External user role
The "external user” role is assigned to a person who logs on to the learning platform via self-registration.
An external user is granted extended guest rights in the learning platform. Both guest and external users cannot use all functions in all course elements compared to a registered standard user. The tables on this page provide an overview of the range of functions in the individual course elements.
With an additional publication option, it is possible to put external users in a course on a level with registered standard users. External users will then also have access to all course element functions. The added value of this setting can be seen in the following tables. For further guidance on publishing courses, refer to the General access to courses and resources help page.
Comparison of course element functions per publication status
The following tables show the range of functions in a course and its course elements. It is assumed that these are not subject to any additional or specific visibility or access restrictions. To be able to use the whole range of functions described in the tables, the external user must be logged into the platform and thus have an active user session.
Table legend
| The course element content or functional area is visible and usable according to the instructions. |
| The course element or functional area is partially available according to the instructions. |
| The course element content or functional area is not visible, the function is not available. |
Publicly available course content (BARG)
| Publishing status | Publishing status | |
|---|---|---|---|
Course element or functional area | Guest user | External user | External user |
Test, Self-test | A test course element can be started. Assessment results are not displayed on the course element page. | A test course element can be started. Assessment results are only displayed on the course element page if the user is enrolled in a learning group of the course. | |
Scorm, CP, Media library, Flashcard set, Virtual classroom | The course element content is visible and can be started. | ||
File dialogue, Forum | The course element content is visible and can be used. Both user roles can write, edit, reply to and quote posts, as well as mark them as favourite and as best post. | ||
Message, Bibliography, LTI tool, Link list, Internal page | The course element content is visible. | ||
Blog | The course element content is visible, the blog (RSS link) can be copied. | ||
Wiki | The content of the wiki is visible, but the pages cannot be edited by guests. They can only participate in discussions (write, edit, reply to and quote posts, as well as mark them as favourite and as best post) and view the version history of a wiki page. | External users can use all functions. | External users can use all functions. |
Folder (all rights free) | The content of the folder is visible. However, users cannot upload or create files. Unlike registered users. | External users can use all functions like a standard user. | |
Forum | Users can only read existing forum posts. | External users can read existing forum posts and write new ones. | External users can read existing forum posts and write new ones. |
Profile, Enrolment, Task, Survey, Topic assignment, Assignment of dates, Portfolio task, E-mail | The content is not visible to the user. The following message is displayed: "The course element "[Title]" is not open for guests. Please log in to gain access." | The content is not visible to the user. The following message is displayed: "The course element "[Title]” is not open for external users." | External users can use all functions like a standard user. However, for some functions, this user must also be enrolled in a learning group of the course. |
Course calendar | A guest or external user can see the calendar area but no configured course or group appointments. This does not apply to group appointments with the "Visible to everyone in the course" option. | The course calendar is visible to external users. The visibility of entered course and group appointments is the same as for a standard user. | |
Subscription to course elements, Course progress | These functions are not visible to guests. | Both functions are available for external users. | Both functions are available for external users. |
Performance results | This area is not visible to guests. | This area is available for external users. | This area is available for external users. |
"Public – visible to everyone" (BARG)
"Public – visible to everyone and external users" (BARG|E)
Course content available to registered users (BAR)
| Publishing status | Publishing status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Course element or functional area | Guest
| External user | Guest | External user |
Test, Self-test | All course elements in a course with the BAR publication status are not accessible for users with the guest or external user role.
| All course elements in a course with the BAR+E publication status are not accessible for users with the guest role. | A test course element can be started. Assessment results are only displayed on the course element page if the user is enrolled in a learning group of the course. | |
Scorm, CP, Media library, Flashcard set, Virtual classroom | The course element content is visible and can be started. | |||
File dialogue, Forum | The course element content is visible and can be used. Both user roles can write, edit, reply to and quote posts, as well as mark them as favourite and as best post. | |||
Message, Bibliography, LTI tool, Link list, Internal page | The course element content is visible. | |||
Blog | The content is visible, the blog (RSS link) can be copied. | |||
Wiki, Folder (all rights free) | External users can use all functions. | |||
Forum | External users can read existing forum posts and write new ones. | |||
Profile, Enrolment, Task, Survey, Topic assignment, Assignment of dates, Portfolio task, E-mail | External users can use all functions. In the task course element, external users can use all functions just like a standard course user. This also applies to the PeerReview function. | |||
Course calendar | The course calendar is visible to external users. The visibility of entered course and group appointments is the same as for a standard user. | |||
Subscription to course elements, Course progress | Both functions are available for external users. | |||
Performance results | This area is available for external users. | |||
"Public – visible to registered users" (BAR)
"Public – visible to registered and external users" (BAR|E)
Add external users to groups
For data protection reasons, external users cannot be added to groups in the group management. Although you can find external users (belonging to the same institution) via the search, you will receive an error message when trying to add them. Therefore, you should always allow external users to self-enrol in groups (Enrolment course element).