Instructional Management and Organization (Learning Management Systems)
There are MANY LMS options for education, but only a few are widely used in K-12 schools, generally those that are free or relatively inexpensive. Reviews of a wide range of LMS options can be found here: https://www.betterbuys.com/lms/
Google Classroom (https://classroom.google.com/h)
Google Classroom is part of the Google for Education package that includes Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar and other apps. It targets teachers and students in both K-12 and higher ed markets.The Google for Education suite is free for schools, but there’s a paid G Suite Enterprise for Education tier that includes additional features, such as advanced videoconferencing features, advanced security and premium support.
Schoology is an LMS solution targeting K-12 learning, higher ed and corporate training programs. The Basic package is free and intended for students, parents, teachers and advisers. The Enterprise package (not free) is intended for schools that want advanced features.
Canvas is a cloud-based, open-source learning management solution created by Instructure for educational institutions. Canvas offers a free account for teachers, as well as a two-week, free trial with full-feature functionality. The free teacher account doesn’t contain all the options available to paid Canvas users. Canvas also offers an open-source option for those who want to install it on their own servers instead of using Canvas’ cloud.
Edmodo (https://www.edmodo.com/)
Edmodo is an LMS for K-12 schools that operates like a social platform (similar to Facebook) to make announcements and post assignments online. Edmodo has “freemium” accounts – meaning parents, teachers, students and even school districts can create their own accounts for free. Features include unlimited document storage, integration with Microsoft Office and Google Apps, mobile access, and security and privacy tools.
SeeSaw (https://web.seesaw.me/)
Nearpod (http://www.nearpod.com/)
Teachers can create or download interactive presentations that include the ability to add polls, quizzes, or questions for students. Nearpod then collects and/or graphs answers. When the teacher is ready to share their presentation with the students, they publish it to a “library” that students have access to. Nearpod also monitors students’ results and scores. This program looks like a very helpful tool for teachers to quickly retrieve information from every student in a classroom setting. The only way students are interacting with the presentation is to answer questions given by the teacher. It doesn’t seem interactive enough to hold the attention of an elementary student who may then get carried away with the electronic device they are using. This may work better for middle school students. A limited basic account is free, must pay for more advanced.
There are MANY LMS options for education, but only a few are widely used in K-12 schools, generally those that are free or relatively inexpensive. Reviews of a wide range of LMS options can be found here: https://www.betterbuys.com/lms/
Google Classroom (https://classroom.google.com/h)
Google Classroom is part of the Google for Education package that includes Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar and other apps. It targets teachers and students in both K-12 and higher ed markets.The Google for Education suite is free for schools, but there’s a paid G Suite Enterprise for Education tier that includes additional features, such as advanced videoconferencing features, advanced security and premium support.
Schoology is an LMS solution targeting K-12 learning, higher ed and corporate training programs. The Basic package is free and intended for students, parents, teachers and advisers. The Enterprise package (not free) is intended for schools that want advanced features.
Canvas is a cloud-based, open-source learning management solution created by Instructure for educational institutions. Canvas offers a free account for teachers, as well as a two-week, free trial with full-feature functionality. The free teacher account doesn’t contain all the options available to paid Canvas users. Canvas also offers an open-source option for those who want to install it on their own servers instead of using Canvas’ cloud.
Edmodo (https://www.edmodo.com/)
Edmodo is an LMS for K-12 schools that operates like a social platform (similar to Facebook) to make announcements and post assignments online. Edmodo has “freemium” accounts – meaning parents, teachers, students and even school districts can create their own accounts for free. Features include unlimited document storage, integration with Microsoft Office and Google Apps, mobile access, and security and privacy tools.
SeeSaw (https://web.seesaw.me/)
Nearpod (http://www.nearpod.com/)
Teachers can create or download interactive presentations that include the ability to add polls, quizzes, or questions for students. Nearpod then collects and/or graphs answers. When the teacher is ready to share their presentation with the students, they publish it to a “library” that students have access to. Nearpod also monitors students’ results and scores. This program looks like a very helpful tool for teachers to quickly retrieve information from every student in a classroom setting. The only way students are interacting with the presentation is to answer questions given by the teacher. It doesn’t seem interactive enough to hold the attention of an elementary student who may then get carried away with the electronic device they are using. This may work better for middle school students. A limited basic account is free, must pay for more advanced.