A perfect learning management system is integrated with third-party or external tools that allow users to access online resources uninterrupted and enhance their skills and knowledge. Learning tools Interoperability allows easy plug and play a plethora of external tools, activities, content online into the Learning management system.
The content or tools not hosted in the LMS means the user has to log in to an external application every time to access the desired material online, which makes learning difficult. The modern digital learning landscape is empowering teaching and learning methods through progressive custom LMS development solutions.
A learning management solution offers accessibility to myriad learning applications/platforms without the need for searching online learning content elsewhere. The hyperlinks and in-built APIs help learners and educationists to seamlessly navigate through apps. These applications, be it communication tools or domain-specific learning engines, can assist in improving the knowledge of the learners through the virtual sharing of resources, knowledge, and insights.
In order to facilitate easy external tools integration into LMS for quick and easy access to abundant learning content, Learning tool interoperability standards have been developed.
Understanding LTI
Learning Tools Interoperability is a crucial interoperability standard required to integrate multiple learning tools and courseware to be launched within the learning platforms offered by different vendors. The effective consortium of coherent technology ecosystems with products ensures minimal effort and seamless movement of learners & instructors from one tool to another.
Use of LTI
Learning tools interoperability lets you create seamless links between web-based tools outside of the learning platform. The LTI runs on a mechanism that allows students/instructors to navigate through various tools seamlessly. The best part about LTI is it maintains a high level of stringent security while transfusing even the most critical data.
The tools supported by LTI range from conventional communication tools, such as chat to domain-specific ones, such as publisher’s products. To briefly, through LTI, users can seamlessly connect interactive assessment apps or virtual chemistry labs via LMS in a standard way without the need for custom integrations.
The user no longer needs to log into every tool to navigate and access the content, LTI fetches the information searched while carrying the route of a search query and their relevance to ensure utmost security of the data.
Problem Solving LTI
Learning Tools Interoperability dictates a standardization for seamless integration of cloud-based learning applications with growing learning management systems, portals, learning object repositories.
An LTI ensures secure communication of data directly from learning applications to the specific learning environment. This secure learning environment handles the user interface integration, single sign-on, and movement of important course and user information.
How Does LTI Surpass Other Integration Methods?
LMS platforms such as Blackboard building blocks are cross-platform that require additional work or proprietary API to integrate with other systems. However, LTI is easily compatible with cross-platform specifications. With LTI, you no longer require additional work or proprietary APU to act consistently across systems.
Learning tool Integration is a technical standard that provides a secure foundation that allows scalable digital ecosystem development.
Advancement of LTI From 1.0 to 1.3
The first-ever Learning Tools Interoperability was in 2010. The first 1.0 version lets students/learners pass through certain parameters and authentication in order to access learning content. The 1.0 version also lets providers check students’ profiles and underline which students must have which resource.
Although the simplicity led to its widespread adoption, to improve interoperability LTI 1.2 and 2.0 was launched in 2014.
The latest version was a bit more complex than the previous one hence, couldn’t get desired popularity. Thereafter, IMS global introduced a new model that took advantage of industry advancement in security, reducing the complexity for developers.
The advanced model was called 1.3, and its services were packaged as LTI Advantage. The LTI 1.3 framework allows publishers to develop LTI 1.1 models and applications seamlessly.
LTI Advantage – The Innovation of Speedy Learning
We already learned that LTI has revolutionized the way instructors and learners absorb digital learning tools, resources, and apps through a single click. Regardless of industry advancement, the educational technology standards link commercial or enterprise-grade LMS with external learning tools to exchange information & learning workflow only after credentials confirmation of tools.
With LTI Advantage, educators can deploy better usability and security as LTI Advantage includes advanced protections for the exchange of sensitive data. The three LTI Advantage feature services are Names and Role Provisioning Services, Deep Linking, and Assignment and Grade Services.
LTI Advantage rapidly advances the educational technology ecosystem for instructors and students to have more and better options for innovative tools that result in better learning.
Names and Role Provisioning Services
This feature of LTI Advantage automates the course enrollment into the third-party tool. The feature also provides a thorough report of the student activity. Additionally, with Names and Role Provisioning Services, businesses/learners can –
- Provision learner using LTIs secure exchange.
