Torus
Torus is an open platform for building, delivering, and improving adaptive learning experiences.
What Torus is
Torus is an open platform for building, delivering, and improving adaptive learning experiences. Educators can create courses with rich text, media, and interactive activities, then use real-time student performance information to refine course content. Reusable learning components can be adapted or remixed, and course changes and derivatives can be published and versioned. The Activity Bank stores activities such as quiz questions that can be searched, tagged, and aligned with learning objectives. Branched multiple-choice activities can direct learners to follow-up questions based on their answers. By default, scoring counts all activities on a page, so finishing a branch may not earn full credit or a completion checkmark. Torus supports LTI 1.3 and is designed to pair with compliant learning management systems. Its extensible activity framework can incorporate third-party activities. A managed instance is available, or users can host their own. Torus is free and open source under the MIT license. OLI launched it in 2020.
Good
- Author courses with rich text, media, and activities
- Real-time performance data can guide course updates
- Activity Bank supports searchable, tagged reusable activities
- Supports LTI 1.3 learning management integrations
- Free and open source under the MIT license
Watch out
- Default branch scoring counts every activity on the page
- AI Activation Points require administrator enablement
Who it suits
Torus suits educators and institutions creating courses with interactive and adaptive activities. It may also interest researchers working with reusable learning content and performance-informed course updates.
Verdict
Torus combines course creation, delivery, adaptive activities, and reusable content in an open platform. Account for the default branch-scoring behavior when designing activities.
The facts
Each one read from Torus's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Accessibility status
- OLI says it is working toward applicable WCAG 2.2 AA success criteria and links to a 2026 VPAT for Torus.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Activity bank
- The Activity Bank stores reusable activities such as quiz questions, which can be searched, tagged, and aligned with learning objectives.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Adaptive questions
- Branched multiple choice activities can route students to follow-up questions based on their responses.checked 5 Oct 2026
- AI feature condition
- AI Activation Points require DOT AI to be enabled in the course section by a system administrator.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Analytics
- Torus tracks student performance in real time so educators can refine course content based on learner needs.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Branch scoring limitation
- By default, Torus scores branched activities against all activities on the page, so students may complete their path without receiving full credit or a completion checkmark.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Community
- Torus community meetings share roadmap updates, feature demonstrations, and invite feedback from educators, designers, and researchers.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Course creation
- Torus combines course authoring and delivery, supporting rich text, media, and interactive activities.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Current release
- Version 33 introduced an Instructor Intelligent Dashboard, Adaptive Pages enhancements, template management changes, accessibility improvements, and 151 platform updates.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- An extensible activity framework can incorporate learning activities developed by third parties.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- A managed Torus instance is available, or users can run their own instance.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Integration
- Torus supports LTI 1.3 (LTI Advantage) and is designed to pair with LTI 1.3 compliant learning management systems.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Torus is presented for educators building and customizing courses, and its community includes educators, designers, and researchers.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Interoperability
- Torus supports LTI 1.3 (LTI Advantage) for integration with existing learning tools.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Learning science
- Torus applies learning science to help educators design engaging learning experiences.checked 5 Oct 2026
- License
- Torus is available under the MIT license, which the maker says welcomes commercial use and industry collaboration.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Performance data
- Torus tracks student performance in real time so educators can refine course content.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Torus is an open platform for creating, delivering, and optimizing adaptive learning experiences.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Reusable components
- Educators can use, adapt, or remix learning components to fit their teaching goals.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Reusable content
- Educators can use, adapt, or remix learning components, and the platform supports publishing and versioning course changes and derivatives.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- OLI lists [email protected] for accessibility feedback and support requests.checked 5 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2020checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United Stateschecked 28 Sep 2026
- Maker
- The Open Learning Initiative (OLI) is a Carnegie Mellon University initiative; its about page says OLI launched Torus in 2020.checked 5 Oct 2026
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