> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.puddin.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect Puddin to Blackboard Learn or Ultra via LTI 1.3

> Register Puddin as an LTI 1.3 tool in Blackboard Ultra or Learn, then approve and deploy it to courses for integrated writing sessions.

Integrating Puddin with Blackboard enables students to launch Puddin writing sessions from within their Blackboard course, signing in automatically using their existing Blackboard credentials. Blackboard's LTI 1.3 framework handles tool registration at the system administrator level, giving you centralised control before the tool is made available to course instructors.

<Note>
  These instructions apply to both **Blackboard Ultra** and **Blackboard Learn** (Original Experience). The navigation paths are slightly different between the two interfaces; where they differ, both paths are noted.
</Note>

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, confirm that you have the following:

* Blackboard system administrator access
* Access to the Puddin administrator panel (Settings → Integrations)
* Puddin's LTI 1.3 configuration values ready to copy (see [LTI Setup overview](/core/integrations/lti-setup))

## Setup steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Puddin Integrations panel">
    Sign in to Puddin as an administrator. Navigate to **Settings → Integrations** and locate the **Blackboard / LTI 1.3** section. Keep this tab open — you will be copying values from it into Blackboard throughout the following steps.

    Note down the following values:

    * Tool URL
    * Client ID
    * Public Keyset URL
    * Access Token URL
    * Authentication Request URL
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate to LTI Tool Providers in Blackboard">
    Sign in to Blackboard as a system administrator.

    * **Ultra experience:** Go to the **Admin Panel** (gear icon) → **Integrations** → **LTI Tool Providers**.
    * **Original experience:** Go to **System Admin** → **Building Blocks** → **LTI Tool Providers**.

    You will see a list of currently registered LTI tools.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Register a new LTI 1.3 tool">
    Click **Register LTI 1.3/Advantage Tool**. Blackboard opens a registration form.

    In the **Client ID** field, enter the Client ID from the Puddin Integrations panel and click **Submit**.

    <Info>
      Blackboard uses the Client ID to fetch the tool's configuration automatically if your LMS supports dynamic registration. If Blackboard does not fetch the configuration automatically, proceed to the next step to enter the values manually.
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the Puddin configuration values">
    If Blackboard did not auto-populate the fields, enter them manually using the values from the Puddin Integrations panel:

    | Blackboard field      | Puddin value to paste      |
    | --------------------- | -------------------------- |
    | Tool URL (Launch URL) | Tool URL                   |
    | Public Keyset URL     | Public Keyset URL          |
    | Token Request URL     | Access Token URL           |
    | OIDC Auth Request URL | Authentication Request URL |

    Set the **Tool Status** to **Approved** so instructors can use it immediately.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure institution-level settings">
    Under **Institution Policies**, configure the following:

    * Set **Send User Data** to **Send user data only over SSL** (or Always if SSL is guaranteed).
    * Enable **Role in Course**, **Name**, and **Email Address** so Puddin can identify the student and associate their session with the correct submission.
    * If your institution uses grade passback, enable **Allow Grade Service Access** and **Allow Membership Service Access**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the registration and copy Blackboard's platform values">
    Click **Submit** to save the tool registration. Blackboard will display a confirmation screen with platform-specific values, including a **Deployment ID**.

    Copy the Deployment ID (and any other generated values) into the corresponding fields in the Puddin Integrations panel, then click **Save** in Puddin.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Deploy Puddin to courses">
    After registration, make Puddin available to instructors by deploying it:

    * **Ultra experience:** From the LTI Tool Providers list, select Puddin → **Manage Placements** → **Create Placement**. Add a placement for **Course content/tool** so instructors can add it inside course content areas.
    * **Original experience:** From the tool's settings, select **Manage Placements** and create a placement with the type **Content Type**.

    <Tip>
      Creating a placement with a descriptive icon and name (for example, "Start Puddin writing session") makes it easier for instructors to find Puddin in the content picker.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test the connection">
    Open a test course in Blackboard and add Puddin as a content item or assignment. Access it as a student and confirm that:

    * Puddin launches without prompting for a separate login
    * The correct course and assignment context appears inside Puddin
    * The test submission is visible in the Puddin teacher dashboard
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Troubleshooting

If instructors cannot see Puddin in the content picker, verify that a **Placement** was created in Step 7 with the correct content type. Placements determine where in the Blackboard interface the tool is surfaced.

If the launch fails with an authentication error, double-check that the OIDC Auth Request URL in Blackboard exactly matches the value in the Puddin Integrations panel, including the protocol (`https://`).

For additional troubleshooting steps, see the [Troubleshooting guide](/core/troubleshooting).