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Teaching Tools

LTI Integration Process


OIT employs a process of initial LTI integration request and approval/denial via use of the LTI Integration Request Form.

Please note: 

  • Any LTI integration that involves an eTextbook or other online Course Materials must be approved by VolBooks before OIT can install that integration.
    • Notifying VolBooks of all textbook-related integrations and integrations related to online course materials helps to maintain compliance with UT System Fiscal Policy FI055 as well as HEOA disclosure requirements.
    • Requests for integrations related to textbooks and/or online course materials that have not been cleared by VolBooks will be denied.
  • Instructors will need to provide certain information to OIT before an LTI integration can be considered: 
    1. The name of the company that makes the LTI
    2. URL of the company’s website
    3. A brief description of the function and purpose of the LTI 
      • What does it do?
      • What instructional functionality does it offer that UTK does not already have? 
    4. A technical contact/representative of the LTI/App company
    5. Cost of use of the LTI (if any)
      • Who will cover the cost of the use of the tool?
    6. A copy of (or link to) the LTI company’s Security Plan 
    7. A copy of (or link to) the LTI company’s VPAT
    8. A copy of (or link to) the LTI company’s HECVAT 
      • Instructors should be prepared for a 4 – 6 week period of time during which an LTI integration is requested, investigated, tested, and installed (if approved).
  • There is a four-week moratorium on LTI installations at the beginning of each semester; this coincides with an OIT’s Service Preemption Period in which no changes can be made to OIT systems two weeks prior to the first day of classes through two weeks after the first day of classes. 

Submission of a Canvas LTI integration request does not guarantee approval. Once the request has been submitted via our LTI Integration Request Form, it will move through OIT’s standardized workflow and approval process. If approved, the requested LTI will be added to Canvas per the information provided in the request form.

LTI FAQs/Disclaimers

Learning Tools Interoperability (sometimes known as “Apps”, “third-party tools”, or simply “LTIs”) is a standard that allows external tools and applications to be integrated into the Canvas platform.  LTI enables seamless integration of third-party learning tools, content, and services within the Canvas environment, allowing for a more personalized and engaging learning experience. Once configured, you can link to them through course modules and create assignments for assessment tools.  

Instructors who have the role of Primary Instructor in a current or upcoming for-credit Canvas course site can request an LTI integration in that Canvas course site.  

See a list of approved Canvas App integrations with a short description of what they do.   

Instructors who are requesting that OIT install an LTI integration into Canvas must contact VolBooks before submitting their request to OIT if the LTI third-party provider delivers any course materials or textbook materials.

VolBooks makes all final calls on LTI integrations with Canvas that involve course materials of any kind. This is because, in some cases, such course materials are already offered through VolBooks via Inclusive Access.  

However, LTI integrations involving class participation, student engagement, grading, etc., do not have to be approved by VolBooks first.  

The approval process involves information gathering, installation in our Test environment, and rigorous testing, all of which can take up to 4-6 weeks.  

Requests to add new LTIs to Canvas must go through the following approval process before they can be added by an administrator. Each tool must go through a formal evaluation, vetting, and approval process before the tool can be made available in a Canvas course.  

  1. Check the Approved LTI Canvas page first to see if your app has already been requested or approved. You may also find a similar app that meets your needs has already been installed in Canvas.  
  1. Fill out the Canvas LTI Request Form.  
  1. If information is complete in LTI Request Form, there is an internal discussion as to whether the tool should be installed in Canvas (related to its cost, whether it has the go-ahead from VolBooks, whether there are already tools in place that perform a similar function, etc.). 
  1. Once it has been determined that the LTI meets the evaluation criteria, the LTI is approved and installed in our Canvas Test environment for testing and quality assurance.
  1. Upon successful testing, the LTI will then be integrated in our for-credit Canvas Production environment.
  1. The requestor will be notified via the request ticket and the newly-installed LTI will be added to the list of approved LTIs, along with a short description of what it does.  

Should the LTI not be approved, it will be added to an “On Hold” list with the reason it was not approved. LTIs on hold may be reconsidered later should circumstances change or if the reasons for the initial denial have been resolved.  

As soon as a tool passes the vetting process, you will be notified if it has been approved. This process can take up to 4-6 weeks.  

If your LTI is not approved, you will be notified of the reasons that the LTI failed approval and alternate options will be offered (if applicable).  

If an LTI has a cost associated, the cost is the responsibility of the user or department making the request. Some tools that have campus-wide usage and impact will be considered for central funding.  

  • FERPA/Privacy 
  • Security 
  • Cost 
  • Level of installation (some tools can only be installed system-wide while others can be installed at the college/department or course level) 
  • Copyright/ownership of content and how content may be used by the vendor  
  • Terms of Service/License Agreements (which may be between an institution and the vendor or between individual users and the vendor) 

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