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Back in the days of the one-size-fits-all curriculum, teachers knew that only a small subset of any class was grasping the materials they presented. One of the greatest benefits—perhaps the absolute greatest, IMHO—of using technology in our classrooms is the ability to deliver highly relevant, pertinent materials individualized for each child’s learning style and other needs. That’s where a learning management system (LMS) comes in. Used properly, an LMS allows teachers to help each child soar.

MIDAS EDUCATION
The Lincoln County (OR) School District has a lot of challenges. All of the 6,500 students qualify for free breakfast and lunch, and 85 percent live in poverty. Students come to school unprepared, and as a result there are learning gaps in some grade levels that span multiple years. “We have to personalize/individualize instruction,” says Dr. Steve Boynton, superintendent.

The district uses a variety of systems to deliver instruction, such as Renaissance Learning’s STAR for formative assessment and Compass Learning for curriculum. To make the two different systems work together more cohesively, the district turned to MIDAS Education (midaseducation.com). “We had seven different systems with seven different logins when I first got here,” says Boynton. “MIDAS lets us create a robust individualized system.”
Now, a student takes a STAR test and receives a score. That information gets loaded into MIDAS, which assigns all the materials the student needs, including teacher-generated videos, practice materials, and assessments. MIDAS tells Compass to assign additional materials to keep the student on track. “Once we finish getting everything built and refined, it’s going to be amazing,” says Boynton.

Before MIDAS, it was impossible for teachers to know where every student was in their learning at any given time. Now they know each student’s STAR scores, what they’ve completed, and where they’re struggling. “No more guessing lets us do whatever we need to develop their skills.”

ADDITIONAL LMSs & LMS TOOLS

EXO U (exou.com): A software platform that enables schools to manage their students by delivering engaging experiences spanning desktop and mobile applications.

Odysseyware (odysseyware.com): An LMS with research-based core curriculum, assessments, and learning tools.