The new school year arrived with new teachers, activities, ideas and technology. This year, the technology side of things took another leap as they combined their two major platforms for connecting with students. The tech team combined Schoology and Powerschool, creating a new grade book with integration for teachers to assign and grade students, while working alongside them to help with organization. With the tech changes occurring at FCS our school will be brought together online.

PowerSchool, our long time grade book, has now been integrated with the relatively new all in one system called Schoology.  Schoology, an internet based grade book, calendar, and student interface, will allow student discussions while still being monitored by teachers, all from the privacy of ones home. Teachers can also assign tests that are instantly graded by Schoology, which will then be automatically recorded into powerschool.

Kyle Dodson, a second year English and first year drama teacher, has used Schoology in the past at FCS and remarked about the changes in technology.

“With Powerschool being able to communicate to Schoology, and Schoology being able to talk to Powerschool, the grading process is a lot more streamlined,” Dodson said. “Because of that fluidity, the appeal to use Schoology in the classroom will be a lot more positive.”

Nevan Gonzalez, ’17 a junior believes that the new change wont affect him, despite its gravity.

“It won’t affect me because I have used Schoology before,” Gonzales said. “Either united or separate, the way I use these two websites will still be the same. We can still use the separate platforms still, and that is probably how I will use this new system.”

Celeste Counts, a sophomore on the FC leadership team expressed interest in the new integration.

“I think that the integration will help me remember all of my assignments as they are now in one place,” Counts said. “Also remembering what I had due the next day is to me the best part of schoology. With this change, I can hopefully forget less assignments and pull fewer late nights.”

Even new freshmen such as Kyle Friesen showed enthusiasm regarding the changes.

“The Schoology integration with Powerschool will make it easier to see your assignments and grades,” Friesen said. “I like the integration of it, it makes everything more streamlined, and hopefully will make things easier overall.”

Upperclassmen Michael Gibson, expressed interest in the idea of a centralizing grading and assignment location.

“I think it will be a little baffling because we all used Schoology last year in a different way,” Gibson said. “However integrating it with Powerschool will be a little bit more confusing. But in the end, it will make things easier and quicker to use.”

Schoology has connected teachers and students in a new way at FC. Now, with this new integration it can hopefully improve class communication and the learning experience for students.