LTI

LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability) is an industry-standard protocol that enables Cornerstone LMS to integrate with external learning providers. LTI uses the IMS Global LTI 1.3 standard with OpenID Connect (OIDC) authentication and Assignment & Grade Services (AGS) for progress reporting.

The LTI integration process consists of five steps:

1. The Admin ingests LTI content into the LMS using a CSV file upload.
2. The learner launches an LTI course from Cornerstone LMS.
3. Cornerstone and the provider exchange authentication messages using the LTI 1.3 OpenID Connect flow.
4. Cornerstone sends a signed Identity Token (JWT) to the provider.
5. The provider reports learner progress back to Cornerstone using the LTI Assignment & Grade Service (AGS) Score API.

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Registration Requirements

To establish an LTI integration, the following values must be exchanged during onboarding.

Provider → Cornerstone

• LTI Login URL
• Launch URL
• JWKS URL

Cornerstone → Provider

• Client ID
• Issuer URL
• Authentication Endpoint
• Token Endpoint
• Deployment ID
• JWKS Endpoint

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End-to-End Sequence

1. Learner → Launch Course → Cornerstone LMS
2. Cornerstone LMS → Login Request → Provider
3. Provider → Authentication Request → Cornerstone LMS
4. Cornerstone LMS → id_token (JWT) → Provider
5. Provider → Request OAuth Token → Cornerstone Token Service → Access Token → Provider
6. Provider → AGS Score API → Cornerstone LMS → Course Completion Updated → Learner Transcript

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Summary

Cornerstone LMS uses the IMS LTI 1.3 standard to launch external learning content and report learner progress.

Key technologies include:

• OpenID Connect (OIDC) Authentication
• JWT-based Identity Tokens
• JWKS Signature Validation
• OAuth 2.0 Client Credentials Flow
• LTI Assignment & Grade Services (AGS)

This approach provides a standards-based alternative to the Online Content Connector while allowing providers to securely launch content and synchronize learner completion status.