Using API to create LTIs

[AHauerwas]

In Canvas Permissions, we disallow Teachers from adding/deleting/editing LTIs because we haven’t wanted them to link to software/platforms that haven’t been internally reviewed.

But an external vendor ( https://idecisiongames.com ) has set up an LTI that requires a unique URL for each course that uses the LTI — and we potentially have tens (or hundred?) of courses that may need to make use of the tool.  Instead of having discrete, course-level LTIs with unique URLs, I would have preferred that the LTI be set up at the account level -- and then have any unique URL be at the Assignment or Module level (so I wouldn't have to give Teachers the ability to manage LTIs). 

Has anyone else run into this — and if so, what did you do?

I’m looking at the External Tools API to allow me to create an external tool, and then I’ll be dependent on the line of business (or the vendor) to provide me a “match list” for course-to-URL.

Would love to hear from anyone else who has worked with iDecisionGames.  And thanks for any help or direction!

[chriscas]

Hi @AHauerwas,

As a Canvas admin, external tools designed for integration like this drive me nuts too!  My institution is very much like yours in that we do not let teachers or even most admins install LTI tools, as we have an approval process they must go through before being used.

I do have a couple questions...  I'm assuming this must still be a LTI 1.1 integration?  If so, are they using a unique key/secret for every course, or just a unique URL?  I ran into one tool which used a unique URL per course in a module setup, but the same key/secret.  In that case I was actually able to install it as an account LTI and just populate the domain field, then the faculty member could select the tool from the module -> add external tool option and paste in the exact URL for the course.  As long as the domain matched, it all worked seamlessly and avoided a bunch of course-level installs.  Maybe this would work for you as well!

-Chris

[AHauerwas]

Thanks, @chriscas!  I will have to run some testing, but this looks like it may work.

You are correct that this is an LTI 1.1 integration.  There is a single key/secret pair with variable URL's for each course, and I just "followed the workflow" of adding the External Tool to a Module instead of an Assignment.

Doing it this way would allow each Teacher to override the URL when linking adding the Module -- and they may potentially be able to do this when adding it as an Assignment as well.  But did your Teachers need to have the permission to Edit the LTI, or was that not required?

Fingers crossed...

[chriscas]

Hi @AHauerwas,

As long as the LTI uses module or assignment placement, and not something like course navigation, this should work perfectly.  Teachers can enter the course-specific URL, and as long as it matches the domain of the tool, everything should match up and work properly.  You do not need to allow teachers to add/edit LTI for this to work, as they aren't actually modifying the LTI config at all, just more or less "using" it in a specific way.

-Chris

[AHauerwas · Accepted solution]

Okay!  Posting back the results:

Defining the LTI 1.1 tool using the key/secret pair, domain, and a Launch URL worked when defined at the account level.  But if the Launch URL was left blank I would see "Couldn't find valid settings for this link" show up as an error when the item was selected.  To remedy this problem I made the Launch URL be the same as the Domain: https://idecisiongames.com.

The actual URL would be something like https://idecisiongames.com/auth/lti?profkey=, but if teachers fail to update the URL it will land them "in the root of the server" and they can change the Module or Assignment link in Canvas by editing it.

Thanks to @chriscas for pointing me in the right direction -- it's appreciated!

Adam