- Learn about the remaining candidates who did not access the tool.
- Without sharing contact information, candidates can still contact seamlessly.
- Exchange of a list of users with their roles.
Deep Linking
This feature of LTI Advantage simplifies the development of the course. Deep Linking ensures that every content can be seamlessly linked to other content, such as content playlists and tables of content. Moreover, Deep Linking provides –
- Addition of pre-registered tools within clicks.
- Selection and addition of course content in clicks.
- Adding playlists to the content
- Enabling links and HTML content
Assignment and Grade Services
This powerful feature assures automatic updates of the scores and comments into a single place. The scores and comments are dynamically retrieved from the third party so that the candidates get updated information. One of its examples is the LMS grade book, where grades are being automatically updated. Additionally, with the assignment and grade services, education institutes can –
- Assignments that are gradable through a third-party tool.
- Multiple results can be exchanged.
- History of attempts that have been overridden by the instructor can be allowed.
- Assessors can provide relevant comments with the grade, where necessary.
- Numeric scores can be given in the LMS grade book.
LTI Advantage extends LTI for better and automatic integrations of tools leveraging industry-standard security that delivers a trusted foundation for better app administration. With LTI Advantage, instructors/educationists/companies can better the user experience & improve the digital learning ecosystem through multiple resources apps. The most important aspect is data privacy and security. LTI Advantage ensures better security and privacy of students ‘ crucial data. The platform also provides consistency to enable a seamless and effective teaching and learning environment. LTI has equal benefits for both instructors and learners. Let’s understand them one after the another.
LTI Integration Benefits for Learners
- An effective LTI LMS integration can offer a single access point to the learners to access diverse learning content. A single sign-on gives access to digital content.
- LTI can allow businesses or educationists to seamlessly link their LMS to other systems and tools. LTI streamlines the learning experience for the learners so they get digital content accessibility without the stress of acclimatizing to the different platforms for different needs. The learner can easily get what they are looking for while easily meeting the deadlines and rendering productive behavior.
- LTI is the most suitable integration in LMS for utmost security. LTI is integrated with best practices for privacy and security that improve the consistency of content even when implemented in mobile.
LTI Integration Benefits for Instructors
- LTI has multiple benefits and among which is streamlining the enrollment into learning tools. LTI support to LMS lets automatic transfer of the assignment scores and grades into the system.
- LTI reduces the time and cost needed to integrate digital resources into the learning ecosystem. LTI demonstrates stringent and high industry-standard security for developing a robust foundation.
- With LTI LMS integration, businesses or educational institutes can improve the digital ecosystem to make third-party resources, applications, and tools easy integration and sync the results continuously.
- With LTI, institutions get greater control over all resources and platforms that provide training resources. Institutes can seamlessly develop courseware etc, and use it. Instructors can rest assured about assignments and grades as they automatically get synced with the system.
- Institutions or instructors can opt for learning applications as preferred and integrate them to create a personalized learning environment without compromising the student’s learning experiences.
In a Nutshell –
The education industry is well known for the benefits of the Learning Tools Interoperability. Businesses new to learning methods and want to introduce a continuous and effective learning environment must consider LTI Integration. LTI ensures the interconnectedness of learners and learning resources for both instructors and learners with the utmost security and privacy.
Learning Tools Interoperability supports the most latest functionalities and compliance standards (national & local policies) for seamless integration of the third-party tools and resources, ensuring better learning outcomes. Most importantly, it saves time and cost necessary for multiple custom integration of tools & apps.
To get an LTI Integration only connect with a certified elearning software solutions provider to ensure testifies and seamless flow of content while delivering exceptional learning experience to the learners without decreasing the productivity.
Author’s Bio: Scarlett works with the editorial team of A3logics, a leading company offering mobile app development service. Exploring the latest technologies, reading about them, and writing her views have always been her passion. She seeks new opportunities to express her opinions, explore technological advancements, and document the details. You can always find her enjoying books or articles about varied topics or jotting down her ideas in a notebook.
