This week I downloaded and tried an interesting teaching application, namely Schoology. First of all, the app gives the user three options for logging in; you can log in as a teacher, student, or parent. I did not try logging in as a parent, as I only created the student and teacher accounts. However, I find it interesting that an app designed to augment learning has a platform for parents. I think this is a good thing, as it acknowledges the importance of a parent in a child’s academic journey.
The app has six main functional features which the users can use to teach and learn effectively. First, there is a “Recent Activity” button, where the user clicks to see what one has been doing recently, as well as what other users have been doing. For a teacher, if they posted assignments or grades, they would be able to see it. The student platform also shows recent activities. The next feature is “Courses” where the courses which a teacher has added would be listed. The teacher can add courses using this button. The students can join a course by adding a unique access code to participate in a course. Thirdly, there is a “Groups” tab, where students can join groups created by their teachers. These groups provide interactive platforms where participants can post and share their ideas and resources with others. Moreover, there is a “Resources” button, which is where class resources such as books are located. The teacher can upload learning materials there and allow access by their students. The fact that Schoology is cloud-based means that the teachers can upload and share as many resources as possible, and the students can have access to limitless learning and developmental resources.
Moreover, teachers can post grades, which the students can review and see from their platforms, using the “Grades” button. This enhances the communication and feedback system in the learning process, which goes a long way to enhance the learning outcomes. Lastly, there is a “Calendar” tool, which allows the user to mark dates and add events. This is an especially useful feature as it allows the users to create upcoming events and be able to review what is upcoming when they log into the application and click the “Recent Activity” button.
Users can upload multimedia content, including videos, photos, and text files among others. The app has a simple, interactive user interface, which means that the user can complete actions with only a few steps. Looking at the various features of the Schoology app, it is not hard to see how it would contribute to the teaching and learning process. It is a simple tool for integrating technology in the classroom, and could indeed be a reliable assistive technology for students. In a school library setting, the app could be useful as a tool for saving library materials that have been identified to be read. The school librarians can post links to relevant resources, where the students can in turn access and read them, as well as share with their groups. In the classroom, the teacher is able to post assignments, grades, and feedback to students, while the learners are in turn able to post their completed work so the teacher can access and grade it. Lastly, the participants can share reading materials, including full articles and web links. The app also creates a tech-based approach, which can be appealing to the students who are increasingly tech-savvy. All of these aspects make Schoology a potentially useful teaching technology tool in the school library and classroom settings.
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