Many MNPS parents who hadn't heard of Schoology for the first eight months of the school year are now getting to learn the benefits of this virtual education platform.
Schoology is Metro Schools' online learning management system. It's the primary platform for Remote Learning 2.0, the district's instructional program while school buildings remain closed due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
WHY SCHOOLOGY
Why Schoology? It's the No. 1 learning management system for students. Teachers can give students access to files, links and videos; collect student work, and provide academic feedback. Schoology offers online testing possibilities and gives parents access, and it's easy to use.
“Schoology is going to play a very important role in our plans to emphasize student connection, support and growth,” Director of Schools Dr. Adrienne Battle said.
MNPS offered six Schoology training sessions for educators last week. While some teachers were already very familiar with the system before schools were closed, others have been getting comfortable with it and enjoying learning what it has to offer.
“Found a fun feature on Schoology tonight,” J.T. Moore Middle School 6th-grade math teacher Connor Siegel tweeted Tuesday. “I went through each student's assignment and left a VIDEO feedback to their individual work: areas of growth, massive amounts of encouragement, and some added in tips. Such a cool way to personalize online learning.”
STUDENT USE EXPANDING
Students in grades 5-11 have been able to access remote learning course materials on Schoology since Monday. Students in grades 3-4 will have access beginning next Monday, May 4, while students in Pre-K through 2nd grade will continue to use blended learning opportunities and learning packets.
Faith Manion, who teaches English to 10th-graders and an Advanced Placement Research class for seniors at Nashville School of the Arts, has used Schoology regularly since MNPS adopted it. She's been using the discussion board a lot in her classes this week and finds it easy to give students feedback.
“I like the fact that the access and the format are very user-friendly for students and teachers,” Manion said. “It's pretty straightforward. I have a lot of flexibility as a teacher to present things the way I want.”
She said students are generally “fluent” in using Schoology, with some preferring the app to the web-based version. And it's easy for students and teachers to find help when they need it.
“That helps ease the process,” Manion said.
SCHOOLOGY FOR PARENTS
Parents, you will need an access code from one of your child's teachers to create an account and follow a student's classes and activity. Once you create an account, you can add another student in the same account, but you'll need a separate code from one of that child's teachers if he or she attends a different school.
Additionally, you can log in via web browser or through the Schoology app available in iOS and Google Play.
MNPS has put together a video tutorial to help parents create Schoology accounts, and there are resources for parents new to Schoology on the MNPS Remote Learning page.