Learning Lemur integration with Blackboard via LTI

Outcome: By the end of this tutorial, you will have registered Learning Lemur as an LTI 1.3 tool in Blackboard and verified that instructors can select it when creating assignments, with optional grade return enabled.

Before you begin

Prerequisites

• You are familiar with Blackboard administration
• You understand basic LTI 1.3 concepts
• You have access to Learning Lemur LTI configuration details

Requirements

• Blackboard Administrator access
• The Learning Lemur Client ID (provided by WIRIS / Learning Lemur)
• Permission to enable LTI tools and authorize data sharing (user identity, course context, and grade services)

Step 1 — Open the Blackboard Admin area

Why: LTI tools must be registered at the administrator level before they can be used in courses.

1. Log in to Blackboard as an administrator
2. From the main navigation, go to Admin

Checkpoint: You are inside the Blackboard Administrator Panel.

Step 2 — Navigate to LTI Tool Providers

Why: This is where external tools are registered in Blackboard.

1. In the Admin panel, locate Integrations
2. Click LTI Tool Providers

Checkpoint: You see the list of registered LTI tools.

Step 3 — Register the LTI 1.3 / Advantage tool

Why: Registering the tool establishes a secure connection between Blackboard and Learning Lemur.

1. Click Register LTI 1.3 / Advantage Tool
2. In the registration form, enter the Learning Lemur Client ID
3. Continue to the next screen

Blackboard will automatically populate several fields based on the Client ID.

Checkpoint: You see a configuration screen with auto-filled LTI tool information.

Step 4 — Review and update the tool configuration

Why: Ensures the tool is properly named and available in the correct contexts.

1. Review the auto-populated values
2. Confirm the Tool Name is recognizable (e.g., Learning Lemur)
3. Ensure the tool is available to the appropriate contexts (courses and/or organizations)
4. Adjust naming or visibility to align with your institution's internal standards.

Checkpoint: The tool configuration reflects your institutional requirements and is ready to enable.

Step 5 — Enable required data sharing and LTI services

Why: Learning Lemur requires user identity, course context, and LTI Advantage services to function correctly and optionally return grades.

Enable access to:

• User data (e.g., name, email — depending on your data policy)
• Course and membership context
• Assignments and Grades service (for grade passback via LTI Advantage)

Then:

• Locate the tool Status setting
• Change the status to Approved

Checkpoint: The tool status shows Approved, and required services are enabled.

Step 6 — Submit and finalize

Why: Saves and activates the configuration.

1. Click Submit or Save

Checkpoint: Learning Lemur appears as an approved LTI 1.3 tool in Blackboard.

Step 7 — Verify in a course

Why: Confirms that instructors can access Learning Lemur and that LTI launch works correctly.

1. Open a Blackboard course where the tool should be available.
2. Create a new assignment or activity (the menu may vary depending on the course view).
3. When selecting an External Tool, confirm that LearningLemur appears.
4. Select Learning Lemur and complete the assignment setup.

Expected observation: Learning Lemur launches via LTI inside Blackboard.

If grade return is enabled:

• Grades submitted in Learning Lemur should sync back to the corresponding Blackboard gradebook column

Checkpoint: You can successfully launch Learning Lemur from a course, and (if enabled) grades sync back to Blackboard.

You're done

You now have Learning Lemur integrated with Blackboard via LTI 1.3 / LTI Advantage. Next, you can:

• [How-to: common next task]
• [Explanation: concept behind what you did]
• [Reference: settings/API/parameters]

Troubleshooting

• If Learning Lemur does not appear as an external tool in courses: Ensure the tool status is set to Approved and that it is enabled for the appropriate course contexts.
• If the grade return is not working: Verify that the Assignments and Grades service is enabled and that the assignment is properly linked to the LTI tool.
• If the LTI launch fails or shows an authorization error: Confirm that the Client ID matches the one provided by Learning Lemur and that required data sharing permissions are enabled.