IQity Learning Suite
Learn More

The (IQity) study guide is closely aligned to benchmarks and grade-level indicators and offers student multiple access points to understanding the content.

J. Mark Stewart

Director of Curriculum

Dublin City Schools

Read more about the IQity Learning Suite.
Download Brochure

Schedule a live demonstration of the IQity Learning Suite.
Click Here

Get answers. Have an IQity representative contact you.
Click Here

How To Choose a Learning Management System

There are several factors educators must consider when selecting a Learning Management System to support online class offerings. Cost, of course, is a key concern. Available features differ and must also be compared. Savvy administrators will also evaluate how easy an LMS is for teachers and administrators to master and how much work will be involved for IT staff. Schools that sign up to use the IQity Learning Management Suite will be pleased to find it is a comprehensive solution that is free to schools and school districts.

Price Matters

Comparing the prices of Learning Management Systems is not easy. There are upfront costs and hidden costs. Perhaps the easiest systems to price are those that charge a license fee. Schools simply multiply the cost of a license by the number of students and teachers that will be using the system. Unfortunately, the result is usually a very big number. A Central Ohio school district, for example, pays more than a quarter million dollars a year to use a popular LMS.

Another commonly used LMS is "open source," meaning that its software code is freely available. Educators should be alerted that this does not mean using an open source system is free. The reason code is open is so that users can customize the software for their own use. That means either paying a programmer to adapt the system for your district, or paying your teachers for time spent fiddling around with computer code instead of teaching.

Yes, it is possible to use open source software right out of the box. But you will still have to host it on your own computers or pay a hosting service. One hosting service charges from $500 a year to simply host the software to $2500 if you want to save class content and get technical assistance for glitches. If you serve more than 500 students, the price goes up by at least double. Hosting the software yourself has costs too, including the cost of providing technical assistance 24/7 to students having trouble logging on or navigating the system.

The IQity Learning Management Suite is free to schools and school districts. Schools pay only for standards-aligned content they choose to use, much as they pay for textbooks in a bricks-and-mortar classroom. IQity hosts the system, so all users need to do is log on.

Feature Rich System Offers More

Another consideration is what features are included. IQity calls its product a Learning Management Suite to emphasize the fact that it comes with more than just an LMS. Typically, a Learning Management System allows educators to enroll students in classes, make assignments, track participation, and post grades. IQity's LMS supports all these functions, and the comprehensive platform also includes several additional 21st century learning tools. For example, IQity 's LMS is bundled with a webcasting tool that allows the teacher to address the class in real time. The LiveBoard enables the teacher to illustrate points just as she would on a classroom whiteboard. Students can also use the LiveBoard to respond to questions and to do group projects.

Reactor is IQity's new Learning Object Repository. It contains standards-aligned content teachers can easily import for use in their classrooms. Teachers can also add lessons, videos, tests, and other material to Reactor. Once it has been evaluated by educational experts for alignment, it will be available for others to use. In this way, Reactor continually grows and offers innovative content.

Ease of Use Saves Time

Anyone who has struggled with a difficult computer program knows that it's frustrating and time-consuming to learn a new system. Educators need to choose an LMS that is easy for teachers and students to use. Otherwise, valuable class time will be lost and the success of the school's online classes will be in jeopardy.
Fortunately, IQity's Learning Management Suite easy to use. Teachers and students who know how to send an email from their home computers will find the IQity messaging system very familiar. Teachers who can search the Internet will find it simple to search Reactor for class content. Moving content into their classroom is a matter of a few clicks of the mouse. Students can use their Classroom Tab to keep track of multiple assignments and deadlines.

The IQity Learning Management Suite is a comprehensive educational solution that includes a Learning Management System and much more in a cost-effective, easy to use package. To see how your school can benefit from IQity, schedule an online demonstration led by one of our elearning experts.