Top Hat LTI 1.3 Integration Now Live in D2L
We are pleased to announce that the Top Hat LTI 1.3 integration is now available in D2L Brightspace at the University of Calgary. (Please note that the legacy/LTI 1.1 integration has been fully decommissioned as of June 2026). This updated integration offers a more secure, streamlined, and user-friendly experience for both instructors and students. Key enhancements include:
- Improved data security and privacy
- Simplified course connection and roster syncing processes
- Automatic and manual grade synchronization options
- Direct access to Top Hat content via deep links in D2L
️ Getting Started
This guide is intended for instructors who have used Top Hat before and are familiar with how it works alongside D2L to support student engagement. If you are new to Top Hat, we recommend starting with the introductory resources available at: https://elearn.ucalgary.ca/category/top-hat/
Steps to Set Up LTI 1.3 Integration with D2L
- Connect Your Courses
Follow these tutorials to link your D2L Brightspace course with Top Hat:
🔗 Top Hat + D2L Brightspace Integration Guide (Written Instructions)
🎥 How to Connect a D2L Course to Top Hat (Video)
- Roster Sync’ing
Top Hat’s LTI 1.3 integration automatically syncs your D2L Classlist nightly. Students who access your Top Hat course through D2L will be automatically added to the Top Hat class roster. There is no need upload a class list manually or send invitation emails to students.
- Use Deep Linking for Content
Learn how to embed Top Hat content/ activity directly into your D2L course:
🔗 Deep Linking Guide (Written Instructions)
- Select a Grade Syncing Method
🔗 Grade Syncing options (Written Instructions)
🎥 Automatic Grade Syncing (Video)
🎥 Manual Grade Syncing (Video)
- Support for Students
Students no longer have to wait for an invitation email. They may access the Top Hat course directly via D2L as the roster is updated daily.
Refer to the Student Enrollment Guide for details.
⭐IMPORTANT UPDATE: Single Sign-On (SSO) is now available for Top Hat. Students with an existing Top Hat account linked to a @ucalgary email address will need to merge their accounts. For more information on merging accounts or creating a new user account, please see the Top Hat SSO account setup guide.
For Continuing Education students who do not have a @ucalgary.ca email address, please select University of Calgary – Continuing Education as your organization and create an account using the same email address associated with your D2L account.
Upcoming Training Opportunities
Getting Started with Top Hat & D2L LTI 1.3 Integration (For UCalgary Community)
Aug. 17, 2026 Monday 1:00-2:15pm
Aug. 21, 2026 Friday 1:00-2:15pm
This webinar focuses on the key building blocks of Top Hat, including how to create interactive content (e.g. polling and discussion questions) and deliver that material in class to keep students engaged. A demo of how to set up the LTI 1.3 integration with D2L will also be included. This integration streamlines the registration process for students, and allows you to easily pass grade columns from Top Hat to D2L.
20-Minute Feature Walkthroughs (D2L LTI 1.3 Integration)
Aug. 17, 2026 Monday 11:00-11:20am
Aug. 25, 2026 Tuesday 11:00-11:20am
Recorded Training Sessions
Introduction to Top Hat (July 2025)
Join us for an introduction to Top Hat and learn how to use our platform to engage your students before, during and after class. Instructors can choose to create their own content and follow along if they would like to do so.
Integrating Top Hat & D2L – Top Hat’s LTI 1.3 (July 2025)
Elevate your course experience by harnessing the full power of Top Hat and D2L Brightspace integration. In this session, you’ll discover how Top Hat’s LTI 1.3 unlocks seamless grade and roster syncing, along with the ability to deep link interactive content directly into your Brightspace course—streamlining your workflow and enhancing student engagement.
Need Assistance?
If you have any questions or require assistance during this transition, please contact Top Hat Support
Hours: Monday – Friday: 7AM – 7PM MST
Phone: +1 (888) 663-5491
Email: support@tophat.com
Virtual Office Hours (August & September 2026): Registration Link
Live & On-Demand Training Sessions: Top Hat Skill Build
