This document provides an overview of vendor integrations in D2L Brightspace, including common terminology and how integrations work. It defines an integration as connecting an external product or its data within Brightspace. Common integration methods are discussed, including single sign-on (SSO) using Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) and deeper integrations using application programming interfaces (APIs). The LTI specification is explained, covering versions from 1.0 to the upcoming 1.3 Advantage release. Implementation and approval processes for new integrations are also summarized.

1. 1
D2L Brightspace supports over 100 external
integrations, using LTI, API, and CIM. So what’s it all
mean? Come to this session where we pull back the
curtain on these integrations. We’ll dive into how they
work, common support concerns, and where to find
them. Questions welcome!
Vendor Integrations:
Technology and Terminology

2. 2
Vendor Integrations:
Technology and Terminology
Jonathan Werth
System Office ITS
April 2019

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• What is an integration?
• What can it do?
• Why use it?
• Getting started
Agenda

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• An external product or its data is available within or
through the D2L Brightspace platform
• Examples:
– Student Information System (SIS)
• ISRS, Banner, PeopleSoft
– Media hosting
• Youtube, Kaltura
– Publishers
• McGraw Hill, Pearson, Cengage
– Other tools
• Proctoring, lecture capture, OER
What is an Integration?

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• Automatic processes
– Course creation
– User enrollments
• Single Sign-On (SSO)
– Authentication is
handled behind the
scenes
• Less manual work
– Grade syncing
• Security
– Private data (FERPA)
• Support
– Who do I turn to?
• Legal
– Contracts
– Terms of Use
The Good Not As Fun

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What is LTI?
A. Launch Tool Interaction
B. Learning Target Initiative
C. Learning Tools Interoperability
D.Lazy Technology Interchange

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What is LTI?
• A specification for integrating applications
• Developed by the IMS Global Learning Consortium
“…establish a standard way of integrating rich learning
applications (often remotely hosted and provided
through third-party services) with platforms like
learning management systems, portals, or other
educational environments”
--http://developers.imsglobal.org

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• Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI)
– Industry specification allowing single sign-on and grade syncing
• External Learning Tools (ELT)
– Brightspace name for LTI
• API (Application Program Interface)
– A method to get and send data, allowing a deeper level of
Brightspace integration
• XML (Extensible Markup Language)
– A specification for structured data, commonly used for
exchanging data between two systems
Common Terminology

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• LTI only
– LTI SSO ->
– <- LTI Grade return
• LTI and API
– LTI SSO ->
– <- API authentication
– <- API retrieves (classlist) or puts data (content topics)
– <- API or LTI Grade return
Most Common Integration Models

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LTI Specification
• Basic components:
– Tool Provider (third-party)
– Tool Consumer (D2L)
• D2L supports
– LTI 1.0 (Basic LTI)
– LTI 1.1
– LTI 1.3 (Advantage) - [[COMING SUMMER 2019]]

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LTI Specification
• LTI 1.0 (Basic LTI)
– Launch
• LTI 1.1
– Outcomes
• LTI 1.1.1
– Mentor role
• LTI 1.2
– Stepping stone to LTI 2.0
• LTI 2.0
– Far more advanced. Web services for communication/discovery
• LTI 1.3
• LTI Advantage

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LTI Specification
Feature LTI 1.0 LTI 1.1 LTI 1.2 LTI 2.0 Comment
Basic Launch X X X X
LTI 2+ greatly reduces requirements for optional
data to be carried in every launch.
Simple Outcomes X X X
Return single numeric value that scores the value of
launch activity.
Tool Consumer
Profile
X X
TCP is metadata that describes attributes and
available services of the Tool Consumer. It's made
available by a REST service.
Tool Proxy X
TP is metadata that describes the negotiated
interface contract between a particular
ToolConsumer and ToolProvider.
Credential
Management
X Automatic secure exchange of key/secret
Registration Flow X
LMS Admin initiates new tool provisioning including
tool proxy creation and credential management.
Reregistration
Flow
LMS Admin initiates an existing tool reprovisioning.
Model-driven
documentation
X X
Tool-generated, exhaustive, reference
documentation generated from UML
REST services X X
REST level 3 services for a variety of server-to-server
tasks. Note that LTI 1.2 limits REST service
implementation to be on TC only.
http://developers.imsglobal.org

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LTI Specification
http://developers.imsglobal.org
• LTI 2.0 was too complicated; virtually no adoption
• LTI 1.3 (Advantage)
– LTI Advantage is Based on LTI 1.3
– Assignment and Grade Services seamlessly syncs grades, progress and
comments from multiple sources into an LMS platform’s gradebook,
greatly reducing faculty effort and the chance of errors.
– Deep Linking supports a natural and efficient user workflow between
a learning object repository or content tool and the LMS platform
when developing courses and programs, again saving teachers’ time.
– Names and Role Provisioning Services securely shares course
roster/enrollment information with the requesting tool to enhance
users’ experiences and provide administrators a basis for who has
used the tool and importantly, who has not.

