How To Choose Assignment Management Software

Teachers managing virtual classrooms need a way to make and track assignments.  Some simple assignment management programs are available that amount to little more than a web page and email system.  The teacher posts the assignment on the web page and the students email her their homework.  For optimum learning, however, educators should look for assignment management software with more functionality.  Elearning classrooms that sign up to use the IQity Learning Suite enjoy a free solution that helps teachers connect with students in a variety of ways to move the learning process forward.

Importing Curriculum

The teacher's first task is to establish the course content.  Assignment management software alone can't accomplish that.  Some assignment management programs offer links to curriculum providers.  The IQity Learning Management Suite comes bundled with Reactor, a standards-aligned learning object repository.  Searching Reactor for suitable content is easy, and importing that content into the virtual classroom is a matter of three clicks of the mouse. 

Homework Plus

Assignment management software should do more than enable the teacher to hand out and collect assignments.  It should let her see which students have worked on a lesson and for how long.  It should be easy to make different assignments to different groups of students.  Giving and grading quizzes should be simple.

The Classroom section of the IQity Learning Management Suite is the feature that allows teachers to administer their class, interact securely with students, and manage and monitor assignments.   Teachers can see when each student last accessed the system and for how long each student has logged in.  If an individual student is not spending sufficient time on a given lesson, the teacher can get in touch to find out there's a problem and offer motivation.   IQity includes a secure messaging system open only to IQity users, and teachers can communicate directly with a student while controlling messages between students.

The Classroom tab also is used for giving quizzes and tracking and disbursing grades.    Since tests and quizzes for specific subjects are available in Reactor, giving a different assignment or quiz to different students is simple.  For example, math is a hierarchical subject; students need to master one concept before moving on to the next.  If three students in the class are struggling, the teacher can easily use IQity's assignment management function to give them lessons geared to their needs.  Then she can give quizzes on those assignments to those three students, without slowing down the rest of the class.

Online in Real Time

Simple assignment management software may not provide a way for teachers to interact with the class except through email.  With the IQity Learning Management Suite's LiveBoard, teachers have the capability of webcasting live in one corner of the computer screen, while at the same time using the electronic whiteboard to write notes, make diagrams or communicate visually with their students in real time.  And the range of assignments the teacher can make is greatly expanded because students can also use the LiveBoard for group projects.   Using the IQity Learning Management Suite instead of limited assignment management software builds the skills needed to work collaboratively with other students.

Costs

When choosing assignment management software, cost will certainly be a factor. Whereas some assignment management software systems like Angel Learning must be purchased, IQity is free to schools and school districts. Click to request an online demonstration guided by an elearning expert.