LTI

current

Learning Tools Interoperability

2010

lti_overview.md

Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) was created by IMS Global Learning Consortium (now 1EdTech) to solve a problem SCORM never addressed: how does an LMS securely launch and exchange data with external tools and applications?

Where SCORM packages content inside the LMS, LTI keeps the tool external and establishes a trusted handshake between platform and tool. A math homework engine, a video annotation tool, a plagiarism checker — each lives on its own server but appears seamlessly embedded in the LMS.

LTI 1.0 (May 2010) established basic launch via OAuth 1.0a-signed POST requests. LTI 1.1 (March 2011) added a simple outcomes service for passing grades back to the LMS. But the real leap came with LTI 1.3 and LTI Advantage (2019), which rebuilt the security model on OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and signed JWTs — and introduced three powerful services: Deep Linking (content selection), Assignment and Grade Services (full gradebook integration), and Names and Role Provisioning Services (roster sync).

LTI is complementary to SCORM and xAPI, not a replacement. SCORM packages and tracks courseware; xAPI records learning experiences; LTI connects tools to platforms. In practice, a modern LMS often uses all three: LTI to launch a tool, SCORM or cmi5 to track the content within it, and xAPI to capture the broader learning experience.

key_features.txt

Key Features

[+]Secure launch protocol between LMS (platform) and external tools
[+]Deep Linking for content selection and placement within courses
[+]Assignment and Grade Services (AGS) for full gradebook integration
[+]Names and Role Provisioning Services (NRPS) for roster synchronization
[+]Platform-agnostic — tools work across any LTI-compliant LMS

known_limitations.txt

Limitations

[-]Does not handle content packaging or sequencing (different scope than SCORM)
[-]No learning data tracking — relies on xAPI or SCORM for detailed analytics
[-]LTI 1.3 migration is complex for tools still on LTI 1.1
[-]Inconsistent implementation across LMS platforms despite certification programs
[-]Limited offline or mobile support — assumes browser-based, server-connected sessions

technical_spec.json

Technical Details

data Model:

JWT claims with LTI-specific message types (LtiResourceLinkRequest, LtiDeepLinkingRequest)

communication:

OpenID Connect launch flow with OAuth 2.0 access tokens and signed JWTs for service calls

packaging:

None — tools are external services, not packaged content

tracking:

Basic outcomes (scores) via AGS; detailed tracking requires xAPI or SCORM within the launched tool

key_people.txt

Key People

Rob AbelCEO, 1EdTech (formerly IMS Global)

related_organizations.txt

Related Organizations

1EdTech (IMS Global)1EdTech Consortium (formerly IMS Global Learning Consortium)

historical_notes.md

Historical Context

While SCORM dominated content packaging and xAPI revolutionized data tracking, neither addressed the growing need to integrate third-party tools into an LMS. IMS Global (now 1EdTech) created LTI to fill this gap. Its adoption exploded in higher education, where institutions needed to connect hundreds of specialized tools — publishers, assessment engines, collaboration platforms — to their LMS. The 2019 release of LTI 1.3 and LTI Advantage, built on modern security standards, cemented LTI as essential infrastructure alongside SCORM and xAPI.