Schoology
helping students stay organized and keeping classes connected
Katonah-Lewisboro is preparing for a district-wide transition to Schoology, an interactive platform that ties together in-school and at-home instruction. Students will use Schoology to access classroom materials, discuss ideas with classmates and teachers, collaborate on projects and submit assignments. It’s designed to help them stay organized and keep classes connected—no matter if learning is at home or at school.
The learning management system has also been adapted by several other school districts in the region including Brewster, Pleasantville, Scarsdale and Somers.
training for teachers, families and students
Teachers were first introduced to Schoology in a 2-hour training session at the end of the 2019-20 school year. They had the opportunity to learn more about the platform’s features at the district’s June and July Tech Summits. More classes are scheduled for late August and professional learning will continue through the 2020-21 school year.
Parents will also be able to log in and view their student's assignments, calendar, and school and class announcements. Workshops for families will be offered in early September when courses and rosters are finalized.
a single-log in
One of the challenges that Schoology addresses is to bring educational resources and apps including Padlet, See-saw and Zoom under one interface.
“We heard from students and families in the spring that teachers were using so many platforms and apps it was hard to navigate, especially at the secondary levels,” said Mary Ford, KLSD’s Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. “There were even variations in the ways platforms like Teams and E-Chalk were being used. Schoology is a single log-in for educational resources."
“We are anticipating a year in which we need to be ready for change,” said Chris Nelson, KLSD’s Director of Technology. “Schoology increases our flexibility and will enhance our teaching and learning environment in any scenario.”