Professional
Learning Management System
Introduction
Part of being an effective teacher is
providing students various opportunities for participation. Participation in a lesson ensures that
students are engaged and it encourages practice toward success. An innovation that enables and encourages
participation in the classroom is the use of a learning management system (LMS)—a
software application designed to manage the administration, documentation,
tracking and delivery of education. LMSs
boast numerous features that enable teachers and students vast opportunities
beyond the classroom. This type of
learning program “gives students more flexibility and personalized instruction”
(DeNisco, 2015) as teachers strive to accommodate the diverse learning need
s and styles of students for maximum participation.
Features of a Learning
Management System
While searching for the LMS appropriate
for my intentions, I narrowed my search down to two: Schoology and NEO
LMS. Each LMS served the same purpose,
however, it was a matter of appearance, user functionality, and customization
on my part. After weeks of using and navigating
through both LMSs, I had decided on the one that I felt fit my needs. In using the Schoology LMS, I was able to
create a learning environment structured toward student engagement. Many of its features easily enabled users,
both teachers and students, to manipulate learning to suit individual
needs.
Organization
Lessons were organized by date into
different color-coded folders. Each
lesson was labeled with a title, objective(s), standards, and date range. Inside each folder were pages that were consistent
in skills, but different in content. This
ensured security for students, as they would know what to expect, and thus, be
prepared, each week. I had organized my
lessons so that each one was connected to the last. Therefore, learning activities would be based
on background knowledge.
Calendar
Schoology’s built-in calendar was simple
and easy to manipulate. Lessons,
assignments, and tests were automatically placed on the calendar once they are
created. They could then be re-arranged
by clicking and dragging the titles to and from different dates. Multiple calendars for different classes
could be seen on one main calendar, as each class would be color-coded, so that
the instructor could overview and manage all classes.
Updates
Like many social media pages, Schoology
allows for updates. These updates instantly
notify users of the most recent information for the class.
Gradebook
The built-in gradebook provided many
options that made grading simple. Grades
could be based on rubrics, which could be created on Schoology or uploaded to
the system. Grades could also be aligned
with a school’s district’s standards.
The gradebook included categories, weights, could track progress and
create reports.
Badges
Badges were given to encourage
positive student interactions. They
could easily be assigned to individuals or groups of students who performed
certain tasks. Students would also be
able to see their badges, which could motivate and promote positive behavior.
Attendance
Schoology also has a built-in attendance
record, which is automatically dated as the instructor continues to use the
system. Comments could be made for each
student, and instructors could decide if the comment should be visible to the
student. Attendance reports could also
be made for individual students or for a class.
Assignments and Tests
Assignments and Tests could be created on
Schoology. Both provided a variety of
built-in assessment options, and are automatically published to the class. Assignments and Tests could even be assigned
to individual students, tailored to their learning needs. Files could be attached to assignments/tests
if an instructor has already created one.
Finally, Schoology creates a library of assignments and tests.
Interactivity
Users of Schoology are able to
interact in two ways: messaging and teacher-led discussions. Messaging can be teacher-to-student,
student-to-teacher or student-to-student.
The teacher must create discussions, and all members of a class have
access and are able to communicate.
Support of External Technology Tools
Schoology is versatile as it allows
external technology tools to be used within its system. I was able to use and embed a number of
external tools to supplement each lesson.
Such tools that I used supported by Schoology include YouTube, Quizlet,
Voki, and eBooks.
Conclusion
The use of an LMS can significantly
enhance the learning experience. Researchers
have found that the implementation of a “curriculum-based instructional
management system enhanced the math achievement of Title 1 students,” (Ysseldyke,et.al., 2004) when looking to improve mathematics skills using a learning
management system. With its many
features, teachers are able to more closely monitor progress and mold lessons to
support student achievement. Using
Schoology allowed me to track learning at all levels and in all avenues to
ensure participation beyond the classroom.
As the curriculum advances by promoting educational technology, the
implementation should be highly considered for each class, as it provides vast
opportunities to support and assist student learning.
References:
DeNisco,
A. (2015). Online learning proves VITAL to success: One-of-a-kind digital
strategy keeps students in school. District
Administration, 51(3), p.45. Retrived from: http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=6e662304-7008-4ee5-8072-e7eefa3099ef%40sessionmgr103&vid=0&hid=109.
Ysseldyke,
J., Betts, J., Thill, T., & Hannigan, E. (2004). Use of an instructional
management system to improve mathematics skills for students in Title I
programs. Preventing School Failure, 48(4),
p.10-14. Retrieved from: http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=6e662304-7008-4ee5-8072-e7eefa3099ef%40sessionmgr103&vid=0&hid=109.
