Custom itslearning integration
Appfront builds custom integrations with the itslearning learning platform for schools, training providers and educational institutions. Using the REST API with OAuth2, IMS Enterprise Services, LTI and single sign-on, you synchronise courses, groups, users and grades automatically between itslearning and your student administration or own application. No more manual imports, just up-to-date classes and accounts and reliable exchange of progress.
What is an itslearning integration?
itslearning is a learning management system (LMS) used internationally and in the Netherlands in primary and secondary education, vocational education, higher education and by training providers. Teachers manage courses, learning materials, assignments and tests there; pupils and students follow their timetable and see their progress. An integration ensures that this platform is not standing alone, but is connected to the systems where your organisation already keeps its data.
In practice, a custom integration means: automatically creating and updating users, groups and courses from your student administration or SIS, synchronising timetables and enrolments via IMS Enterprise Services or OneRoster, making external learning tools available within itslearning via LTI, setting up single sign-on so pupils and teachers log in seamlessly, and writing grades and progress back to your own administration or reporting system.
Appfront builds in line with the official itslearning developer documentation and the OWASP ASVS security standard. We align mapping, synchronisation logic and error handling with your actual educational processes, so the integration grows with your institution and keeps running reliably around the start of the school year and during large membership changes.
Automatic synchronisation
Courses, groups, users and enrolments stay automatically in line with your source system, with no more manual imports. New learners, changed classes and departing staff are reflected promptly and consistently.
Grades & progress
Results and progress from itslearning flow back into your learner administration or reporting system. Mentors and training coordinators work with up-to-date grades without retyping anything, and certification flows remain accurate.
SSO & LTI in one environment
Pupils and teachers log in once with single sign-on and reach all learning resources. You connect external learning tools directly into the itslearning environment via LTI, meaning fewer passwords, fewer barriers and more learning time.
Our development process for itslearning integrations
We work to a proven methodology that removes uncertainty early and delivers a stable integration. From an initial analysis of your source systems, data fields and educational processes through to go-live and ongoing management, every step is aimed at an integration that your ICT team can understand and trust.
We map out which source systems you use, which data (users, groups, courses, grades) needs to be synchronised, how roles and classes are mapped, and whether LTI and SSO are involved.
We design the integration architecture, choosing between the REST API, IMS Enterprise Services or OneRoster, set up OAuth2 authentication and define an error-handling strategy.
Implementation with automated tests, structured logging and monitoring. You see working synchronisations in a test environment along the way.
Controlled go-live with data validation and a safety net, followed by ongoing management and further development, for example around the start of each academic year.
What an itslearning integration actually delivers
Every itslearning integration is tailored to your source systems, educational processes and adjacent applications. Below are the six capabilities we most often deliver for schools and training providers that use itslearning as the core of their digital learning environment.
REST API with OAuth2
We integrate via the official itslearning REST API for applications, secured with OAuth2. Tokens are stored securely and rotated in good time, with scoped permissions so the integration only has access to the data it genuinely needs.
Synchronising courses & groups
Courses, classes and groups are created and updated automatically from your source system. Hierarchies, subjects and teaching groups stay in line with your administration, including after timetable changes or a new academic year structure.
Users & rosters (OneRoster/IMS)
Accounts for learners, students and staff, along with their enrolments, are synchronised via IMS Enterprise Services or OneRoster rostering. Roles, class assignments and changes are handled consistently, so everyone has immediate access to the right courses.
Integrating LTI learning tools
You make external learning materials, practice tools and publisher content available directly within itslearning using the LTI standard. Teachers and learners open them without a separate sign-in, and where supported, results can flow back to the platform.
Single sign-on (SSO)
We set up single sign-on using methods itslearning supports, such as Office 365 and ADFS, or identity federation. Learners and teachers sign in once and reach their learning environment without separate passwords or extra barriers.
Exchanging grades & progress
We connect grades, assessments and progress data from itslearning to your student administration, reporting tool or certification system. Mentors work with up-to-date results, and analyses draw on one consistent, reliable source.
For which education sectors
An itslearning integration differs slightly by education sector. Below are four contexts in which we connect the platform to source and administrative systems, each with attention to the right roles, class structures and data flows.
Primary education
Primary schools that use itslearning as their digital learning environment and want to synchronise their student administration automatically. Groups, teachers and pupils stay current, so teaching materials and schedules always belong to the right group. See also our smart API integrations and the integration with ParnasSys.
Secondary education
Secondary schools that combine itslearning with a student administration system as the source for classes, subjects and teachers. Grades and progress can flow back to the administration system, and external learning tools are connected via LTI. See also our integrations with Magister and Somtoday.
Vocational & higher vocational education
Vocational and higher education institutions with large numbers of students, programmes and enrolments. Rostering via IMS or OneRoster keeps programmes, classes and enrolments in sync, and single sign-on gives students and teachers seamless access. See also our integrations with Canvas and Moodle.
Training providers & L&D
Training institutes and L&D departments that use itslearning for courses and training. We synchronise participants and enrolments with their own administration, and link achieved results to certification or a reporting system for insight into progress.
