Schoology LMS Review

PowerSchool
Product:
Vendor:
Founded:
Headquarters:
Schoology
PowerSchool
1997
Folsom, CA
Ownership:
Customers:
Deployment Model:
Free Trial:
Private
45 million+ users
Cloud
Yes
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Schoology At A Glance

Good: Strong collaboration features throughout the solution.
Bad: Dated interface, learning curve due to robust features.
Bottom Line: Schoology allows instructors and learners to communicate easily, and it has built-in grading and assessment tools.

Product Overview

Schoology is a learning management system (LMS) solution designed for collaboration between any kind of learner and instructor.

A core focus of Schoology’s LMS solution is to enable collaboration, with frequent checkpoints to ensure learners are engaging with the material. The most recent addition to the solution is assessment management, which brings learning management features to assessments.

Features

We’ve chosen the following five features to best display Schoology’s strengths:

1. Instructional tools: Course design features are built into the solution for instructors to quickly create assignments. Instructors can attach a range of materials such as packets, quizzes, discussion boards and more. Each assignment can be given both a grading and learning objective. Use individualized instruction tools to set requirements for learners to interact with material, such as leaving comments or scoring above a threshold on the assignment. A variety of grading tools are available, such as highlighting and annotating.

Finally, Schoology has released a new features called ContentNav, which allows teachers to access all pre-approved content in one place.

2. Communication and collaboration: Communication within Schoology goes beyond the classroom, including parents and faculty through system-wide messaging. In addition, every lesson has a built-in discussion board for learners to engage with each other. All courses are saved using a folder system and can be shared either in a public group or as a resource for other faculty to use.

3. Data, analytics and personalized learning: Instructors can use preloaded standards to track each learner’s progress, with the ability to view grading averages and expectations. Quizzes have a results tab where instructors can see each student’s scores as well as statistical averages for the group. High-level analytics are also available for gaining a complete perspective on learners throughout the school.

4. Interoperability: Several apps can be seamlessly integrated with Schoology, including Google Drive, YouTube and more. If sharing data between Student Information Systems (SIS) and the LMS, the information is automatically synchronized. All types of lesson content are compatible with Schoology, including Learning Test Interoperability (LTI), Question and Test Interoperability (QTI), Common Cartridge, and SCORM-compliant content. Finally, Schoology integrates with PowerSchool’s other products: United Classroom Performance Matters, PowerSchool SIS, United Classroom Curriculum and Instruction, Naviance and United Classroom Behavior Support.

5. Assessment management: Schoology’s Assessment Management Platform (AMP) allows assessment teams to be formed based on courses to determine standards. Also, standards can easily be updated to apply to several courses at once. Instructors are able to update assessments automatically and save them in a central repository. These tools allow for assessments that test students on multiple skills using diverse media with pictures and videos.

Target Market

PowerSchool’s solutions is intended for K-12 educational institutions, colleges/universities and corporations, but Schoology is specifically targeted to K-12 schools. We’ve listed 10 of PowerSchool’s clients below.

  • Arkansas Department of Education
  • Bedford County Public Schools
  • Cincinnati Public Schools
  • Harrisonburg City Public Schools
  • Keller Independent School District
  • Kennewick School District
  • Lee County Schools
  • Northwest Independent School District
  • Teton County School District
  • Worcester County Public Schools

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Implementation/Integration

PowerSchool’s deployment services is tailored to a school’s goals and requirements. New clients will work with a dedicated project manager, who will develop an implementation plan and timeline. PowerSchool takes care of software configuration, data import and administrator/teacher training.

Customer Service & Support

Users can access the PowerSchool Community to browse its knowledge base of articles, communicate with their peers and get news of product updates. They can contact support via the software, live chat or phone.

Pricing

PowerSchool doesn’t publicly display its pricing information, so contact the vendor directly for a quote.

Shortcomings

Some users have mentioned that the interface looks plain and dated, and it’s not always user friendly. Also, Schoology has robust features, so users can expect a learning curve as they try to navigate the software.

Screenshots

PowerSchool Screenshot 1
PowerSchool Screenshot 2
PowerSchool Screenshot 3

About

PowerSchool boasts over 20 years of innovation, starting as the first web-based student information system, through industry changing user interface and mobile apps, to its Student Information Systems and Unified Classroom platform. It has a history of leading the education technology industry, and is pleased to be delivering industry-first unified solutions that break down technology barriers for schools and districts giving educators a complete set of tools to unlock student potential.

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Send feedback or corrections to feedback@betterbuys.com.

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Okay

on 2020-09-10 23:15:35

The email included in the program has no search option that would help with documentation. Comments to students on assessments does not notify students- usually only for teachers; so feedback on 160 students without emailing them individually is non-existent. Quiz option is far better than assessment option for grading. I wish for a page that students can upload projects and share them with each other- possible I just do not know how to do this. Sharp learning curve to operate- students struggle to download assignments. With Clever separating themselves from Schoology, many issues have made this a difficult time for most students. Many apps promised to work with Schoology were not very helpful or did not work at all with Schoology.

I like that quizzes can grade itself. There are many possibilities that can happen that would make this a very good program. Small fixes would make this equal to Blackboard or better.