Sharebar?

1EdTech Consortium Releases Initial Public Draft of Learning Tools Interoperability 2

1EdTech Consortium Releases Initial Public Draft of Learning Tools Interoperability 2

New Version Promises Greater Extensibility and Substantial Benefits for the Learning and Educational Technology Communities

Download pdf

Lake Mary, Florida, USA - 13 November 2012 - The 1EdTech Consortium (1EdTech) today announced at the 1EdTech quarterly meeting in Nashville, TN USA, the availability of the public draft specification of Learning Tools Interoperability 2 (LTI 2).


LTI 2 is the next generation of LTI, which has enabled digital content and application integrations into LMSs (learning management systems) and other campus systems at a 10-100 times improvement over alternative methods. LTI is playing a major role in reducing the barriers to adoption of innovative digital content and applications in the education marketplace. The current list of 1EdTech LTI certified products are detailed on the 1EdTech web site.


LTI 2 implementations and certified products will begin appearing in the marketplace within 6 months to a year time frame. LTI 2, which has been under development for several years, provides a more sophisticated and extensible platform for providing deeper integrations, and greater support for services and events. For example, tool providers will be able to specify where their links should appear in the LMS and provide support for user-selected languages. LMSs may notify tool providers when a course is copied, archived or restored to allow more dynamic messaging and updates between systems. LTI 2 builds on LTI 1 by incorporating more sophisticated outcomes reporting and a rich extensions architecture. LTI 2 uses REST and JSON-LD to deliver this new functionality.


The 1EdTech LTI 2 work has been led by Blackboard, Pearson, Vital Source Technologies, Inc. and Cengage Learning. Vital Source has developed prototype LTI 2 consumer code that is being shared via 1EdTech with 1EdTech members. The code can only be used for non-commercial purposes until 1EdTech establishes LTI 2 conformance testing. At that time, the plan is to release the evolved code as open source with an Apache 2.0 license (1EdTech’s standard open source license which encourages all uses).


"Our initial integrations took 6 months or more to complete with custom development on both sides,” comments Rick Johnson, Chief Technology Officer, Vital Source Technologies, Inc.  “Since implementing LTI we are now integrating new VitalSource Bookshelf® customers over a phone call, and soon we will even eliminate that. We are pleased to be helping 1EdTech lead the way with LTI 2 which will enable even more seamless and data rich digital learning experiences."
"LTI 1 has already radically changed the cost and time to market or implementation of digital learning content and applications - and will continue to do so,” commented Dr. Rob Abel, Chief Executive of 1EdTech. "LTI 2 will radically change the ease with which interoperable content and applications can be configured - creating new options for institutions, suppliers, teachers and students.”

About 1EdTech Consortium (1EdTech) www.imsglobal.org
1EdTech is a nonprofit organization that advances technology that can affordably scale and improve educational participation and attainment. 1EdTech members are leading suppliers, institutions and government organizations that are enabling the future of education by collaborating on interoperability and adoption initiatives. 1EdTech sponsors Learning Impact: A global awards program & conference to recognize the impact of innovative technology on educational access, affordability, and quality.