Get a High from LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability)

Simon Booth (Information Services)

EDUFairMay 2012

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Outline

• Introduction• Background to the ceLTIc project• What problem does LTI solve• Example• Stirling dimension• A larger problem• Questions

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ceLTIc project

• Project:– “Creating Environments for Learning using Tightly

Integrated Components”– JISC funded (July 2010 – Dec 2011)

• Aim:– integration of elearning applications with VLE/LMS

using IMS Learning Tools Interoperability• Project partners:

– The University of Edinburgh, University of Stirling, Queen Margaret University

• Commercial partners:– IMS, Blackboard Inc, Learning Objects Inc and Pebble

Learning Ltd• Case studies:

– Elgg, WebPA, PebblePad, Campus Pack

What problem does LTI solve?

• Answer: connecting a VLE (Succeed) to a 3rd party application securely in a standard manner

• Example of 3rd party application: Turnitin is accessed via a ‘building block’. When in WebCT we used a ‘PowerLink’ --- very different bits of technology. Thus Turnitin maintain several different code bases for different VLEs (Moodle, Desire2Learn)

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What problem does LTI solve?

• LTI links to 3rd party application in same way from any VLE that supports LTI (Learn 9.0, WebCT, Moodle, …)

• Simple to set up:– URL– Consumer key (unique identifier)– Secret (secures)

• WordPress Example– http://jura.stir.ac.uk/?lti– learn.dev.stir.ac.uk– edufair

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What problem does LTI solve?

• Offers ability to Single Sign-On• Can provisions accounts• Can provisions blogs (in WordPress) or

other objects in other applications. Groups in Elgg.

• LTI v1.1 has outcomes services that can transfer grades from 3rd party system to Grade Centre

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Real World (Stirling)

• Cleanliness Champions• Authentic Word• Psychology ‘experiment’ sign-up

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Another Problem (ceLTIc II)

• Imagine you had created a useful application that would be used on a wide-scale (many institutions) at varing levels of engagement but some quite small

• LTI requires a unique consumer key (so you know which institution is connecting) and (ideally) a unique identifier for an individual with that institution.

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Benefits

• Benefits for learners and tutors:– seamless integration of VLE/LMS and

external products– empowerment of tutors

• Benefit for administrators/developers:– administrative efficiencies– single integration will support any VLE/LMS

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Questions?

Project site: www.celtic-project.org

IMS: http://www.imsglobal.org/toolsinteroperability2.cfm

VLE/LMS

What is LTI?

Gradebook

Announcements

Discussion board

Blog

Blog(with LTI)

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