Technology in Use at the Academy

Columbus Academy utilizes a powerful technology toolset to enhance teaching and learning.  Below is a partial listing of the online services used by students at Columbus Academy.  Included is a brief description of their purpose and links to their privacy policies and terms of services.  The core services of Blackbaud and Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals are used by the majority of students.  A listing of additional services follows; these services may or may not be used by Columbus Academy teachers with their students.  Consequently, students will not need accounts for all of these services.  In most cases, the teachers or school administrators will create accounts for the students.  Whenever possible, the students' Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals account will be used to provide their identity.  At times, Columbus Academy teachers and librarians may use online services not listed in this document to enhance their student’s learning.

Core Services

Blackbaud mySchoolApp

Columbus Academy uses Blackbaud’s mySchoolApp to manage attendance, academic records, schedules and grading in a cloud-based, student information database.  This is the school's official application for collecting and computing grades, as well as for sharing a student's academic information with the student and his/her parents through progress reports and report cards.  Parents' contact information is also stored on Blackbaud and is accessible by the student's teachers.  Account login information is shared with the students and their parents so that they can view the grades entered.  Security & Privacy

Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals

Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals student accounts are used for communication, sharing assignments online, and various file creations for school-related purposes.  It includes Gmail, Google Calendar, Classroom, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Drawing, Slides, and Sites.  Restrictions and monitoring of accounts are performed on site and Lower School students are restricted from exchanging emails from outside of our domain.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Additional  Services

Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Creative Cloud gives Columbus Academy students the tools to discover and express their creativity through photography, design, video, animation, web and mobile user experiences, and more.  The Adobe Creative Cloud suite of tools includes: Acrobat, Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Atriuum

Atriuum is an integrated online library system that helps Columbus Academy students easily access our collection of books, videos, and digital media.  Privacy Policy

CampBrain

Columbus Academy uses CampBrain, which provides web-based management and registration software for our Summer Experience and auxiliary programs.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

ClassLink

ClassLink is a one click single sign-on solution that gives students access to a variety of online learning resources with just one password.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Epic Books

Epic is an online platform with a collection of digital books for children.  Teacher will set up classroom accounts using the students' Google accounts from school via Google Classroom.  The student then accesses Epic using a class code.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Everbridge

Everbridge is Columbus Academy's emergency mass communications system and campus safety app.  Privacy Policy

FACTS Tuition Management

Columbus Academy uses FACTS, which is an online tuition management program that allows parents easy access to their accounts.  The service makes it easier for payments.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Final Forms

Final Forms is a service designed to serve schools with streamlined registration, communication, and risk management solutions.  Columbus Academy uses Final Forms to collect information from families including: contact information, health history, medical profile, emergency medical authorization, permissions to travel, transportation, and OHSAA eligibility information.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Flipgrid

Flipgrid is a video conversation app where students can post short video responses to topics created by the teacher.  Teachers create a "Grid" or group of users in the service using the students' pseudonym Google accounts through Google Classroom.  Access to the Grid can be accomplished through a browser or a mobile app and is closed to outside viewers.  Students' video submissions can be moderated for review first by the teacher and then released for class viewing.  Students can comment on each other's videos.  Flipgrid is a subsidiary of Microsoft.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Additional Google Apps

In addition to the core Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals listed above, Columbus Academy students may also use additional Google services with their Google Workspace for Education accounts, including: Blogger, Books, Google Maps and Earth, News, Takeout, Translate, and YouTube.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Differences between Core and Additional Services

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a free online platform for learning different subjects.  They have instructional videos and a series of practice exercises.  Teachers can assign specific exercises and track the students' progress.  An account is needed to keep track of progress through the lessons.  Khan Academy is a Student Privacy Pledge Signatory.  They collect personal information (name, email, & birthdate) for accounts.  Children under the age of 13 are prevented from posting information about themselves; however, be aware that YouTube is the platform used for their videos.  YouTube videos allow comments; some comments posted by users may be inappropriate for young students.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

MaiaLearning

MaiaLearning makes world class tools to engage Columbus Academy students in envisioning and planning their futures.  Students get assessment-based career suggestions, then develop detailed plans to bring their career dreams to life.  They explore colleges, build financial plans, and manage their essays, recommendations, and applications.  They use Portfolios to showcase the unique stories that help them stand out from their peers.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Nearpod

