Education Week - October 1, 2014 - Special Report - S4

S4

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EDUCATION WEEK

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October 1, 2014

Piecing Together a Smart LMS Strategy > www.edweek.org/go/LMS

PEEK INSIDE A LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
An example of how an LMS functions can be seen through the system developed by Schoology, a New York City-based provider whose
system has over 6 million users in K-12 districts and universities worldwide. Schoology's LMS is a Web-based platform that offers
teachers instructional tools and resources. The LMS uses an open API, or application programming interface, that allows data transfers
between third-party tools and apps (such as Google Drive and Dropbox), content providers, and student information systems. It also
features a single sign-on technology, which allows each user to access different software programs with just one set of login information.
Schoology officials say their system is designed to function in a feedback loop, accepting content from outside sources and cycling
information back to those sources-such as administrators, teachers, parents, and academic publishers. The company markets
a free platform to individual educators, and a system for school districts, at a cost.

LMS

STUDENTS

<
PUBLISHER CONTENT
Web-based academic content provided by commercial
publishers and other providers that have contracts
with a school district

>

Permission is needed by administrators or teachers
before data can flow to publishers; it can include
non-sensitive student identifiers. If a publisher uses
the Schoology API to access student information,
it must receive permission from the district
and user. (Schoology does not store sensitive
information such as student addresses, phone
or Social Security numbers)

<

COURSE CONTENT -
includes courses created
by teachers in Schoology,
or content imported from
other systems

GROUPS - can include
teachers and faculty
departments, student
study groups and clubs,
athletic teams, and others

GRADEBOOKS - for
managing student grades

STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Courses, student rosters, teacher
and administrator roles

>

Attendance, grades

<

APPS
Developers can create interactive apps to be
accessed within Schoology's platform

>

Via the LMS platform API, districts allow users to access
apps. App developers must have explicit permission
from the district and user before receiving information

<

3rd PARTY TOOLS
Third-party tools like Google Drive, Dropbox,
Khan Academy, and Evernote flow into
the LMS for use and sharing

>

Districts allow the integration of third party
tools, and, as with apps, third parties can
access nonsensitive student identifiers only
with explicit user permission

<

ANALYTICS - tools
that evaluate student
comprehension and
engagement and give this
information to teachers.
Displayed through graphs
and other images that
show results at the
individual, class, and
district levels

CONNECTIONS - Access
to a global professional
learning community,
online network of about
1 million educators,
faculty members, and
administrators from
around the world, sharing
ideas and resources

ACCESS
Native mobile apps (iOS, Android, Kindle)
Web-based access anywhere
with an Internet connection
Open API
Single sign on

Create or upload text, video, audio, files;
submit assignments; participate in courses,
group conversations

>

Access assignments, lessons, tests,
discussions, course and group notifications,
and communicate within groups



TEACHERS

<

Create, import, and embed instructional content;
craft courses individually or as groups; feed grades
into system; input video, audio, or written feedback
on student work

>

Receive information on class and individual
student progress as well as analytics on student
engagement; collect feedback from parents,
administrators, students; exchange resources
and professional development

PARENTS

<

Messages to teachers and other parents/
parent groups

>

Access their child's attendance, course
activity, and grades; receive messages and
notifications from schools, teachers, and
groups; automatically get weekly student
activity digests by email



ADMINISTRATORS

<

Set rules on privacy and parent permissions
for students/faculty; set up integration and
single-sign on; manage district and school
communications/calendars; establish course
rosters, grading scales, and installations
of apps

>

Receive notifications and communications
from across district and beyond; automate
the provision of student data
SOURCES: Education Week; Schoology
http://www.edweek.org/go/LMS
Education Week - October 1, 2014 - Special Report

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Education Week - October 1, 2014 - Special Report