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LTI Specification Workflow
http://developers.imsglobal.org

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What’s it look like? (abridged)
name="oauth_version" value="1.0“
name="oauth_timestamp" value="1398690514"
name="oauth_consumer_key" value="90696"
name="oauth_signature" value="YWi6po8SHzZcvzw=“
name="resource_link_id" value=“123456789"
name="resource_link_title" value="Example link“
name="lis_outcome_service_url" value=“https://.../d2l/le/lti/Outcome”
name="lis_person_name_full" value="Jon Werth“
name="roles" value="Student"
name="lis_person_contact_email_primary" value="jon…@minnstate.edu"

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LTI Specification – LTI Advantage
http://developers.imsglobal.org

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I get it. Now What?
• Powerful, standardized approach to SSO
– Custom apps
– User specific views/portals
• Bringing it in…
– LTI links go out
– Remote plugins bring it in
– Hybrid approach: iframe within a Widget

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From Request to Implementation
1. Instructor or Institution request
2. Information gathering
3. Test the configuration and functionality within our QA
(test) environment
– Work with 3rd Party Vendor and/or D2L
– Not all integrations are created equally
4. Security review
5. Legal review
6. Approve deployment to Production environment
7. Create Documentation and FAQs
8. Deploy to Production

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• Your school has a designated approver”
– View the list of Approvers on the D2L Integrations site
• Any new integration requires three approvals:
– Campus approval
– Software/Contract approval
– System Office IT approval
Integration Approval Protocol

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• It’s not just a link. It’s a security risk:
An ELT/LTI link is sending user information to
a third-party website
• By setting up an ELT/LTI, you are authorizing that
vendor to receive private student/teacher data.
• You are also authorizing that vendor to write data to
the D2L gradebook.
Why the concern?

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• Adobe Connect
• ExamSoft
• MathAS
• Barnes & Noble College
FacultyEnlight & Bookstore
• Barnes & Noble College First
Day
• Barnes & Noble College Nook
Study
• Bongo (D2L) (formerly
YouSeeU) Video Assignment
• Bongo (D2L) (formerly
YouSeeU) Virtual Classroom
• Cengage Mindtap
• Cengage OpenNow
• CogBooks CogBooks
• ConexED Cranium Cafe
• D2L Adobe Connect (Online
Rooms)
• D2L Assignment Grader
• D2L Binder
• D2L Book Widget (Binder Shop)
• D2L Campus Life
• D2L Capture
• Hawkes Learning Hawkes
Learning
• Hobsons StarFish
• Hoonuit (Atomic Learning)
Hoonuit (Atomic Learning)
• Hypothesis Hypothesis
• Info Base Publishing Films on
Demand External Learning Tool
• Info Base Publishing Films on
Demand Remote Plugin (ISF)
• Infosec Learning Virtual Lab
• InScribe InScribe
• InteDashboard InteDashboard
• Intellidemia Concourse
• Invoke Higher Education
CoursEval
• Johnson Center for Simulation
Johnson Sim Center
• Kaltura Kaltura Media
Management
• Knewton Alta
• Labyrinth Learning Labyrinth
eLab
• Lrnr Lrnr
Integrations!
• D2L ePortfolio
• D2L LeaP
• D2L Office 365
• D2L Office Extensions for Desire2Learn
• D2L Pulse
• D2L Solution Showcase
• D2L WebEx (Online Rooms)
• D2L Wiggio
• DavisPlus Davis Plus
• EBSCO Curriculum Builder
• Echo360 Echo360
• Education Space 360 Education Space
360
• Elsevier Evolve
• Elsevier Evolve Link
• eLumen eLumen Connect
• EvaluationKIT EvaluationKIT
• Ex Libris Leganto
• Examity Examity
• eXplorance Blue
• Florida Virtual School Florida Virtual
School (FLVS)
• Goodheart-Willcox G-W Online
• GoReact GoReact

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• Lumen Learning Candela
• Lumen Learning Online
Homework Manager (OHM)
• Lumen Learning Waymaker
• Lynda.com (LinkedIn)
Lynda.com
• MacMillan Higher Education
i>Clicker
• MacMillan Higher Education
LaunchPad
• McGraw Hill MH
Campus/Connect (Legacy)
• McGraw Hill MH Connect -
Deep Integration
• McGraw Hill MH SimNet - Deep
Integration
• MediaCore MediaCore
• Microsoft Office Mix
• Microsoft OneNote
• Ncast NCast
• PALS Opendora
• panOpen panOpen
• Panopto Panopto
• Paradigm Education Navigator+
• Paradigm Education SNAP
• TestOut LabSim
• Top Hat Top Hat
• Turnitin TurnItin Feedback Studio
& Peermark
• Tutor.com Tutor.com
• uCertify uCertify
• VidGrid VidGrid
• Visible Body Visible Body
• Vista Higher Learning Supersite
• VitalSource (Ingram Content
Group) VitalSource
• VoiceThread VoiceThread
• W. W. Norton InQuizitive,
SmartWork, and others
• Watermark Taskstream Aqua
• Watermark Taskstream LAT
(Learning Achievement Tools)
• Watermark TK20
• WebAssign WebAssign
• Wiley WileyPLUS
• Yellowdig Yellowdig
• Zoom Zoom
Integrations! (cont.)
• Pearson MyLab and Mastering
• Pearson Revel
• Pearson SmartThinking
• Perusall Perusall
• Piazza Piazza
• RCTC Learn 360 eTech
• Readspeaker ReadSpeaker
• Readspeaker TextAid
• RedShelf RedShelf
• Respondus Respondus
• Respondus Respondus Lockdown
Browser
• Respondus Respondus Monitor
• Respondus Respondus Studymate
• Sapling Learning (MacMillan New
Ventures) Sapling Learning
• Scantron Class Climate
• Scribblar Scribblar
• SIPX SIPX
• Smart Sparrow Smart Sparrow
• SmarterMeasure SmarterMeasure
• SoftChalk SoftChalk Cloud
• Software Secure Remote Proctor Now
(RPN)

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• D2L Integrations Sharepoint Site
– https://mnscu.sharepoint.com/sites/d2lintegrations
• Documentation and How To Guides
– https://mnscu.sharepoint.com/sites/d2lsupport
Resources

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• The integration method is important to understand.
• When you click on a link or button, you are providing
the external website with access. Do you take
responsibility?
• An integration is a relationship.
Do you trust your partner?
If they get infected, you do too!
Remember