By Hannah Parker
Online News Editor
Mira Costa teachers along with a Learning Management System Committee are working towards sending in a recommendation for a universally used Learning Management System by asking teachers to volunteer to test the programs Hiku, Canvas, Ebackpack and Google Classrooms.
A LMS is a form of technology that has the possibility of allowing teachers to proctor exams, give and collect homework and grade and interact with their students all in one system. Costa does not have an LMS while the Manhattan Beach Middle school has been using the LMS Ebackpack for four years which according to Costa Vice Principal Kristin Wolberg, has been successful.
“The middle school’s system each year gets better and better and if Costa were able to implement a LMS, they could experience the same improvements,” Manhattan Beach Unified School District Superintendent Dr Michael Matthews said. “In this day and age, it just does not make sense for our students to use multiple programs when there is one out there that is easy to use for everyone.”
According to Matthews, the idea was formed by Costa principal Dr. Ben Dale in the spring of last year. The process of deciding the LMS consists of teachers piloting one of the four selected system. From there, the teacher input feedback to the administration and according to Wolberg, they hope to include students in the process of reviewing as well.
“An LMS is a powerful tool and it has huge potential for both students and staff,” Costa french teacher Caroline Buck said. “I see many advantages but I have never used a LMS so it is difficult, but I’m learning.”
Canvas, Ebackpack, Hiku and Google Classrooms all provide a platform for sharing homework and assessing students. However, according to a study done by Software Insider, Ebackpack is superior to Canvas in terms of instruction method, course development, collaboration and administrative features. In April, administration will come to a final decision pertaining the selection of a LMS.
“The idea of the LMS is to have students only need one system to communicate with teachers,” Dale said. “Teachers are all using different systems which is great because they’re exploring, but we are so far down the road where students are having to use so many logins that these time saving technologies become counter productive.”
To survey what features the staff prioritized in the system, the committee sent out an online SurveryMonkey to all teachers. The results were analyzed on Nov. 19 and proved that the most important aspect in the system should be that it impacts student learning. Under this category, teacher ranked accessibility, improvement with communication and the ability to streamline grade as their other top priorities that should be featured in the chosen system.
“The main goal is to make communication and learning easier and more efficient for students and teachers,” Matthews said. “It will not take away the homework but hopefully it will take away the time that students take sorting through notes or using various systems.”
Costa has encouraged teachers to attend one of the demonstration days where the possible systems will be explained. Also, technical assistance is provided in order to assist teachers in using an LMS on Wednesdays by the two Teacher’s on Special Assignment, Gretchen Gabreski and Jason Marshall.
“We hope that by implementing an LMS, we will be able to assist the kids and the staff” Dale said.
Out of the four possible LMS options, Google Classrooms is the only free program. However, according to Wolberg, no matter the price, Costa wants to find a program that accommodates the students and teachers needs.
“We have a free option, Google Classrooms, and if data shows that it as all the features our teachers need, then it could be a possibility,” Wolberg said. “Otherwise, the LMS will cost the district some money.”
To use the LMS, students must have access to internet and own a device. According to Costa teacher Ollie Smith who has been piloting the system Canvas since the start of the year, this has caused multiple complaints from his students.
“Students were having technical difficulties such as lacking the access to internet, a device, or other technical flare ups,” Smith said. “However, I think this is to be expected with any technology. This is a learning curve not only for the less technologically savvy teachers but also for the students.”
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