LTI in Action

LTI in Action

Teaching & Learning Conference by Blackboard, Liverpool, April 2015 1

LTI® in Action

Simon Booth (University of Stirling)

Stephen Vickers (IMS)

What is LTI?

– Stands for “Learning Tools Interoperability®”

– Specification published by IMS Global Learning

– A standard mechanism for seamlessly and securely connecting learning applications and remote content to virtual learning environments (VLEs) and enterprise portals

– Supported by all major VLEs

– Basic configuration requires just:

• launch URL

• key (to identify the customer)

• shared secret

– Launch data can include:

• context

• user

• role of user in context

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LTI in Action

Teaching & Learning Conference by Blackboard, Liverpool, April 2015 2

Applications

• Atomic Learning

– library of short, easy-to-understand tutorial videos

– www.atomiclearning.com/uk/

• Vitalsource

– Reading software for text book publisher

– www.vitalsource.com

• Scribblar

– collaboration software offering whiteboard, real-time audio, document

upload and more

– www.scribblar.com

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Adding an LTI tool (using Learn 9 core)

• System administrator:

– register LTI domain via System Admin tab:

• key

• secret

• choose what user data to send to tool

– add a placement to expose a tool to course instructors:

• Student Tool; or

• Tools, Assessment, Build Content (Mash-ups), Build Content (Create) menu

• Course instructors:

– select tool from content menu to create a link, or

– direct students to the course tool

• Course members:

– click the link to launch the LTI tool

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LTI in Action

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Launching LTI tools (using the B2)

• The LTI Building Block allows additional options for how to

display the third-party tool/resource:

– frame

– iframe (retaining course menu)

– new tab/window

– popup window

– overlay

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Deep linking with LTI

• LTI allows custom parameters

– Vitalsource uses to define the book and the location in the book, e.g.

vbid=9780323055321M

book_location=/id/B9780323055321500137_f1

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LTI in Action

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LTI links using the content editor (using the B2)

• The LTI Building Block has a mashup option which allows a link

to an LTI tool to be inserted via the content editor. For

example, a deep link to a reading could be inserted into a

description of a content item which might appear as:

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Configuration options (using the B2)

• Keys and secrets can be linked to a domain name for use by any

links launching to that domain (also applies to LTI in core

Learn 9)

• A tool can be fully configured via an XML description by either

pasting it into the configuration page or entering a URL to the

file

• An additional message type (extension to IMS spec) provides a

system configuration launch option for Learn 9 administrators

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LTI in Action

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Content-Item message (using the B2)

• This new LTI message type is currently in public draft

• It allows a tool provider to be involved in the process of

creating a new item of content in the VLE

• This allows new items to be fully configured at the time of

creation, rather than instructors having to launch them to

access any setup options for the specific link

• Supported by Scribblar

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Placement of links to tools

• Learn 9 Core:

– course tool

– content menu: Tools, Assignment, Mash-up, Create (Build Content)

– manually via Web Link menu option

• LTI B2:

– tool: course tool, group tool, user tool, system tool

– content menu: Tools, Assignment, Mash-up, Create (Build Content,

Media, New page, Mashups, Other), Partner Content

– mashup in rich text editor

– learning module

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LTI in Action

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Where to find LTI tools

• IMS Website

– IMS certification status page http://www.imscert.org/

– Certified Tools catalogue http://developers.imsglobal.org/catalog.html

– EduApp Centre (not all LTI!) https://www.eduappcenter.com/

• TurnitinUK

• Talis ASPIRE

• WebPA

• QuestionMark Perception

• Wordpress

• Blackboard Collaborate

• BigBlueButton

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LTI Roadmap

• Public draft:

– “rich outcomes” services – manage columns in gradebook

– “roster” service – access course memberships

• Current activity:

– LTI 2 – re-registration, tool profiles, placements

– context services

– gradebook launch message types

• Join IMS and get involved!

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LTI in Action

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Questions?

• Useful links

– project website: http://celtic-project.org/

– IMS website: http://www.imsglobal.org/

– briefing paper: http://publications.cetis.ac.uk/wp-

content/uploads/2012/05/LTI-Briefing-Paper.pdf

– best practice wiki: http://celtic.lti.tools/wiki/LTI/Best_Practice

– LTI B2: http://www.spvsoftwareproducts.com/bb/basiclti/

• Contact details

– Simon Booth: [email protected]

– Stephen Vickers: [email protected] or [email protected]

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