Overview
Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) enables seamless integration of external applications and tools into Sakai. Launch third-party tools from within your course site, pass user and context information securely, and receive grades back from external applications—all while maintaining single sign-on and consistent user experience.Key Features
LTI Standards Support
Sakai implements current LTI specifications:- LTI 1.1: Legacy standard, widely supported
- LTI 1.3: Modern standard with enhanced security
- LTI Advantage: Extensions for deep integration
- Assignment and Grade Services (AGS): Grade passback
- Names and Role Provisioning Services (NRPS): Roster sync
- Deep Linking: Content selection and embedding
LTI 1.3 is the recommended standard for new tool integrations, offering improved security through OAuth 2.0 and signed JWTs.
Tool Types
Different integration patterns:| Type | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| External Tool | Third-party application launched from site | Online textbooks, simulations, specialized software |
| Content Item | Embeddable content from external source | Videos, interactive activities, documents |
| Assessment Integration | External quiz/test with grade return | Publisher test banks, adaptive assessments |
| Collaboration Tool | External communication platform | Virtual whiteboards, video conferencing |
Adding LTI Tools
Integrate external tools into your site:System-wide vs. Site Tools
Two levels of tool installation:- System-wide tools: Pre-configured by administrators, available to all sites
- Site-level tools: Configured by instructors for specific courses
- Institutional agreements: Centrally managed vendor relationships
- Ad-hoc integration: Individual instructor tool additions
Tool Configuration
Key settings when adding LTI tools:- Launch URL: Tool’s LTI endpoint address
- Consumer key: Identifier for your Sakai instance
- Shared secret: Security credential for signed launches
- Custom parameters: Tool-specific configuration values
- Privacy settings: What user information to share
- Frame height: Display size for embedded tools
- Open in new window: Launch behavior preference
User Information Sharing
Control what data is passed to external tools:- User ID: Sakai user identifier
- Username: Login name
- Full name: First and last name
- Email address: User’s email
- Role: Instructor, student, TA, etc.
- Course context: Site ID and title
- Roster: Complete participant list (with NRPS)
Privacy settings control which user information is shared with external tools. Only share necessary data based on tool requirements and institutional policies.
Grade Passback
Automatic grade synchronization from external tools:- Outcomes service: LTI standard for grade return
- Gradebook creation: Automatic grade item creation
- Score sync: Real-time or periodic grade updates
- Point conversion: Map external scores to Gradebook points
- Grade status: Track submitted, graded, needs grading
- Manual override: Adjust externally-provided grades if needed
Deep Linking
Embed specific external content:- Content selection: Choose specific items from external tool
- Lesson integration: Embed content in Lesson Builder pages
- Assignment linking: Connect assignments to external activities
- Resource library: Browse external content repositories
- Metadata transfer: Content title, description, points
Single Sign-On
Seamless authentication:- No separate login: Users automatically authenticated to external tools
- Session management: Maintains authentication across tools
- Security: Signed launches verify user identity
- Token-based: OAuth tokens for secure communication
- Context preservation: User returns to same location after tool use
Tool Placement Options
Where LTI tools can appear:- Site navigation: Tool as menu item in course site
- Lesson Builder: Embedded within lesson pages
- Assignments: External tool assignment type
- Resources: Link to tool from Resources folder
- Rich text editor: Launch tool from editor toolbar
- Popup window: Open in separate browser window
Roster Provisioning
Share course participant information:- Names and Role Provisioning Service (NRPS): Standard roster API
- Participant list: All enrolled users with roles
- Membership updates: Sync roster changes automatically
- Group information: Share course group/section data
- Privacy controls: Limit what roster data is shared
Custom Parameters
Pass additional information to tools:- Variable substitution: Insert Sakai data into parameters
- User variables: User.username, $User.email
- Context variables: CourseOffering.title
- Custom values: Tool-specific configuration options
- Launch customization: Modify tool behavior per site
Custom parameters allow fine-tuning tool behavior and passing context-specific information for personalized experiences.
