EDU 643

#EDU643 #Week2

Darby, 

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I hope this email finds you and your family healthy. I am writing in regards to a proposed change in learning management systems (LMSs) for the fall. As you know, our district required that all teachers must use Google Classroom as their LMS for the upcoming school year. After extensive research, I am writing to inform you that I will be using Schoology instead of Google Classroom in the fall. In the email below, you will find an evidence-backed plan for opting to use Schoology instead of Google Classroom as my primary LMS. 

A few key reasons that I would like to use Schoology stem from the way it meets our district’s current needs. Not only is Schoology free for educators (at its base product), but it is also one of the safest systems in terms of providing data privacy for users (educators and students alike). One aspect that is beneficial to the district is the verification of teachers upon the creation of courses through Schoology. This verification requires teachers to fill out a consent form, which must be shared with parents, for children under the age of 13. This is an added layer of protection to our students, as well as a good peace of mind for our parents. When you pair this with Schoology’s numerous apps (Khan Academy, Kahoot!, Discovery Education) that are accessible through the LMS and the ability to sync PowerSchool (grading and attendance through the LMS versus through the PowerSchool portal), Schoology stands out as a better fit for our district in terms of protection and offered features. 

Additionally, there are other factors to take into consideration when thinking about making the switch to Schoology. One key factor is the adopted 2019 C3 Framework for Social Studies that our school is working hard to become aligned with. Schoology’s built-in standards feature allows teachers to link lessons and assessments to the C3 Framework. Schoology also has several apps that open the doors to free online primary sources, which is a core feature of the new standards for Social Studies. These are features that will support my classroom and ensure that students are getting the most out of the new standards. 

Another factor to take into consideration is what learning will look like in the fall. Schoology, unlike Google Classroom, organizes lessons into units for students to have a more concrete understanding of what is expected of them on a weekly, monthly, or trimester basis. An additional tool that I think will help students is the group tool, which allows teachers to group students into “mini” Schoology groups. These groups can post chats, share resources, and add to discussions within their groups, all while being monitored through the LMS. I know, personally, from student feedback from the spring, students were very unhappy with the lack of collaboration that Classroom offered them on the Classroom interface. Students are facing unprecedented times, and connecting them to their peers as sounding boards provides an additional layer of social-emotional support that will help to learn in the long run. 

Not only does Schoology support teachers teaching and students learning, but an area of needed growth for our district after the spring is also maintaining appropriate parent communication. Parents will have access to their student’s accounts through Schoology, but they will not be able to do the work for their students (or engage with other students), which was a big problem that our district faced this past school year. The inbox messaging system, as well as the PowerSchool sync feature, will take the guesswork out of where parents need to go for grades and support. We also must set boundaries with our parents to really facilitate that independence in our middle schoolers. Schoology can set that boundary by making the main method of communication through the LMS versus email, phone, chat, and text (which became overwhelming and messy in the spring). 

I’d like to address a few of the concerns I am sure you have with moving from Google Classroom to Schoology. Firstly, I know we are a very “Google-based” district, and I would like to reassure you that Schoology still supports many of the great EdTech tools that we are already using concurrently with Google Classroom. Google Drive, Newsela, IXL, Khan Academy, and YouTube are all tools I used with Google Classroom in the spring to support student learning, and these tools are all compatible and easy to use with Schoology. Additionally, Schoology has an app for NWEA testing, which aligns with our district’s testing. In terms of Social Studies, an app I plan on taking advantage of is netTrekker, which provides access to thousands of open educational resources (OER) in one place. I plan on using netTrekker to track down primary, authentic resources that support the C3 Framework. 

Secondly, I know this seems like a lot to ask of parents/guardians and students when looking to switch from an LMS they are comfortable with to Schoology. On the parent end of things, I would like to roll out a trifold plan for getting parents up and running in the fall. Firstly, I plan on sending a blast email to parents with an introduction and quick screencast tutorial on Schoology. In the video, I will walk them through the Schoology interface and name some benefits for them as well. This will serve as an introduction to parents in terms of Schoology. Then, I will send out/post on Facebook a quick Google Form asking parents what specific questions/needs they have in terms of using Schoology for the new school year. I will then use this data to put together a quick-help one-page brochure answering the biggest concerns/questions parents had on Schoology, as well as a link to Schoology’s Parent Help Page. I will provide this brochure to you prior to Parents Night, and I will add it to my “Welcome” packet. I will also send it out via email and post it on Facebook. 

In terms of approaching students with this new LMS, I will take a similar route, but add in extra layers of support as well. I will begin by making a short screencast video (and make it as engaging as possible) for students to watch the first week of school. Concurrently, I will create a Google Form to collect data on concerns. Then, I will spend the second and third week of school slowly introducing them to the different features of Schoology by creating tasks and “online scavenger hunts” to help them explore Schoology on their own. In the fourth week of school, I plan on sending the Google Form out again and hitting any last-minute questions. If need be, I can also make a resource to post on Schoology, on a classroom Instagram, or in the classroom with quick troubleshooting for students.

If parents/students require additional support beyond what I have listed above, I am more than willing to schedule Zoom meetings (and utilize the screen sharing capability) during our team prep time. My team prep time could also be used to meet with small groups of students to help them navigate the ins and outs of Schoology, as team prep time is supposed to be used to support students in any way we see fit. If parents or students need a more asynchronous approach, I can also print materials (and mail them) or create individualized screencast recordings for parents to view on their own time. 

As you can see, I have done extensive research on why Schoology would be the best-fit LMS for my classroom this fall. I strongly believe that any one LMS, such as Google Classroom, is not a one size fits all thing, and by choosing Schoology, I am doing what is best for my students, my parents, and myself as we navigate these new waters. If you have any additional questions regarding my use of Schoology, please feel free to contact me via email. If you would like to learn more about Schoology, I am more than willing to set up a Zoom meeting with you to show you the ins and outs of this particular LMS. Thank you so much for your time, and I appreciate your support on this subject. 

Respectfully, 

Sarah Greaves 

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#EDU643 #Week2