LTI Fundamentals and Guidelines

Learning Tools Interoperability

What are LTIs?


Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI for short) are tools that extend the functionality of our Canvas instance by providing single sign on support for students and instructors alike. Common LTIs include Zoom, YuJa, Office365, and many more. Once logged into Canvas, students enrolled in courses that use these additional tools may access them directly through Canvas for e-texts, blogs, video management, custom courseware published by the instructors, and a variety of other tasks.

While these services enhance the engagement and outcomes for participating students, they also add exposure to personally identifiable student information. For that reason, UNL Information Technology services follows a clearance process to assure the security and privacy of information shared with the vendors and publishers providing the LTI. 

LTI Approval Process

Prior to purchasing an LTI, you'll need to follow the process below before it can be integrated into Canvas. The first step in completing this process is to complete the LTI Request Form Links to an external site.. That will allow ITS to begin the review for the tool that you would like included in Canvas. This process can take up to 3-5 weeks to complete, based on how quickly the publisher responds to requests for information. Thanks for helping us keep our campus community free from potential exposure.

How the request process moves forward to the installation of an LTI:

  • A  completing of security, profile, and FERPA documents by the vendor's representatives.
  • A completed risk analysis by the university ITS security team.
  • User interface for students, instructors, and admins tested for accessibility and ADA compliance.
  • After all approvals are met, the LTI is installed on a test server for Canvas to verify functionality.
  • Following quality assurance testing (4-7 days), integration is installed on the public version of Canvas for use.

The goal of the ITS Academic Technology team is to add Canvas LTIs as requested by instructors. Please allow for 90 days to complete the request due to workflow with campus partners. When vendors are unresponsive to questions or if accessibility remediation must be completed, the time frame may extend longer than expected. Contact nusupport@nebraska.edu with support needs.

Want to know if an LTI is already approved? Check out our list of Approved LTIs:

List of Approved LTIs Links to an external site.

Learn more about the LTI approval process and other general information regarding how LTIs function.

LTI v1.3 Introduction

Approval Diagram

FAQS about LTI's Links to an external site.

How LTI's Work

Public Domain This course content is offered under a Public Domain Links to an external site. license. Content in this course can be considered under this license unless otherwise noted.