The Aura Chrome Extension provides Learners access to Aura from their browser, without having to navigate to their LMS Portal. Learners can open Aura from the current browser tab, ask a question, and receive supported answers, recommendations, search results, and source links based on their available learning content.
This article explains how the Aura Chrome Extension works, how Learners can get started, and how to troubleshoot common access issues.
The Aura Chrome Extension uses your existing Absorb session. If you are not signed in to your Absorb Portal, or if your session has expired, the extension cannot access Aura.
How the Aura Chrome Extension Works
The Aura Chrome Extension is a browser-based access point for the Aura Learner Agent. It uses the Learner's existing Absorb session, so Learners do not need a separate username, password, or personal identification number (PIN) to use the extension.
Once installed and connected to an Absorb Portal, the extension provides two ways to open Aura:
- The floating Aura button that appears on browser tabs.
- The Aura icon in the Chrome toolbar.
Either option opens the Aura side panel. The side panel lets Learners ask questions while staying on the page they are currently viewing.
Supported Aura Responses
The extension supports the same Learner-facing Aura responses available in the LMS widget for supported flows.
- Plain text responses.
- Course recommendation cards.
- Course search result cards.
- Sorted document cards.
- Lesson source links for question and answer responses.
Access Controls
The Aura Chrome Extension follows the same access controls used by Aura in the LMS. Learners can only access Aura if they are eligible to use it in your Absorb environment.
The extension respects existing Aura settings, including feature availability, Learner eligibility, and guardrails. The extension does not provide access to content or functionality that the Learner cannot access through Absorb LMS.
Getting Started
Learners must install the Aura Chrome Extension, connect it to their Absorb Portal, and sign in to the Portal using the same Chrome profile.
The Aura Chrome Extension can be found here, or by searching in the Chrome Web Store. Click Add to Chrome from this page to initiate the installation process.
Prerequisites
Confirm the following requirements before using the extension:
- Your organization has Aura enabled.
- Your Learner account is eligible to use Aura.
- You are using Google Chrome.
- You have the Portal URL for your Absorb LMS environment.
Set Up the Extension
Use the following steps to connect the extension to your Absorb Portal:
- Install the Aura Chrome Extension.
- Open the Aura icon from the Chrome toolbar.
- Enter your Absorb Portal URL when prompted.
- Sign in to your Absorb Portal in the same Chrome profile.
- Return to the extension panel after sign-in is complete.
After the extension detects your active Absorb session, Aura becomes available in the side panel.
Open Aura from a Browser Tab
After setup is complete, you can open Aura without leaving the page you are viewing.
- Select the floating Aura button on the browser tab.
- Enter your question in the Aura side panel.
- Review the response and any available source links or content cards.
You can also select the Aura icon in the Chrome toolbar to open the side panel.
Use the Floating Aura Button
The floating Aura button is designed to stay available without blocking your work.
- Drag the button to reposition it on the page.
- Dismiss the button for the current site session when it is not needed.
- Select the button again to open the Aura side panel.
Use Cases
Learners can use the Aura Chrome Extension anywhere they work in Chrome, as long as they have an active Absorb session and are eligible to use Aura.
Ask Questions While Working
Learners can ask Aura questions while using browser-based tools such as a customer relationship management (CRM) system, ticketing systems, internal wiki, email, or document.
For example, a Learner can open Aura from a support ticket and ask about a policy or process without switching back to the LMS.
Find New Learning Content
Learners can ask Aura whether there is a Course or resource in their Catalog that covers a topic they are researching.
When matching content is available, Aura may return a recommendation card or search result that links back to the relevant learning content in Absorb LMS.
Review Completed Courses
Learners can use Aura to refresh their understanding of completed learning content.
For example, a Learner can ask Aura to summarize key takeaways from a Course they completed previously, based on the content available to them.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues when using the Aura Chrome Extension, there are troubleshooting methods you can use to attempt to resolve it. Most access issues occur when the extension cannot detect a valid Absorb session or when the configured Portal does not match the Learner's current sign-in.
The most common issues and their solutions are detailed in the following sections.
Aura Does Not Open After Setup
If Aura does not open after setup, confirm that you are signed in to your Absorb Portal in the same Chrome profile where the extension is installed.
To confirm you are signed in, complete the following:
- Open your Absorb Portal in Chrome.
- Sign in to the Portal.
- Open the Aura Chrome Extension again.
Aura Opens for the Wrong Portal
If the extension is connected to one Portal but you are signed in to another Portal, Aura may not load as expected.
To confirm you are signed in to the correct Portal, complete the following:
- Confirm the Portal URL configured in the extension.
- Sign out of any incorrect Absorb Portal sessions.
- Sign in to the correct Absorb Portal.
- Open the Aura Chrome Extension again.
Your Session Expires While Using Aura
If your Absorb session expires while you are using the extension, Aura may prompt you to sign in again.
If your session expires, complete the following:
- Return to your Absorb Portal.
- Log in to the Portal.
- Return to the Aura side panel.
Note that after signing in, you may need to ask your question again in the Aura panel.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions address common setup, access, and browser behavior for the Aura Chrome Extension.
Do Learners Need a Separate Login?
No. The extension uses the Learner's existing Absorb session. Learners must be signed in to their Absorb Portal in the same Chrome profile.
Does the Extension Follow Existing Aura Controls?
Yes. The extension follows the same Aura controls used in Absorb LMS, including feature availability, Learner eligibility, and guardrails.
Does the Extension Support Admin Assist?
No. The extension is designed for the Aura Learner Agent. Admin Assist is not supported in the extension at this time.
Can Learners Use the Extension Offline?
No. The extension requires an active connection to Absorb LMS, and an active Absorb session.
Can Learners Switch Between Multiple Absorb Portals?
The extension uses the Portal configured during setup and the account signed in through the current Chrome profile. If a Learner uses multiple Absorb Portals, they should confirm that the extension is configured for the correct portal before using Aura.
Is the Extension Available for Other Browsers?
No. The Aura Chrome Extension is designed for Google Chrome and does not support other browsers at this time.
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