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Researchers in many disciplines are developing novel interactive smart learning objects like exercises and visualizations. Meanwhile, Learning Management Systems (LMS) and eTextbook systems are also becoming more sophisticated in their ability to use standard protocols to make use of third party smart learning objects. But at this time, educational tool developers do not always make best use of the interoperability standards and need exemplars to guide and motivate their development efforts. In this paper we present a case study where the two large educational ecosystems use the Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) standard to allow cross-sharing of their educational materials. At the end of our development process, Virginia Tech’s OpenDSA eTextbook system became able to import materials from Aalto University’s ACOS smart learning content server, such as python programming exercises and Parsons problems. Meanwhile, University of Pittsburgh’s Mastery Grids (which already uses the ACOS exercises) was made to support CodeWorkout programming exercises (a system already used within OpenDSA). Thus, four major projects in CS Education became inter-operable. 

We share approaches for coordinating the use of many online educational tools within a CS2 course, including an eTextbook, automated grading system, programming practice website, diagramming tool, and debugger. These work with other commonly used tools such as a response system, forum, version control system, and our learning management system. We describe a number of approaches to deal with the potential negative effects of adopting so many tools. To improve student success we scaffold tool use by staging the addition of tools and by introducing individual tools in phases, we test tool assignments before student use, and we adapt tool use based on student feedback and performance. We streamline course management by consulting mentors who have used the tools before, starting small with room to grow, and choosing tools that simplify student account and grade management across multiple tools.