#1 most frequent
United States of America
89.1%1,104 installations of 1,239
What is Schoology Learning?
Schoology aims to combine as many parts of the learning process as possible into a single platform for K-12 students. By doing this they aim to simplify the learning experience for students, parents, and teachers.
Categories & Use Cases
Media
Screenshot of Example of Schoology’s course dashboard.
Top Performing Features
Compliance management
Users can identify potential risks and ensure that requirements are met and that certifications are up to date.
Category average: 8.8
Player/Portal
Students or employees can engage with content and take courses using this interface, which may be called a player or portal.
Category average: 8.7
Progress tracking & certifications
The system tracks individuals’ progress on courses, scores, transcripts, certificates, etc.
Category average: 8.3
Areas for Improvement
Learning reporting & analytics
Provides insights into course completion, engagement with learning content, etc.
Category average: 7.8
Social learning
Includes features for collaboration and knowledge sharing among peers.
Category average: 7.6
Learning administration
Administrators can manage the content and people (students/employees, course authors, instructors, etc.) on the platform.
Category average: 7.4
Who Buys & Uses Schoology Learning
#2 most frequent
Canada
1.7%21 installations of 1,239
#3 most frequent
Malaysia
0.8%10 installations of 1,239
Schoology - Does all the little things right
Pros
- Schoology organizes resources is an easy-to-understand and design layout. With this, student work and assignments are no longer lost in the "shuffle" of the school day.
- Schoology works well with many other apps and programs such as Google Docs, and uses an integrated LTI app so that users can embed other programs such as Thinglink, Quizlet, Padlet, Smore, and many more.
- Schoology is always improving. Since implementing Schoology we have had the benefit to see a number of key new additions be added to the platform including LockDown Quizzes with Respondus, the AMP and Mastery Learning feature, the Portfolio feature, and the upcoming enhanced Google Docs integration.
Cons
- One feature I'd like to see added is the option to individually assign an entire folder of contents to a particular student. As of now, each separate assignment can be individually assigned, but more often than not, teachers need to send multiple materials and it would be easier to open a folder and share.
Return on Investment
- Overall, Schoology has helped our teachers transition their teaching to a more personalized format.
- Schoology has helped us better integrate technology into the school in a more useful format.
- It has helped students keep track of their work and manage their assignment in a more collaborative environment.
Alternatives Considered
Edmodo and Google Classroom
Other Software Used
Google Drive, Poll Everywhere
A Great Option and Ever Improving
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
Fieldcrest currently uses Schoology as a district wide Learning Management System (LMS). We switched to Schoology last year and I use Schoology for almost all of my course work. I teach using the flipped classroom model and Schoology's platform allows me to share my lecture videos, conduct assessments of student knowledge and understanding, to give assignments, and to provide communication with students and parents. All of my content is available to my students through Schoology 24/7, I can make it available in a variety of ways, and I can make updates in real time. Recently, Schoology's introduction of the Google Assignment App has me excited about our switch to Chromebooks. This app allows you to attach a Google Doc (say a study guide) as part of an assignment. When students open the assignment the document is copied, renamed, and added to their Google Drive. No more students opening or copying a new version of the document each time they go back to the assignment instead of to the copy they made but didn't actually rename like the directions stated. The document is 'tied' to the assignment and updates no matter where they work on it from (inside the assignment or through their Google Drive.) Still to come, a cleaner looking interface with differentiation for elementary students!
Pros
- Google Assignment App - this is a game changer for schools using Google and Chromebooks but grading is a scrolling nightmare for teachers and not intuitive.
- Open LMS - it integrates with outside apps and programs but they have done little to improve the functionality of the product.
- New interfaces on the way - a cleaner look for all and an elementary version of the interface. This took YEARS longer than promised and looks completely different. They updated the user interface (UI) again for other users and now have some icons used for different features.
- More question types coming for assessments including labeling. These are now available, but the promised equity with the old assessment feature has never happened. New users only get the new assessment and while it looks nice, it lacks many basic features and is a grading nightmare.
