Schoology
Schoology was created in 2009 by Jeremy Friedman, Ryan Hwang, and Tim Trinidad. The founders, all graduates of Washington University in St. Louis, sought to address the fragmented nature of educational tools available at the time. Their goal was to create a comprehensive learning management system (LMS) that would streamline the educational process by integrating various functionalities into a single platform. Since its inception, Schoology has grown significantly, now serving millions of users across thousands of educational institutions globally. It has received numerous accolades for its innovative approach, including being acquired by PowerSchool in 2019, further cementing its reputation as a leading educational tool.
Differentiation: What Makes It Special Schoology stands out in the crowded field of LMS platforms due to its robust feature set tailored specifically for K-12 education. Unlike many other LMSs, Schoology offers a proficiency model of grading in addition to traditional numeric grades, supporting diverse assessment needs. Its integration capabilities are impressive, with over 200 native integrations including Google Workspace, Nearpod, and Khan Academy, making it easy to incorporate various educational tools and resources. The platform also emphasizes social learning, allowing for collaboration and community-building among students and educators.
How to Get Started
Sign Up: Visit the Schoology website and sign up for an account. You can start with a free instructor account or explore the enterprise options for more advanced features.
Set Up Your Profile: Complete your profile setup to customize your dashboard and preferences.
Create Courses: Use the course creation tool to set up your classes. You can import existing content or build new courses from scratch.
Invite Students: Share access codes with your students to join the courses.
Explore Integrations: Connect your Schoology account with other tools and resources to enhance your teaching capabilities.
How It Works Schoology’s interface is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. For homeschooling parents, the platform offers flexibility in creating and managing courses. You can upload assignments, set due dates, and create quizzes directly within the platform. It supports both independent and parent-led activities, catering to different teaching styles. Schoology requires an internet connection for full functionality, but offline access to certain resources is possible. Typical usage involves logging in daily to check updates, monitor student progress, and provide feedback. The platform includes tools for video learning, live online classes, and interactive assignments, making it a comprehensive solution for homeschooling.
Educational Concepts It Teaches
Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Foreign Languages
Physical Education
Art and Music
Computer Science
What’s Good About It Users appreciate Schoology for its comprehensive feature set and ease of use. The ability to integrate various educational tools and the support for both traditional and proficiency-based grading are frequently highlighted as major advantages. The platform's collaborative features, such as discussion boards and group projects, enhance the learning experience by promoting peer interaction and community building.
What Could Be Improved While Schoology is highly regarded, some users find its interface somewhat overwhelming initially due to the sheer number of features. There are also occasional reports of technical glitches, particularly with third-party integrations. Improvements in customer support response times and more detailed analytics for tracking student progress are commonly suggested by users.
Advice from Parents Experienced homeschooling parents recommend taking full advantage of Schoology’s customization capabilities. Setting up clear, consistent routines and utilizing the platform’s communication tools to stay in touch with your children about their progress can enhance the homeschooling experience. Exploring the various integrations available can also provide additional resources to support diverse learning needs.
Overall Educational Value Score: 54/100
Schoology offers a comprehensive and versatile learning management system (LMS) that is highly appreciated for its integration capabilities, user-friendliness, and collaborative features. However, some users find its interface overwhelming and report occasional technical issues.
Positive Scores: 62
Uniqueness (8/10): Schoology's integration of over 200 tools and applications, combined with its proficiency model of grading, sets it apart from other LMS platforms (TrustRadius) (saasgenius.com).
Engagement (7/10): The platform's collaborative features and personalized pacing options enhance student engagement and enjoyment (TrustRadius) (saasgenius.com).
Accuracy (9/10): Schoology maintains high standards of accuracy in its educational content, regularly updating to align with state standards and common core (saasgenius.com).
User-Friendliness (6/10): While the platform is generally user-friendly, some users find the interface complex and report occasional technical difficulties (saasgenius.com) (Home).
Pedagogy (8/10): Schoology's pedagogical approach is robust, supporting diverse developmental stages and providing flexible learning options (TrustRadius).
Homeschooling (7/10): Homeschooling parents find Schoology suitable for their needs, although some mention a learning curve in navigating the platform (TrustRadius) (saasgenius.com).
Learning Focus (8/10): The platform emphasizes deep, meaningful learning with a variety of assessment tools and interactive features (TrustRadius).
Personalization (7/10): Schoology offers significant customization options to meet individual learning needs (TrustRadius) (saasgenius.com).
Special Needs (6/10): While generally accommodating, Schoology could improve its support for children with learning disabilities (TrustRadius) (saasgenius.com).
Value (6/10): The free basic version offers considerable value, but the cost for the enterprise version can be high for some families (saasgenius.com) (Home).
Negative Scores: -8
Boredom (3/10): Some parents report that certain traditional learning models within Schoology can be uninspiring (TrustRadius).
Addictive Components (1/10): There are few reports of Schoology being addictive in a negative sense (TrustRadius).
Violence (0/10): No violent content has been reported in Schoology (TrustRadius) (saasgenius.com).
Unhealthy Competition (2/10): Minimal reports of unhealthy competition among students (TrustRadius).
Excessive Prioritization of School Standards (2/10): Schoology balances school standards with deeper learning goals (TrustRadius) (saasgenius.com).
Who It’s an Ideal Fit For Schoology is ideal for families seeking a versatile and comprehensive LMS that can support a wide range of subjects and teaching styles. It’s particularly well-suited for tech-savvy parents who appreciate the ability to integrate multiple educational tools and resources seamlessly.
Who It’s Probably Not a Fit For Families looking for a more straightforward, less feature-heavy platform might find Schoology overwhelming. It may also not be the best fit for those who prefer offline learning environments or have limited internet access.
Grades Schoology supports educational activities from Kindergarten through 12th grade, making it a versatile choice for all levels of homeschooling.
Cost The Basic Package is free for instructors, which includes essential features for homeschooling. The Enterprise Package, which offers more advanced features like systemwide administration and user management, incurs additional costs. Specific pricing for the enterprise version varies and typically requires a consultation for detailed information.
Ways to Get It Schoology can be accessed by signing up on their official website. Homeschooling parents can start with the free basic version and consider upgrading to the enterprise package as their needs grow.
