Research in this area is very difficult to do given that there are many
factors that apply to how different configurations are supporting student
learning outcomes. What we do have are some helpful statistics on
standardized testing provided by the National Center for Education
Statistics which show across-the-board better scores in reading, math and
science for combined MS/HS. There is also the benefit of middle-school
students being exposed to college and career goals sooner, teachers who are
content experts, and the fact that fewer transitions are better for
children overall.

MCP supports the contention that younger students can benefit from the
relationships with older students who care for them and offer social
guidance and academic support. Older students are given the chance to enjoy
a “big brother/big sister” relationship with the younger ones. The only
major area of concern expressed by parents for schools with 7 – 12 grades
is the exposure to older students who may bully them. Since MCP’s unique
environment has no tolerance for bullying, and our students act more as a
family unit than a larger school would, this makes it a non-issue for our
students. The statistics, philosophical reasoning and empirical evidence
lead us to the belief that the MCP model of grade configuration is the best
one for our students. If you would like to read more about this topic, here
is a link to a recent article re-posted by the ASCD (Organization for
Education Professionals):  link to article.

Ask your student (or come see the software in action at an open house if you’re interested in MCP) about how they submit most of their schoolwork. Ask them how easy it is to always be able to see teacher’s feedback to them. Ask them how they have class discussions whenever they feel like it. Ask them how they listen to textbooks, how they find the document they were given, how they watch the video that adds to a class. It’s all via Schoology.

Quite simply put, Schoology has revolutionized our school. It has changed everything about how we store important data, communicate with students and staff, even how we teach our classes. Ultimately, after the first 2 quarters of use (20 weeks) we have seen what every school really strives for, an improvement in student performance!

In terms of data tracking, Schoology allows us to store assignments, tests, and discussions for our students. While it is helpful to store classroom assignments, which can be done on laptops in the classroom, it is the single most effective tool we have ever used for tracking homework. Students can also take, and re-take tests online, have meaningful e-discussions on class topics all from home or school. Schoology can even store PowerPoint presentations, pictures, and other non-conventional
assignment materials. One of the other great features is that Schoology stores, in a cloud-based system, all student work which becomes an electronic portfolio.

One of the other nice features of Schoology is the communication
capabilities. Schoology keeps students in touch with the school, their
classes, and even their clubs. Announcements, comments, and discussions are
all easily managed through the system which acts as a group message system
in addition to a personal message system. Students can put comments on
assignments to get clarification from a teacher, or even invite help from
their classmates. Parents are also invited to be part of discussions with
staff and the parent teacher organization. Parents can see how their
children are progressing academically at any time, by signing into their
child’s account. They can also see what the assignments are so they can
offer assistance or even have something to talk about at the dinner table!

The most powerful component of Schoology is the way that it allows us to
utilize 21st century tools and techniques that offer our students a modern,
relevant, and interesting curriculum. Schoology has opened the door to so
many interesting ways to utilize the Internet’s exceptional tools. Teachers
can give comprehensive assignments that include video from TedTalk, Khan
Academy, Discovery, The British Museum and more. Students can receive
embedded links to web tools and resources that are stored in the folder for
that class. Currently, discussions are very popular in colleges and
universities as teaching tools, and Schoology can prepare students for this
type of assignment which emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration and
“netiquette” skills. Teachers are able to give electronic feedback to
students which research shows can drastically improve performance.
Additionally, there is a re-submit option which is great for having
students use teacher feedback to edit their work.

Schoology has honestly changed so much for the better at our school.
Tracking, communication, and most important- teaching style have all seen
vast improvements over what was already a cutting-edge program. Schoology
really supports the 4 C’s of 21st century learning: communication, critical
thinking, creativity and collaboration. What has all of this meant? We have
had the most successful academic year ever!