User types
A look at the default groups and 3 user types on Synap
Last updated
A look at the default groups and 3 user types on Synap
Last updated
Creating user groups is an essential part of managing your Synap platform. In general your user groups will closely reflect the content you're assigning to that group. For example a specific exam on a certain day will have its own user group and so will an assignment. User groups will also dictate what type a user is
🧠 Note: On Synap, it is membership to a group that decides what content a user gets. Go to Settings>User Access to turn pages on and off for different user types
Head over to the groups via the Users icon on the main menu. From the users page you'll be able to see, search and filter all of your user groups. The first 4 groups are fixed, these are the default user groups on Synap.
Default groups have a padlock icon.
User type is shown with a grey label
Sub portal groups are indicated with the site map icon and primary colour of the sub portal
There are 5 types of users on Synap:
Admins - highest level of access, can create or edit anything and access support, billing and portal settings
Managers - similar editing and creating permissions to admins but cannot access billing and portal settings
Educators - a configurable role with advanced permissions (Pro or higher) can be given global or specific permissions to content and user groups.
Markers - a specific role for users who can only mark exams,
Students - end users who can interact with content set to them.
Users will inherit the permissions of the highest group they are in, so an admin will remain an admin if they are also in educator or student groups. See below for details about what each user type can do. When creating a group you'll need to assign it a type out of: Educator, Marker or Student.
Admins have full access to do anything on the portal, there is nothing above admins.
✅ Admins can:
Manage all users across any group
Create new managers, educators, markers and students
Create and delete content
Manage exams
Export data
Change portal settings
Manage billing
Create and manage custom attributes
Access Synap admin support
Use the study mode toggle on your profile menu to switch to 'Study mode' which will show you the platform as your users see it.
We recommend you keep the overall number of admins low. You cannot remove admins from the default admin group. If you need to delete admins please contact your account manager for help.
Managers can do all the same things admins can do for creating content, setting exams, managing users across multiple sub portals. Managers cannot access or manage any portal settings or anything related to billing.
✅ Managers can:
Manage all users across any group
Create new educators, markers and students
Create and delete content
Manage exams
Export data
❌ Managers cannot:
Manage billing
Change any portal settings
Create new attributes or sub portals
Educators are the most configurable role, they can be set to moderate or manage specific groups. they are the moderators of student groups. Educators moderate select groups of students and can see their progress. The educators group is slightly special in that an educator can be removed from the default group and remain an educator, so long as they are a member of at least one custom educator group.
✅ Educators can be configured to:
Read / update custom attributes on users that are in groups they are moderating
Access reporting and exports
Add, invite and remove users from groups - get in touch with support about enabling
❌ Educators cannot:
Manage global settings
Access billing
Create or curate content
Create groups
Create custom attributes
Go to our permissions docs to find out more about configurating your educators permissions and access
Educator permissions🧠 Note: Educators do not go into the default educators group when they are invited to a custom educator group
Markers are able to mark exam attempts that are assigned to them. Depending on the role they are given (Moderating vs Provisional). If a user is just a marker type ie not also an educator, they will only have the single markers inbox page available to them after login. Note that the markers inbox page can be enabled for educators and admins as well.
Students are who the platform is for, these are your end users. They don't have access to the same dashboard as an admin or educator. Their portal is set up to show them content and materials. You can customise different pages for different user types and set a student home page, go to Settings > Pages > Students.
✅ Students can:
View their own progress and results
Edit their email / account information
Manage their study (when enabled)
View and edit attributes if they've been given write access to
Engage with content that they have access to (Exams, Assignments and Collections)
❌ Students cannot:
Create content
Manage their access to content
Access reporting or exports
View other student progress (other than anonymised cohort data)