- Options are available for assessment monitoring for schools and districts. All third-party paid apps unless you have Chromebooks.
- Microsoft OneDrive Integration and Assignments.
- Google Drive Integration
Cons
- So many promised features have not been added as promised. Flaws in existing features have not been (and based on my experience with the highest levels of support and development) never will be.
- Grading Google Drive Assignments is a scrolling nightmare. Assessments that have short answer/essay questions do not show up on your list of things that need to be graded.
- Known pain points for teachers are never addressed. Support since they were bought by PowerSchool has become nothing but, "Huh, we will escalate that" and then escalated, then escalated again, then to the top level and nothing happens.
- Updates to fix issues, forget about it. If you look at their roadmap for Schoology, it is all about integration with other products PowerSchool owns. Nothing on the roadmap was about fixing anything in Schoology outside of a new UI which simply changed the look slightly.
- I wish I could move and resize pop-up editing boxes. I create complex and visual landing pages with hyperlinks for my students. I wish that box were able to be made bigger and many pop-up boxes cover information on the page that would be helpful when working in the box.
- Settings and due dates for assessments are in two completely different places when creating them. One is in a tab in the content area, the other is in the creation "gear" menu. If both are not set correctly, your assessment will not work.
Other Software Used
Camtasia
Return on Investment
- Update: the changes to Schoology since PowerSchool bought them have been minimal and several features have been taken away. Support is hardly worth creating a ticket.
- The administration and counselors are also utilizing the platform.
- More parents are accessing their student's coursework and communicating through Schoology that in the past.
- For us, more staff members are using Schoology than with our old LMS.
Alternatives Considered
Blackboard, Canvas and Edmodo
Usability
Schoology Learning is an awesome program that helps students reach their potential
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
I love using Schoology because it does help students with learning their assigned subjects. I have used this program and it is comparable to Google Classroom but what sets it apart, in my opinion, is the way that the lessons and visuals are laid out which makes it easier for the students to get on the same page as the teacher. It is a great program to use and the New York City Department of Education uses it widely in their remote learning package available to students.
Pros
- Project-Based Learning.
- Improved Student Engagement.
- Empowering Students with Technology.
Cons
- Functionality does lag a bit at times.
- I would like to see an improved dashboard.
Most Important Features
- Project-Based Learning.
- Student First Approach to learning.
- Personalized Learning.
Return on Investment
- It has had a positive impact on the business objectives.
- I think it is a great alternative to Google Classroom.
Alternatives Considered
Google Classroom
Other Software Used
Google Classroom, Canva, Khan Academy
Schoology LMS is the best for in-person and remote learning
Pros
- Assessments - Much more interactive and have more grading options than Google Forms
- Auto-rostering - We are able to use Infinite Campus to automatically roster classes and there are no extra steps
- Family/Guardian access - Schoology allows families to have a sign in and see student grades & work.
Cons
- Intuitiveness - Some sections are clunky and need extra people to help figure it out
- Student view - You can view pages as students, but can't really experience sample tests and such
Most Important Features
- Auto rostering
- Assessments
- Parent Interaction
Return on Investment
- Student engagement is trackable
- Rostering and grading communicates with our SIS
Alternatives Considered
Google Classroom, Canvas and Blackboard Learn
Other Software Used
Google Classroom, Infinite Campus, Google Drive
Schoology. Good, but be prepared for the long haul.
Pros
- Ease of use for the students
- Allows for organization that fits different instructional models
- Straightforward interface that allows both teacher and student to easily navigate.
Cons
- Reliability
- Lack of frequent synchronization
- Victims of their own success
Most Important Features
- Grade sync
- Usage analytics
- Inclusion of other services into the delivery platform
Return on Investment
- Adaptive to different teachers course delivery needs
- Allowed us to be able to deliver content when it was impractical to do so in any other manner.
- Teacher buy-in towards their curriculum development has increased as it has become necessary for them to make the content digital and reviewable at any time as opposed to only when being evaluated.
Alternatives Considered
Canvas, Infinite Campus and Moodle
Other Software Used
Microsoft Power BI, Skyward Student Management System
