Preview User

Preview User or "Student Preview" 

The Preview User feature creates a "demonstration" student. In essence, you are a temporary fake student in your course. You can take tests, submit assignments and participate in discussions in an official student role. Once you are finished testing, you will be asked if you want to keep the data from your testing. Depending on the purpose of your testing, you can choose to keep or delete the data. Why keep it? You could keep your fake student's grades in the grade center to use for reference. For example, you can change grades of the preview user without risk of affecting a real student's grade. If you remove the preview user, all data will be permanently removed. This includes test attempts, assignment submissions, grades, and discussion posts as well as interactions with enrolled students such posts within the discussion board.  The preview user is unenrolled from the course.

Turning on Student Preview Mode

• 1. Enter student preview mode by click in the “eye” icon located in the upper right side of the screen by the Edit button

  2. Student Preview Mode will activate, and you will become a preview user logged in to your course 

  3. A yellow bar will appear

  4. Navigate the course, view course materials and participate in assignments, discussions and assessments as needed

 Deleting Student Preview User Data

• 1. In the Exit Student Preview window, select Delete the preview user and all data (Recommended). 

  2. Optionally, select the Do not ask me check box. 

     • The course automatically completes your choice each time you exit student preview.

     • To change this setting, select Settings in the student preview bar.

Retaining Student Preview User Data 

• 1. In the Exit Student Preview window, select “Keep the preview user and all data” if you need to keep the user and data to see student activity when in your instructor role

  2. If you keep the data, the preview user account appears in the course roster, Grade Center, and any place you interacted as that user.

  3. The dot in the middle of the Enter Student Preview icon turns green and will remain illuminated until the data is deleted. 

Instructional Advice

• • While in Preview User mode, your name in the Grade Center will be: previewuser_lastname

  • Please be aware if you send email or participate in discussions while in preview user role, students will see the preview username, not the faculty’s name.

  • Your preview user appears in the course roster until you delete the Preview Student User data

  • The Preview User feature is not available for students