Nearpod is a platform used to create interactive, online lessons.  It also has a large collection of premade lessons from educational partners and expert educators, including Google integrated lessons, virtual reality, 3D, and gamified learning.  Students access the service through accounts that are created by the teacher through Google Classroom using the students' Google account pseudonyms.  Students are directed to use an alias for a username.  Students' access and progress on lessons can be monitored by the teacher.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Overdrive/Sora

OverDrive is a free service offered by Columbus Academy that lets our students borrow digital content (like ebooks and audiobooks) anytime, anywhere.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Quizlet

Quizlet is a flashcard app that can be used for practice or studying.  Teachers can create sets of learning materials or employ material created by Quizlet or its partners.  Students can use their Columbus Academy Google account to sign up for the service.  Quizlet has been awarded PRIVO's Kids Privacy Assured COPPA Safe Harbor Certification.  Quizlet requires a parent's email address for children under the age of 13.  Quizlet will share a user's personal information with his/her consent for marketing or advertising purposes.  Quizlet does contain opportunities for purchasing "premium content" and membership upgrades.  This should only be done with permission from a parent.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Savvas

Savvas gives teachers the digital tools they need for remote teaching and learning, from digital access to their Pearson K12 Learning (now Savvas) content to the ability to customize instructions, upload content, and monitor student progress.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

SchoolPass

SchoolPass is a modern platform used by Columbus Academy to simplify and secure dismissal, attendance, visitor management, after school programs, and much more.  Teachers mark students as late or absent from real-time attendance rosters, which is then synced to Columbus Academy’s SIS.  During student pick-up and drop-off, parents are automatically identified and students are organized for dismissal based on license plates.  Students and parents can use SchoolPass to communicate about dismissal changes such as late arrival, playdates and after school activities.  Privacy Policy

Scratch

With Scratch, students use block coding to create interactive games, stories and animations.  It uses a programming language developed at MIT's Media Lab for young learners.  Students can share their creations and learn from others in the Scratch online community - a monitored collaborative space.  The teacher will create a Class in Scratch and share a Join link with students.  Other than data collected by cookies or server information - such as IP addresses, no personally identifiable information is collected by Scratch.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Seesaw

Seesaw is an online learning platform designed for young learners.  Students can interact with materials the teacher created, or added from Seesaw's activity library, using built in tools for drawing, dragging, and video recording.  Parent accounts can also be created for access to their child's work.  Seesaw is a Student Privacy Pledge Signatory.  All content stays within the classroom group and it doesn't include advertising or sharing students data.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

ST Math

ST Math is a PreK-8 visual instructional program that leverages the brain's innate spatial-temporal reasoning ability to solve mathematical problems.  ST Math’s unique, patented approach provides students with equitable access to learning through challenging puzzles, non-routine problem solving, and formative feedback.  With ST Math, students build deep conceptual understanding, and schools see proven, repeatable results.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Swank Digital Campus

Swank Digital Campus provides Columbus Academy with the largest academic streaming collection of its kind.  With over 25,000 films, documentaries and TV shows, Swank Digital Campus simplifies film distribution by providing students a legal streaming resource both on and off campus.  Privacy Policy

TeamSnap

TeamSnap is used by Columbus Academy to manage sports activities.  Coaches, players, and parents rely on TeamSnap’s powerful but easy-to-use solutions for communication, scheduling, payment collection, registration, real-time game sharing and much more.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Turnitin

Turnitin is an originality checking and plagiarism prevention service that checks your writing for citation mistakes or inappropriate copying.  When you submit your paper, Turnitin compares it to text in its massive database of student work, websites, books, articles, etc.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Type to Learn

Type to Learn is a research-based typing program with a focus on keyboarding proficiency.  Type to Learn’s cloud-based platform has been thoughtfully designed to align with local, state and CCSS standards for typing and is used by schools nationwide.  TTL’s typing program ensures students are engaged, teachers have the right tools to teach proper touch-typing, and can easily assess overall effectiveness of the keyboarding curriculum.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Wixie

Wixie is a publishing and creativity platform that lets Columbus Academy students share what they know through their writing, their voice, and their art.  Wixie makes learning fun, giving students tools for developing essential thinking skills.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

Zoom

Columbus Academy uses Zoom, a modern enterprise video communications system, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars.  Privacy Policy - Terms of Service