certificate. This is the title within SOLE, not the heading that is displayed on the certificate.

   • Template – use the drop down menu to choose one of the five available templates. Once a template has been chosen, it can be previewed below in the Certificate Preview

   • Heading – by default “Certificate of Achievement” will be listed as the heading for the certificate. However, you can use the text box to edit and customize the heading displayed on the top of the certificate.

   • Action – by default “Presented to” will be listed as the action for the certificate. However, you can use the text box to edit and customize the action text displayed on the certificate.

   • Reason – by default “For completing all requirements” will be listed as the reason for the certificate. However, you can use the text box to edit and customize the reason displayed for the certificate.

   • Location and Statement - while not required, you do have the option to add a location and additional statement on the bottom of your Certificate. 

4. You are also required to choose a dependency. This means in order for the certificate to become available the user must complete an action within the course. This Dependency can be used with tools that necessitate a submission from the student, including Assignments, Exams, Discussion, Gradebook, Journal and Surveys. It can also be used based on content views within course Content.

   • Assignments – releases the certificate based on the submission of a specific Assignment.

   • Chat - releases the certificate based on the number of times a user has posted to a specific Chat session. A checklist must have already been created in order for this option to become available.

   • Checklist - releases the certificate once the user has completed all requirements of the Checklist. If this option is chosen, then the certificate itself is added to the Checklist on the homepage as well. Users will need to earn and claim the certificate in order for this to show as completed on the homepage.

   • Discussion - releases the certificate based on the number of times a user has posted to a specific Discussion.

   • Form - releases the certificate based on the submission of a specific Form.

   • Gradebook - releases the certificate based on the number of points a user has earned on a specific Gradebook assignment.

   • Journal - releases the certificate based on the submission of a specific Journal.

   • Survey - releases the certificate based on the submission of a specific Survey.

   • View Specified Content - releases the certificate once the user has clicked to view a specified piece of content.

   • View Specified # of content in Folder - If you are utilizing folders within course Content then you can release the certificate based on a specific number or content views within the folder. For example, if a folder contains five pieces of content, you can release the certificate once the user has clicked and viewed at least three of them.

5. You may also choose to enter additional details such as a Description and Category & Tags from the General Tab as well.

6. Click the Availability tab to edit the publish and release settings of the certificate. By default, a certificate is release upon its creation:

   • Draft - The certificate is in design phase and unavailable for users to view. This is true even if the user has completed the dependence criteria.

   • Released - The certificate is available to users, but controlled by the time restrictions set below.

   • Release Date - Add a release date if you want the certificate to be released on a specific date and time (if you do not specify the time, the time will default to midnight on the chosen date).

     The certificate must be Released as well. If the certificate is left in Draft mode, it will NOT release.

   • Expiration Date - Upon the Expiration date, the certificate will no longer be visible/available to users.

   • Show in Site Content – If you are editing an existing certificate then the option to add it to Content will also be available here. If you added the Certificate to Content, then this is where you can remove the Certificate from Content by unclicking the check box.

7. Once a certificate is created, all users will have access to it unless restrictions are made. Click the Access Control tab to adjust user access and restrictions.

   If you'd like all users in the site to have access to the certificate, then you do not need to edit the Access Control settings.

   • To begin adding restrictions, click one of the buttons:

     1. Add User Restrictions - add restrictions for individual users within the course/site.

     2. Add Small Group Restrictions - add restrictions for small groups created using Information tools.

     3. Add Role Restrictions - add restrictions roles created within the Control Panel.

   • Use the Give Access and Remove Access buttons to select or remove access for the certificate. There are Maximum limits set for each list.

   • Once users, groups, or roles are given access (on the right), all others (on the left) no longer have access.

8. Click the Add/Update button once all settings for the certificate have been specified.

Claim a Certificate

Once the dependent action for a Certificate has been completed the Certificate can be claimed. The Certificate will be available within the Certificate tool under Information. It may also be accessed within Content if the course administrator chooses.

Parts of a Certificate

• Heading: Located at the top of the Certificate, the heading is the main headline that usually reflects the type of document. It may be as simple as the word “Award” or “Certificate of Achievement.” Longer titles might incorporate the name of the organization giving the award.

• Action: This short line of text displays below the heading and describes the action of delivering the Certificate. It may say “Present to,” “is awarded to”, “is hereby presented to” or some other variation, followed by the recipient’s name.

• Name: The recipient’s name will display below the Certificate action. The name is automatically generated from the name associated with the user’s SOLE account. This way, SOLE customizes the Certificate according to the user generating the Certificate.

• Reason: The reason for the Certificate is explained here. This could be a simple statement (such as completing a training course) or a lengthier paragraph outlining specific characteristics or achievements of the Certificate recipient. The best Certificates are personalized to reflect exactly why the recipient is receiving the recognition.

• Date: The date (Day, Month, Date, Year) will display at the bottom of the Certificate. This will be automatically entered based on the date that the Certificate is generated.