Learning Management Systems

Schoology LMS

Analysis & Review By Korey Grexton

Introduction

Schoology Learning is a Learning Management System by the company PowerSchool. The company is based in North America and has been public since 2021, but it was previously owned by Pearson and Apple. It has since incorporated several different types of tools specialized by needs or roles within an education system, which PowerSchool calls 'Solutions'. It has won several awards in 2023 for solid business management, but most notable is the 'Tech Cares' award in 2022. This award "shows a company’s commitment to supporting employees, communities, and the environment" ("Tech cares award winners: Unveiling leaders in corporate social responsibility," 2023). This indicates that the company operates with integrity for everyone, not just its customer base, which is an important consideration when choosing an LMS for a educational institution.

Content for Learning: How Does It Work?

Figure 1: Options for sharing. Adapted From: (Personal resources, n.d.)

Teachers are able to use the Schoology Learning platform to upload courses and materials. Teachers can choose to keep the materials within their personal database, or to share those materials with other teachers within the PowerSchool ecosystem. They can do so by adding teachers via the search function (Add People: District/School/Teacher). There are also ways to export data using a filing system called IMS Common Cartridge. Finally, teachers can choose to make their learning content public so that anyone can access it at anytime. (Personal resources, n.d.) These options are completely integrated within the system for ease of use.

Parent-Teacher Communication

Schoology learning is available on all browsers and platforms, including as iOS and Android apps so parents, students, and teachers can access the dashboard easily. Teachers can message parents by setting them up with an access code and placing them in groups (depending on the class, course, year level etc). Parents are able to view discussions, resources, and assignments. They can receive notifications on any updates or announcements. Teachers are able to send out messages directly to all parents or provide one-on-one support ("Schoology," n.d.). The video on the right demonstrates how a teacher can use the dashboard to organize their communication for everyone, including parents, with simple drop-down menu navigation (Jill R, 2022). Wonderfully, Schoology allows parents and teachers to schedule virtual meetings and conferences with another app called Conferences which can be installed within the Schoology system (How to Use the Conferences App (Enterprise Only), n.d.).

Figure 2. A video explaining how parents can use Schoology for parent communication. Source: (Jill R, 2022) .

Assessment Tools

The Schoology Learning Management System allows teachers to fully customize their assessment types. Students are able to complete assessment quizzes and tests online, participate in discussions or peer review, as well as upload files for grading. Schoology also allows teachers to align their tests with curriculum standards such as Common Core, which is helpful for maintaining consistency and for monitoring student learning. The works cited is located at the end of the presentation and this report.

My Recommendation

While I feel that PowerSchool's Schoology LMS is a powerful tool, I would prefer to implement Canvas due to its intuitive controls and clear dashboard design. Tools that are easy to use by teachers and students would be the ones used most effectively overall. The learning curve for Schoology would take time and some training in order for it to be used the most effectively. However, I do think it's data analysis potential with its ties to Common Core make this an appealing choice.

Adaption Process at My School

My approach for implementing Schoology would be as follows:

1) Assessment of School Needs

2) Presentation of Schoology's Tools & Features

3) Consultation for Customization via Schoology

4) Training

5) Migration of Data

6) Feedback for Support/Technical Issues/Updates

First, I would consult leadership (principal, vice-principal, head administrators and directors), teachers, and administrative staff to assess the missing elements the school is struggling most with. With my current school, that assessment would primarily mean parent engagement and consistent data analysis. Schoology offers tools that address both such as the in-dashboard messaging systems, and alternative analytic program add-on called PowerSchool MTSS. I would also create a pricing plan that would suit my school's budgetary concerns. Unlike Canvas, Schoology does not have a free feature for teachers to try out the dashboard. So I would then set up a consultation for a custom price with the Schoology LMS team so they could better assess the data requirements for a school of 400 students. They would also be able to recommend if our school would need to upgrade to the 'Enterprise' package, which is Schoology's premium product. After implementation, training would be necessary in order to understand how to use the dashboard and all of its customization. After a trial period, I would help migrate existing student data onto the platform. Following up with feedback surveys throughout the following months would help me address any concerns with the learning management system such as lack of training or insufficient customization with PowerSchool Solutions or third-party apps.

References

Assessment question types: Overview. (n.d.). https://uc.powerschool-docs.com/en/schoology/latest/assessment-question-types-overview
Best LMS for Schools in 2024: Key Features of the Top Learning Management Systems. (2024, February 14). https://research.com/education/best-lms-for-schools. https://research.com/education/best-lms-for-schools#9
Company. (2023, November 13). PowerSchool. https://www.powerschool.com/company/
Course materials: assignments. (n.d.). https://uc.powerschool-docs.com/en/schoology/latest/course-materials-assignments
Course materials: Discussions. (n.d.). https://uc.powerschool-docs.com/en/schoology/latest/course-materials-discussions
Guide to using rubrics. (n.d.). https://uc.powerschool-docs.com/en/schoology/latest/guide-to-using-rubrics
Hosting for Canvas LMS - Managed Canvas LMS servers. (2023, September 21). WebHostingZone. https://www.webhostingzone.org/solutions/canvas-lms-hosting.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiArrCvBhCNARIsAOkAGcURzteKVUp1YcqVaKAZo9Ziy_tvY1F8y3ALk2rp1W8lI_09lnjEIN4aAsFxEALw_wcB
How to use the Conferences app (Enterprise only). (n.d.). https://uc.powerschool-docs.com/en/schoology/latest/how-to-use-the-conferences-app-enterprise-only
Jill R. (2022, February 4). Schoology - Messaging Parents in Courses/Groups [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsguwQcPCn8
Personal resources. (n.d.). Unified Classroom. https://uc.powerschool-docs.com/en/schoology/latest/personal-resources
Schoology. (n.d.). EdTech Books. https://edtechbooks.org/onlinetools/schoology
Tech cares award winners: Unveiling leaders in corporate social responsibility. (2023, November 7). TrustRadius for Vendors. https://solutions.trustradius.com/vendor-blog/tech-cares-award/

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