Working Group
Purpose
Standard learning system APIs such as LTI are complex and often incorporate server-side components. Too often systems that integrate smart learning content use proprietary APIs that restrict interoperability. Our goal is to enable learning systems to make use of compliant smart content by lowering the cost of entry through simple APIs. This working group formulates and tests APIs that allow smart learning content authors to signal user activity and learning system implementers to record scores and optionally store logging information and student work.
The iframe Protocol
Learning systems commonly embed smart learning content in iframes to isolate the learning content’s JavaScript from the learning system’s JavaScript. We have specified a standard postMessage protocol for communication between the content and system.
Protocol Demonstrations
We encourage all implementors of smart learning content and learning systems to implement this protocol. Please contact us with questions and suggestions.
Future Directions
While iframes provide isolation, they are not optimal for pages that embed many content elements. We would like to explore a standard approach to assembling smart content from disparate sources without iframes.
We are also interested in standardizing communication that goes beyond scores and state, such as learner models.