Determine your path
Invited students and Independent Learners take different paths in OLI. Use the information below to help you determine which kind of student you are.
FAQ: Course Key vs. Independent learners
ANSWER:
We’re not sure, but you’re probably not a Course Key student. Here are the steps we suggest you take to clarify your situation:
- Consult your teacher and/or your class materials. Do you have a Course Key and instructions for using it? If not, ask your teacher for help.
- Instead of Course Keys, some teachers choose to have students use a single sign-on link in your school’s Learning Management System (LMS) — the website where you sign in to get your class materials and assignments. Check your syllabus or ask your teacher whether your OLI course uses a Course Key or a single sign-on link in your LMS.
- Sometimes teachers send their students to the OLI website for free supplemental material. In that case, you should follow the independent learner path because you have neither a Course Key nor a single sign-on link in your LMS.
ANSWER:
You can’t earn credit directly from OLI. OLI isn’t a school and doesn’t have teachers. We provide scientifically researched tools and learning materials to help students learn more effectively. OLI offers a few paid courses that include tests, but students are not granted college credit or certification upon completion.
ANSWER:
Your OLI course is probably not accessed on the OLI website by signing in with an account ID and a password. Please check your school’s learning management system (LMS) — such as Blackboard, Canvas, Desire2Learn, etc. — and look for a single sign-on link that takes you directly to your OLI materials without an OLI account.
ANSWER:
Most of the time your question is addressed in your syllabus or class information, so it’s recommended you consult your teacher and/or the class information where you sign in to your school’s learning management system (for example, Blackboard, Canvas, Moodle, Desire2Learn, etc.).
If you don’t have a teacher, check the OLI Knowledge Base. If you still cannot find an answer to your question, use the “New support ticket” process to email OLI Support.
