LTI stands for Learning Tools Interoperability and is a technology standard protocol developed by IMS Global Learning Consortium that easily powers secure single-sign-on integrations between tool providers (like TestOut's LabSim platform) and Learning Management Systems (LMS), such as Canvas, Blackboard, Brightspace, Schoology, Moodle, and others. LTI powers TestOut's LMS integrations.
LTI 1.3 greatly enhances capability over LTI 1.1, and with official support for LTI 1.1 ending June 30, 2022 TestOut desires to stay with the current LTI standard of LTI 1.3.
Note: LTI 1.1 will continue to function after June 2022, though official industry support for LTI 1.1 will no longer be provided.
Q&A
Q: Will LTI 1.1 continue to function after support ends on June 30, 2022?
A: Yes. The functionality of LTI 1.1 will continue after IMS Global Learning Consortium officially discontinues support on June 30, 2022.
Q: How do I get started with LTI 1.3 with Advantage?
A: Please reach out to our Implementation Team via our request form at https://hs.testout.com/lms-keyandsecret. Please spell out our specific desire in the "Goals for new adoption or integration training" field.
Q: Will I need to run grade sync with LTI 1.3 with Advantage?
A: With LTI 1.3 with Advantage grade sync occurs automatically. As an instructor, you will not need to manually run a grade sync.
Q: Which LMS platforms are using LTI 1.3 with Advantage?
A: Here at TestOut we are currently supporting LTI 1.3 with Advantage on Blackboard SaaS, and Blackboard self-hosted versions 3900 and higher, Brightspace, Moodle and Canvas.
Q: What if I am running an LMS other than Canvas, Blackboard, Brightspace, and Moodle?
A: If your LMS is compliant with LTI 1.3 with Advantage we will make note of this for future development efforts, though at this point we can only provide LTI 1.3 with Advantage support on the above noted LMS platforms.
Q: What improvements come with LTI 1.3 with Advantage?
A: LTI 1.3 with Advantage boasts easy installation, greater ease of assignments (a whole course can be created in about an hour), and automatic score return (automatic grade sync). LTI 1.3 with Advantage is more secure.
Q: Can I use LTI 1.1 and LTI 1.3 with Advantage at the same time? Can LTI 1.1 and 1.3 assignment links be in the same LMS course?
A: Yes. LTI 1.1 and LTI 1.3 with Advantage can be installed and function within a given LMS at the same time, though you will not want both LTI 1.1 and LTI 1.3 assignment links within the same course. A best practice is to create LTI 1.3 with Advantage assignment links within a newly created LMS course shell.
Q: What about my current LTI 1.1 courses? Is there an impact on them? What happens to my classes built using LTI 1.1?
A: Your current LTI 1.1 courses will not be impacted and will continue to function. You will need to keep the LTI 1.1 configuration installed on the admin level, and can choose to decommission this when all of your courses are using LTI 1.3 with Advantage, or when otherwise makes sense to you.
Q: Does TestOut have an LTI 1.3 with Advantage integration for Canvas?
A: Yes.
Q: On what LMS platforms are you currently running LTI 1.3 with Advantage?
A: We currently are running LTI 1.3 with Advantage on Blackboard SaaS (or v3900), Brightspace, Moodle, and Canvas.
Q: Do I need to be concerned about any security changes with LTI 1.3 with Advantage?
A: CIOs and platform providers have security-related concerns about sensitive and personally identifiable information (PII) being passed between platforms and tools. Older security frameworks have demonstrated vulnerabilities. LTI 1.3 and LTI Advantage are the first IMS standards to leverage the new IMS Security Framework model. IMS Security Framework adopts the industry-standard protocol IETF OAuth 2.0 for authentication services along with JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for secure message signing and adopts the Open ID Connect workflow paradigm.
Q: What is most exciting about running our LTI 1.3 with Advantage integration?
Creating Assignments
The process for creating assignment links is done via a GUI. It's a point and click experience and is far superior to the manually driven URL Web Links with our LTI 1.1 approach.
Score Return
Score return is also better. The student is not required to click each assignment link for the score to return for that assignment. Rather, so long as an assignment link exists within the course, the student can follow an initial assignment link, complete and score that assignment, then stay in the TestOut course and complete other assignments and have all scores automatically synced back to Blackboard.
Time Saver
The feedback we've received conveys that this approach is a great step forward and a great timesaver. ...that the approach just gets easier and faster going forward. Generally speaking, a course can be created in about an hour or a little longer. Not nearly as long as with LTI 1.1.