Tool Management
Administer LTI tool integrations:- Edit configuration: Update tool settings after installation
- Test launches: Verify tool connectivity and configuration
- Usage analytics: Track tool launch frequency and users
- Remove tools: Uninstall unused integrations
- Debug mode: Troubleshoot integration issues
- Log review: Examine launch parameters and responses
Security Features
Protect user data and maintain integrity:- OAuth signatures: Cryptographically signed launches
- Nonce validation: Prevent replay attacks
- Timestamp checking: Reject old launch requests
- SSL/TLS encryption: Secure data transmission
- Key rotation: Update security credentials periodically
- Privacy controls: Limit data sharing to necessary information
Best Practices
Tool Selection
- Verify LTI compliance before committing to external tools
- Prefer LTI 1.3 tools for better security and features
- Test tools thoroughly before deploying to students
- Consider institutional licensing and support agreements
- Review privacy policies of external tool providers
- Ensure accessibility compliance of external tools
Configuration
- Use system-wide tools when available for easier management
- Document custom parameters and configuration choices
- Test grade passback before relying on it for course grades
- Configure appropriate privacy settings based on tool needs
- Use descriptive tool names that indicate purpose
- Set reasonable frame heights for embedded tools
Privacy and Security
- Share only necessary user information with external tools
- Review data sharing agreements with tool providers
- Inform students about external tool usage and data sharing
- Use institutional tools with vetted security practices
- Regularly review and remove unused tool integrations
- Keep consumer keys and secrets secure
Grade Integration
- Test grade passback with sample data before live use
- Verify point conversions are accurate
- Monitor gradebook for successfully synced grades
- Have backup plan if grade passback fails
- Communicate grading timeline to students
- Review externally-provided grades for accuracy
User Experience
- Provide clear instructions for accessing external tools
- Set expectations about tool launch delays
- Inform students if tools open in new windows
- Offer technical support resources for tool issues
- Create orientation materials for complex tool integrations
- Test on multiple browsers and devices
Troubleshooting
- Check launch logs for detailed error information
- Verify consumer key and secret are correct
- Confirm tool URL is accessible and correct
- Test with different user roles (instructor, student)
- Check privacy settings if user data not appearing in tool
- Contact tool provider support for tool-specific issues
Common Use Cases
Publisher Courseware
Integrate textbook publisher platforms:- Access online textbook content
- Complete publisher-created assignments
- Automatic grade passback for publisher assessments
- Supplemental resources and study aids
- Learning analytics from publisher platform
Video Platforms
Embed interactive video services:- Launch video hosting platforms (Kaltura, YuJa, Panopto)
- Single sign-on to video libraries
- Track video viewing analytics
- Create and share lecture recordings
- Interactive video quizzes
Specialized Software
Access discipline-specific tools:- Programming environments (Codio, Replit)
- Virtual labs and simulations
- Statistical software packages
- Design and modeling tools
- Industry-standard applications
Assessment Engines
External testing and quiz tools:- Adaptive assessment platforms
- Question bank integration
- Proctoring service integration
- Specialized question types
- Advanced analytics and reporting
Collaboration Tools
Integrate communication platforms:- Virtual whiteboard applications
- Collaborative document editing
- Project management tools
- Peer review platforms
- Group work coordination tools
Many collaboration tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet can be integrated via LTI for seamless single sign-on and attendance tracking.
Technical Details
LTI integration in Sakai is implemented via:- LTI Service:
LTIServiceinterface (lti/lti-api/src/java/org/sakaiproject/lti/api/LTIService.java) - OAuth 1.0: Signature-based authentication for LTI 1.1
- OAuth 2.0 & JWT: Token-based authentication for LTI 1.3
- Basic LTI: Industry-standard IMS Global specification
- Outcomes Service: Grade passback via IMS LTI Outcomes
- Deep Linking: Content selection via LTI Content Item
- Platform Support: Sakai acts as LTI Platform (consumer)
LTI Advantage Services
- AGS (Assignment and Grade Services): Enhanced grade passback with line items
- NRPS (Names and Role Provisioning): Roster and membership services
- DL (Deep Linking): Advanced content selection and configuration
Administrative Configuration
System administrators can:- Configure system-wide LTI tools available to all sites
- Set institutional privacy and data sharing policies
- Manage consumer keys and secrets for vendor relationships
- Enable/disable site-level LTI tool installation
- Configure LTI launch debugging and logging
- Set default privacy and security settings
Contact your Sakai system administrator to request installation of institution-wide LTI tools or for assistance with tool configuration issues.