Converting Building Block Content to LTI

Anthology no longer supports Building Blocks (in most cases) and instead supports LTIs. This page includes information about ways that Anthology helps you to convert media Building Block content to LTI and includes:

• Content conversion tool that converts Building Block links to LTI links in Original Courses;
• Auto-conversion of Building Block links for partner contents to LTI when importing an Original course or restoring an Original course archive. 

Content conversion tool

About the Converting Building Block Content to LTI tool

Anthology provides a tool that helps convert most media links creating with Building Block links to LTI versions in Original Courses. The content conversion tool helps to ensure a smoother transition experience ahead of the removal of Building Blocks in Learn configurations. 

The following table shows the media solution partners and content that are supported in the link conversion tool.

For the Mashup link, the conversion tool will support content created in the Content Area via Build content > Mashups > {Building Block}.

For the Embedded Content, the conversion tool will support any content present within the VTBE section: wikis, journals, discussions, assessment, assignments, groups, announcements, Test questions, and Question banks.

For the Course Tools Content, the conversion tool will support content created in the Content Area via Course tools.

For Kaltura, we have provided support for the following content versions:

• V3 - Video content embedded within iframe tags.
• V2 - Video content embedded within table tags.
• V1 - Video content embedded within anchor tags.

For Panopto, the required IDs and the following custom parameters for the conversion details are required: 

• Instancename: You must modify the instance name if it has been changed in the general configuration of the Panopto Building Block.
• folderid: This is a Panopto identifier for the courses in the different folders; this custom parameter does not need to be modified. 

For MediaSite, we only support content created through MediaSite for VTBE Building block. Content created through the building block called MediaSite will not be supported for the conversion tool.

Some items to take into account for the conversion:

• Core deep links are already LTI content, so they are not converted. Any LTI link in an Original course is not converted because it is already LTI content.
• A temporary archive of the course is created before conversion. In case there is a problem with the content or the conversion, you can restore the course.
• This tool only converts links created through the building block. Also, it validates the standalone links within the course to change the way those are processed. This will prevent standalone links from breaking after the building block deactivates.
• The Conversion Tool will continue converting the B2 media link to LTI after all B2 are disabled, no additional configuration is needed and this will work for all Media Solution Partners we support.
• During the conversion process, the tool will allow the inclusion of links to content added in the student submissions and content added in instructor feedback comments for the Media Solution Partners that allow this feature. 

Using the content conversion tool

You can manage placements through drop-down menus, simplifying the Building Block transition process. The content migration tool can be accessed through Administrator Tools. Select Converting Building Block Content to LTI in Tools and Utilities.

Select Migration Service Settings to configure settings.  

Select the required IDs and leverage custom parameters for course details and migrated content. 

Building blocks mappings are displayed. You can select whether you want to edit, delete, or turn off the building block for the conversion tool. 

Once configurations are set, you can manage the placements. You can select whether you want to include content links added in student submissions and feedback.

You have the option to choose the courses for which you want to initiate the content link conversion for a specific Building Block. A course search function displays the courses (enabled or disabled) that contain the content links to be converted. There is a designated time range for the search. 

You can track the status of courses selected for content link migration. Search for conversion link statuses for each course based on a specified time range. 

Finally, at Migration Run Status, you can monitor the status of the conversion process for each course. An email is sent to you confirming whether the process is successful or whether the process failed. 

For administrators: For optimal performance, select a maximum of two semesters during content conversion process. If the same course contains content from Sharestream, Panopto, Kaltura and/or Echo360 building blocks, the conversion process must be performed once for each building block.

 Automatic conversion

 Many Original courses contain content links for the partners listed below. Now, we auto-convert Building Block links for these partner contents to LTI when importing an Original course or restoring an Original course archive:

• Kaltura
• Echo360
• Sharestream
• Mediasite

The automatic conversion ensures that course content transitions to LTI. This will promote consistency and adaptability across the platform.