Technology we use
We build itslearning integrations with the official itslearning REST API for applications and the standards itslearning supports, combined with the backend stack that suits you. The precise choice depends on your source systems and data flows, so that your own IT department can manage or further develop the integration.
Why choose Appfront for your itslearning integration?
Appfront has extensive experience building API integrations for a wide range of organisations in the Netherlands, including in education. We always begin with a thorough analysis of existing systems and processes. An integration must not only work technically but also add practical value to your educational practice.
For every integration, we write clear documentation and make sure your own team, or any future supplier, can understand and manage it. No black box, just transparent code and clear agreements on monitoring, alerting and maintenance.
You work with a dedicated point of contact who understands both the technical and the functional side. This keeps communication short, prevents misunderstandings and speeds up decisions when choices need to be made during development.
See also our broader services around API integrations, middleware, custom software and web app development, or browse all the integrations we build.
- Experience with the itslearning REST API, IMS Enterprise Services and LTI
- Experienced with SIS and student administration integrations and OneRoster rostering
- Secure by default: OAuth2 tokens in vaults, scoped rights, timely rotation
- Clear documentation that your ICT department can read and manage itself
Security and privacy in itslearning integrations
An itslearning integration processes personal data of pupils, students and staff: names, class groups, enrolments, grades and progress. This is sensitive data, often belonging to minors, so care comes first. Appfront builds to the OWASP ASVS: OAuth2 tokens with scoped permissions in secure vaults, encryption in transit and at rest, least-privilege access and regular audits of the data flows.
We only process the data the integration genuinely needs (data minimisation), and we document every data flow: which pupil and student data is exchanged, with which scopes and between which systems. This keeps your record of processing activities complete and lets you demonstrate compliance with the GDPR. We keep token scopes and access rights as tight as possible, and we rotate credentials on a fixed schedule.
More on our security approach: information security policy and CVD policy.
- GDPR-compliant data processing and data minimisation
- Encryption in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest
- Role-based access and least-privilege principles
- Audit logs with traceable data flows
- Automatic retries and dead-letter queues
- Monitoring and alerting for anomalies
- Secrets management in line with best practice
- Pupil and student data flow documentation
Frequently asked questions about itslearning integrations
Answers to the questions we are asked most often about itslearning integrations.
An itslearning integration is a technical integration between the itslearning learning platform and another system, such as your student information system (SIS), your own application or an external learning tool. Via the REST API for applications (with OAuth2), IMS Enterprise Services and LTI, courses, groups, users and rosters are synchronised automatically. An integration can be simple, for example creating accounts and classes daily from your SIS, or extensive, with grade and progress exchange and single sign-on.
A custom integration makes sense when itslearning's standard import and export options don't fully fit your situation. For example, when you use a non-standard SIS, want to combine data from several sources, need to connect your own portal or app, or want grades and progress written back to another system in real time. Together we will assess whether a standard such as IMS/OneRoster is sufficient or whether a custom build via the REST API adds value.
A simple integration, for example synchronising users, groups and courses from a single SIS, can be working within a few weeks. More extensive scenarios involving grade and progress exchange, LTI tools, single sign-on and synchronisation from multiple sources usually take longer. After an intake meeting, we give a realistic estimate based on your source systems and data flows.
We work with the official itslearning REST API for applications using OAuth2 authentication, IMS Enterprise Services and IMS Enterprise XML imports via SFTP for users, groups and courses, LTI for connecting external learning tools, and SSO methods such as Office 365 and ADFS. We build the back end in the stack that suits you: Node.js, Python, PHP or .NET. For rostering, we align with IMS/OneRoster wherever possible.
The cost is determined by the number of source systems, the complexity of the data flows, the required synchronisation frequency and the amount of custom business logic, such as mapping classes, roles and grade categories. Ongoing management, monitoring and support also affect the total investment. We always provide a clear quote following a no-obligation analysis of your situation.
Yes. An itslearning integration processes personal data of pupils, students and staff, so privacy is central. Appfront builds to the OWASP ASVS: OAuth2 tokens with scoped permissions in secure vaults, encryption in transit and at rest, and least-privilege access. We only process the data that is necessary, document the data flows for your record of processing activities, and ensure you can demonstrate compliance with the GDPR.
Yes. Appfront regularly takes over existing integrations, including those originally set up by another party or by your own IT department. We review the API integrations, the IMS or OneRoster synchronisation, the LTI configuration and the error handling, document the current setup and propose improvements. We then carry out adjustments, extensions and monitoring, including timely rotation of OAuth credentials.
itslearning is used in primary and secondary education, in vocational and higher education, and by training providers and L&D teams. A custom integration suits schools that want to synchronise pupil administration automatically, institutions that want to offer external learning tools via LTI, and training providers that want to exchange courses and grades with their own administration or certification system. We tailor the integration to your educational context and source systems.
Ready to build your itslearning integration?
Tell us which source systems you use and which data (users, groups, courses or grades) you want to synchronise between itslearning and your administration. We are happy to advise on REST API, IMS/OneRoster, LTI and single sign-on. A no-obligation first conversation will quickly give you a clear picture of what is possible.