Deep links are used to direct a learner to a specific place within BuckeyeLearn. Because BuckeyeLearn uses Ohio State’s single sign-on for security purposes, copying and pasting a link from a browser will not take a user to the correct webpage in BuckeyeLearn.
Deep links can be made to many different pages within BuckeyeLearn and directly to learning objects in multiple ways. It is important to understand the differences between these options to get the result you intend.
You can link to any learning object in BuckeyeLearn, not just your own training. Before you share a link to training that is not your own, contact the OU admin who owns the learning object to verify that your link's audience is included in the learning object's availability.
Critical Note:
It is important to tell users of deep links that they should only use the deep link you provide or a go.osu.edu link that points to a deep link. If they do not, the link will not work and administrators and the BuckeyeLearn Support team will receive questions from learners. Never copy and paste a URL from a browser address bar. It will not work.
High-Risk Activity
Deep links are considered a high-risk activity in BuckeyeLearn due to the potential for problems to affect large numbers of learners. You may not have access to create deep links without additional training or supervision from the BuckeyeLearn Support team.
High-Risk Scenario Example One
What Happened: You receive a request from your area’s management for a deep link to the course “Communication Across Cultures” to include in the team newsletter as recommended training. You provide the deep link and it is included in the newsletter.
The next day, when the newsletter goes out, learners click the link and see the message “This training item is currently unavailable to you. Please select alternative training, or complete prior requirements before requesting this training.” Learners are unable to request the recommended training, and they reply to the newsletter with complaints.
What Should Have Happened: You receive a request from your area’s management for a deep link to the course “Communication Across Cultures” to include in the team newsletter as recommended training. You look in BuckeyeLearn to see who owns the course and discover that it is not owned by your area. You contact the OU admin for the other area to confirm that the availability is set so that the newsletter recipients are able to request the course. It is not.
You report back to your area’s management that the course is not available to newsletter recipients. Management decides to wait to recommend the training until after discussions with the course’s owner about making the training available to more learners.
High-Risk Scenario Example Two
What Happened: You receive a request from your area’s management for a deep link to the course “Hiring Effectively” to include in the team newsletter as recommended training. You know your area owns the course, so you provide the deep link.
The next day, when the newsletter goes out, learners click the link and they are directed to the BuckeyeLearn administrator login page. Learners are unable to login or request the training, and they reply to the newsletter with complaints.
When you talk with the newsletter creators later, they say that they copied and pasted the link from their browser into the newsletter after testing your deep link.
What Should Have Happened: You receive a request from your area’s management for a deep link to the course “Hiring Effectively” to include in the team newsletter as recommended training. You know your area owns the course and it is available to the newsletter recipients, so you provide the deep link with the note, “You must only use this deep link or a go link that points to this deep link. Do not copy and paste a BuckeyeLearn link from your browser; it will not work!”
The next day, when the newsletter goes out, learners click the link and are able to request the training.
Job Aids
If you want to create a deep link to a different option than is listed below, contact the BuckeyeLearn Support team.
- Create a Deep Link to a Learning Object’s Training Details Page: use this type of link to include in communications to learners about training that is available for registration
- Create a Deep Link to an Event or Session Training Details Page : use this type of link to include in communications to learners about events or sessions that are available for registration
- Create a Deep Link to Learners’ Transcripts: use this type of link in communications to learners when learning has been assigned to them
For additional information about deep links, visit Cornerstone’s online help.