LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability) is a standard maintained by 1EdTech (formerly IMS Global) that defines how an external tool — a video platform, a simulation, an assessment engine — can be securely embedded and launched from within an LMS without requiring a separate login. LTI 1.3, the current version and the foundation of LTI Advantage, replaced the earlier OAuth 1.0-based LTI 1.1 with a more robust OAuth 2.0 / OIDC authentication flow. When a learner clicks a tool link in the LMS, the LMS issues a signed JWT launch message to the tool, passing identity, context, and role information. The tool validates the message and launches the appropriate content. LTI Advantage layers three optional services on top of the core launch: Deep Linking for selecting content, Names and Role Provisioning Services (NRPS) for roster sync, and Assignment and Grade Services (AGS) for writing scores back to the LMS gradebook, which is commonly called grade passback. For video platforms the practical value is that instructors can embed a video tool inside their course without learners needing separate accounts, and quiz results or completion scores flow back automatically. The main implementation gotcha is that LTI platform and tool registration must be configured manually in both systems before the first launch.
