In this engaging episode of the UM3D podcast, host Lavonnie Perry Claybon interviews Derek Hardaway, UM3D's assistant director of Academic Learning Support, to explore the often misunderstood world of Learning Tool Interoperability (LTI) tools in Canvas. Beyond just textbook integrations, Derek reveals how LTIs serve as powerful gateways to enhance online teaching and learning experiences at the University of Memphis.

The conversation unpacks what LTIs actually are—external tools that connect directly to Canvas—and highlights versatile options beyond publishers' content, including Packback for AI-assisted discussions, Lucid for creating flowcharts, and Studio for video content. Derek emphasizes that university-vetted LTIs provide security benefits while saving faculty time through automated processes like gradebook setup. For faculty intere ...