Brightspace Supports Several Different API Versions

There are several versions of Brightspace API. Some of these versions overlap and some are only supported in certain versions of Brightspace. This can create issues if developers are working with multiple schools who are running different versions of Brightspace, as the developer will have to make sure that their API calls are valid for each instance.

Brightspace Client Keys

Unlike most other LMSs that support API integrations, Brightspace requires school administrators to generate client keys for each connected app. This can cause several problems.

For starters, not every admin is used to creating client keys. When working with a school to integrate their Brightspace environment with the new edtech product, developers may need to directly assist IT admins to create them.

Furthermore, client keys are very powerful and can be a security vulnerability if exposed to a malicious third-party. Developers will need a way for IT admins to securely send to them the admin’s client key ID and secret. This can be done through secure HTTPS web forms or through a key sharing tool, such as Keybase. Having a secure key-sharing solution built into your onboarding process for IT admins can go a long way into building trust and keeping the school’s data safe.

Self-Hosted Brightspace Environments

Brightspace environments are self-hosted by the district or school. Thus, updates to Brightspace installations must be pushed by IT administrators of the school. If an administrator does not make regular updates, it can affect the compatibility of the edtech application with the LMS.

These 3 challenges are just a subset of some of the issues developers could run into while integrating with Brightspace. LMS integrations are usually not as straight-forward as they might seem at first. In fact, developers should take into account the differences and quirks of each platform when building integrations.

Read More on Brightspace

Here are other articles we’ve written on Brightspace to help you on your journey:

If you're looking for a partner who can help guide you through developing LMS integrations (like these), then let’s introduce ourselves. We’re Edlink!