System Changes

Bulk Import of Learner List into a Track

In addition begin able to find/select individual users to add or remove a track assignment, compliance staff can now import a text file to add a list of learners. The tab-delineated file must include a left column for learning track ID and a second column for NetID. The process is similar for removing a list of learners. 

Learning Track, Record deleting

Users with the Trainer security role have the Learning Track Management in their Manager Menu. This allows adding/removing tracks for their subordinates. 

Trainers can now delete history records with the X icon in the course page. 

Student records updating from new SIS Campus Solutions

The Ability LMS team has updated the nightly student update feed with a connection to the new SIS Campus Solutions. Basic users will not notice any difference in their views. Most significant for administrators is the change in the major academic program code and the resulting flexigroup queries. Automated track assignments and people lists based on academic program were successfully transitioned. 

Batch Import Course History Records

The Compliance Officer security role now includes ability to import a carefully prepared tab-delineated file with rows of completion records. Use an Excel template (RCR, other) which includes columns for netID, the courseID (one per file), course title, date and code (typically F/P for Finished/Pass), trainer NetID and duration.

Virtual Courses

A course type separate from the standard on-site instructor-led training (ILT) is now recommended for delivering Zoom webinars. Virtual courses are more secure. Login login url or password are no longer displayed in the calendar nor sent in emails which can be shared. Instead, the learner logs into Ability and goes to their Enrollment page to click a Join Session button which takes them to the instructor/host Zoom session. Programs require a separate course for each type of delivery they use. Trainers use a different dropdown option on the Master Calendar for virtual class on-site class. 

Enrollment Reminders

The Location field instructor-led event email confirmation and reminders was updated. While Ability can accommodate many zoom links, trainers and program coordinators are asked to establish one link for webinars to minimize confusion during event set-ups and helpdesk support. 

The Location field was removed entirely from the Waitlist Move-up notification. 

View Course Equivalancies

Users with Compliance security role, now have access to Equivalencies tab on each of the courses in their training area. This can be useful for complex uses of historical courses and their impacts on track status. If your training program accepts alternative training (from another institution, or for accommodations) and records them under an "Alternative" course titel, you will see them listed under the standard course as an equivalent.

Trainer Access to Update Course Documents

Trainers, as well as compliance security roles can now access the Documents tab for the courses they deliver.

Enrollment Reminders

The Location field instructor-led event email confirmation and reminders was updated. While Ability can accommodate many zoom links, trainers and program coordinators are asked to establish one link for webinars to minimize confusion during event set-ups and helpdesk support. 

The Location field was removed entirely from the Waitlist Move-up notification. 

CITI Programs.org

Training topics that are already provided within MSU's compliance training system have been removed to avoid confusion. Options have been narrowed to three questions.

Law Students

MSU College of Law students will now have accounts automatically created in the Ability system, similar to how all other MSU students through a feed from SIS. RVSM assignment and association email notifications and reporting capability for this group begin immediately.

Launch Button Only

Many users were selecting the Review button for online courses and frustrated when they did not get credit for completing training. ORRS has started removing the Review button option from all online courses. Contact the helpdesk if you need the Review option turned on temporarily for a course. 

Edit Course Launch Path

Trainers/developers who have SCORM courses in the system now have security access to edit the course launch path if necessary to match a new version file name. Click the now available Course Modules tab and the edit icon (far right column). 

New Report Available for Managers - Learning Track Progress By Learner

This report includes each learner's status in each course within assigned learning tracks.

More about reports

CITI Feed Expanded

The weekly CITI feed now imports "Supplemental" CITI module completions in addition to those modules designated in CITI Programs as "Required."  Over fifty new titles will be seen in training transcripts. 

RVSM Program for Students

Ability now hosts MSU's Relationship Violence & Sexual Misconduct training. In September 2019, online and instructor-led training was rolled out to all MSU students.

