Schoology is a free online learning management system that allows teachers to create classes, assignments, tests and collaborate with other schools. It provides opportunities for students to communicate and work with teachers, parents and other students. When implemented properly, Schoology can provide students more opportunities to succeed by allowing them to work independently at their own pace and giving parents a way to monitor their child's progress. However, some drawbacks are that not all subjects translate well to digital formats and some students may learn better with in-person interaction and hands-on activities.

1. Welcome to Schoology By: Julie Vaughn Walden University EDUC-6715

2. What is Schoology Schoology is a free digital classroom. It is a learning management system that combines classroom instruction and social networks to create and share academic content. https://www.schoology.com/about.php

3. Capabilities of Schoology Allows teachers to create and manage web pages, blogs, discussion boards, lessons and assignments Easily created assignments, quizzes, and tests. Provides opportunities to work collaboratively with other schools via cross-school networking. Allows for grouping of students, clubs, and/or organizations https://www.schoology.com/features.php

4. Capabilities continued… Provides administrators, teachers, parents, and students with opportunities to communicate and work together on issues pertaining to education. Enables parents to view student attendance, participation, and course work. Easy uploading and saving of documents. https://www.schoology.com/features.php

5. Benefits of using Schoology in my school/classroom Provide students who have been absent the opportunity to catch up on missed assignments. Classes can be designed to provide intervention for small groups of students. Classes can be designed as enrichment opportunities for students

6. Benefits continued… Students can complete activities at their own pace. Students can have the opportunity to enroll in lessons/classes that are of interest to them. Classes can be completed both in a structured school setting or at home. Reduces costs spent on classroom materials for lessons/activities.

7. ~ Drawbacks ~ Not all content areas lend themselves to being part of the digital world. “ The need to communicate using visual symbols and diagrams can be especially problematic online” (Cavanaugh, C., & Clark, T. , 2007, p.13). Students do not have the opportunity to learn using their most effective learning styles. “… For example, students preferring active experimentation and concrete experience tend to have more difficulty with virtual reality. . .” (Cavanaugh, C., & Clark, T. , 2007, p. 12).

8. continued… If implemented as a replacement for a structured school environment, students could miss out on developing pertinent social skills. In under privileged districts many students may not have access to a computer at home.

9. Conclusions Schoology , when implemented properly, can provide students with more opportunities to be successful in school. Digital classrooms, such as Schoology , prepare students for a future endeavors in education. Schoology allows students to work independently and at their own pace. Allows parents to carefully monitor their child’s progress in class and play a more active role in their education.

10. Resources: (2010). Schoology: Product Overview. Retrieved from https://www.schoology.com/about.php . (2010). Schoology: Features. Retrieved from https://www.schoology.com/features.php Cavanaugh, C., & Clark, T. (2007). The Landscape of K-12 Online Learning. In P. Adamson, B. Adamson, & N. Clausen-Grace, et al (Eds.), What Works in K-12 Online Learning (Chapter 1, pp. 5-19). Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.