Learning Tools Interoperability Overview

LTI is a standard protocol used in educational technology, including within learning management systems (LMS) like Canvas. LTIs facilitate the integration of external tools or applications into the Canvas environment, allowing instructors and students to access additional functionalities seamlessly.

Here's how LTIs work:

  • Integration
    Canvas administrator configures an LTI integration within the Canvas instance settings. This typically involves providing information such as the LTI tool's launch URL, consumer key, and shared secret.
  • Launching the Tool
    Once the LTI integration is set up, instructors can add the external tool as an external app within their course. When students access this app, Canvas sends a request to the tool's launch URL along with authentication information.
  • Authentication and Authorization
    The external tool validates the incoming request using the provided consumer key and shared secret. Upon successful validation, the tool authenticates the user's credentials through single sign-on (SSO) or other authentication methods. It then authorizes the user based on their role within the Canvas course.

Overall, LTIs enhance the functionality of Canvas by seamlessly integrating external tools and applications, providing instructors and students with access to a wider range of resources and functionalities within the familiar Canvas interface.There is a process and timeline to implement an LTI into Taft College's Canvas instance.