System-wide slow-downs are possible due to the large volume of new users accessing the Ability. We recommend you plan extra time to create events, record completions, and run reports. Let your audiences know any system slowdown or outage will be temporary.

More information

"Assignments" Tab Removed from Course Homepage

Assignments tab, which presented confusing information for courses with recurring training requirements, has been removed from the course homepage.

View screenshot (PNG)

Training Event Creation Improvements

When creating instructor-led training events,

1. Max Seating now defaults to the maximum seating of the specific room/location selected for the event.
2. End Date and End Time now automatically correspond to the default course duration. Trainers no longer have to update end date or time in sessions tab.

To change default Open Enrollment date, change default course duration, or add a new location, contact ORRS.train@msu.edu.

View screenshot (GIF)

Ability Account Creation/Inactivation for MSU Students

As of August 2019, Ability accounts for students are active for all students enrolled in any semester of the current academic year. The switch to a new academic year will occur early each August to accommodate students arriving early.

From December 2018-July 2019, Ability accounts were activated only for students enrolled in the current semester. Users with inactive accounts are not visible to trainers or compliance officers.

See User Access page for more information.

Guest Account Changes

MSU affiliates who need to complete MSU training can now create a Community ID at https://community.idm.msu.edu/. Once the account has been created, the user can log into Ability at https://orrs.msu.edu/train with their full email address and the password they have set.

Ability guest accounts will now be created only to track training for affiliates with no access to email (contact 517-884-4600).

To ensure training records sync with other MSU systems, it is important that incoming employees and students wait until a NetID is issued to complete training. Community IDs are NOT intended for:

• personnel with an active MSU NetID
• personnel with a department-sponsored NetID
• personnel with an active FPID
• incoming students
• new hires
• personnel with no affiliation to MSU

Any users who were issued a guest account between December 2018 and August 2019 can continue to use their existing guest account.

See User Access page for more information.

Impersonate User - Security Change

To address a security concern, users will now be prompted to log in again with their own credentials after impersonating another user.

The "Impersonate" function is used to troubleshoot user problems, test systems changes, and check compliance for single research teams.

RVSM Program for Employees

Ability now hosts MSU's Relationship Violence & Sexual Misconduct training. In July 2019, online training was rolled out to all MSU employees.

System-wide slow-downs are possible due to the large volume of new users accessing the Ability. We recommend you plan extra time to create events, record completions, and run reports. Let your audiences know any system slowdown or outage will be temporary.

More information

Group Creation by NetID List 

Groups of learners can now be created based on an Excel sheet of MSU NetIDs. Once the learner group is created, it can be used for reporting, training assignment, or manager access. Previously groups could only be created based on data present in Ability (student program code, employing department, job title, etc.).

Updates to Display of Managers' People Lists

• Employees who hold multiple job positions no longer appear on the People list multiple times. Employees appear once, with their home (primary) job position displayed.
• Employees with inactive Ability accounts no longer appear on manager lists.
• Managers now appears in their own People list/group. (This allows generating a compliance report for an entire lab with only one action.)

New Option for Managers to Remove Tracks

While reviewing an individual learner's Track Status tab, managers now have options to both add and remove selected tracks for the selected learner. Look for the green plus sign and red X icons.

Previously track removal was only possible through Manager Menu - Learning Track Manager. 

View screenshot (PNG)

Source of Learning Track Assignment Now Available

The source of a learning track assigned to a specific learner is now available. Through People > select a learner > Learning Tracks tab > select a course's green i icon > the system displays the NetID of the user who assigned the training.

View screenshot (JPG)

Button Labels for Launching Online Courses (Review vs. Launch)

Users renewing/refreshing training should click the "Launch" button on the course home page. The review button is intended for users want to review a specific slide or section within previously completed course content, without having to re-register and complete the entire course. Viewing a course via the "Review" button will not create a new transcript or update an expiration date.

Previously, buttons were labeled "Review" and "Retake."