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Terracotta provides a flexible LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability) integration that allows custom web activities to be embedded within learning management system (LMS) assignments. This guide explains how to create a custom webpage that can be seamlessly integrated with Terracotta into the LMS.
⚠️ Terracotta does not share students’ names or identities with custom web activities. Instead, Terracotta sends an anonymous identifier to the custom web activity that can be used to connect data from the web activity to additional details about the student in Terracotta. If students will be asked to provide their name or any other personally identifiable information in the custom web activity, make sure you have permission from your school.
Responsibilities of the Custom Web Activity
When a custom web activity is integrated in Terracotta as a LMS assignment, your activity is responsible for supporting student learning, honoring the assignment settings set by the teacher, and reliably returning students’ scores back the LMS. The custom web activity is also responsible for presenting a learning activity that is accessible to diverse learners. Before integrating a custom web activity, ensure the following:
The designer of the custom web activity should be familiar with web accessibility standards, and the custom web activity should be screened for any accessibility issues (e.g., using the free WAVE Evaluation Tool).
When used for graded assessments, the correct answers should not be visible in the activity’s source code. If possible, utilize server-side scoring and validation.
If the custom web activity utilizes generative AI, honor the EDSAFE AI Alliance’s SAFE Benchmarks. In particular, provide learners with the means to flag inappropriate content, and create a process for handling any such situations.
Configuration in Terracotta
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In Box 2 (Return to Terracotta), you are provided with a return URL. Your custom web activity should redirect users to this return URL, and Terracotta expects that your custom web activity will append two URL parameters: (1) launch_token, and (2) score. If “score” is omitted, Terracotta will assume that the submission will receive the maximum score.
Responsibilities of the Custom Web Activity
When a custom web activity is integrated in Terracotta as a LMS assignment, your activity is responsible for supporting student learning, honoring the assignment settings set by the teacher, and reliably returning students’ outcome scores back the LMS. The custom web activity is also responsible for presenting a learning activity that is accessible, and the designer of the custom web activity should be familiar with web accessibility standards.
Launch Parameters
The following variables are automatically provided to the custom web activity as URL parameters:
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