Differences Between Alma and Schoology

Alma and Schoology are both widely used platforms in the field of education, but they serve different purposes and offer distinct features for parents. Here is a comparison of the differences between Alma, Garnet Valley's student information system (SIS), and Schoology, Garnet Valley's Learning Management System (LMS), from a parent's perspective:

1. Purpose:

   • Alma: Alma primarily focuses on managing student information and administrative tasks such as attendance, grading, scheduling, and communication. Alma is Garnet Valley's OFFICIAL grade book.

   • Schoology: Schoology is primarily designed to facilitate learning, course management, and collaboration among students, teachers, and parents.

2. User Interface:

   • Alma: The user interface of Alma emphasizes organization and access to student data, with features like grade books, attendance records, and parent communication logs prominently displayed.

   • Schoology: Schoology offers a more interactive and collaborative interface, featuring virtual classrooms, assignment submissions, discussion forums, and content sharing.

3. Communication:

   • Alma: Alma provides communication tools for parents to connect with teachers and school administrators. It may include features such as messaging, notifications, and access to school-wide announcements.

   • Schoology: Schoology offers various communication channels, enabling parents to interact with teachers and receive updates on their child's progress within the learning environment.

4. Grade and Assignment Management:

   • Alma: Alma offers comprehensive grade management features, including grade books, report cards, and progress tracking. Parents can access their child's grades, assignments, and performance statistics. Alma is Garnet Valley's OFFICIAL grade book.

   • Schoology: Schoology also provides grade tracking functionalities, allowing parents to view their child's grades, assignment submissions, feedback from teachers, and upcoming assignments within the learning management system.

5. Course Content and Resources:

   • Alma: While Alma may provide limited access to certain course materials, its primary focus is on administrative tasks rather than content delivery. Teachers may upload certain resources or links for parents and students to access.

   • Schoology: Schoology offers extensive course content management capabilities. Parents can access and download course materials, readings, multimedia resources, and supplementary materials shared by teachers to support their child's learning.

6. Online Assessments and Quizzes:

   • Alma: Alma may have limited or no built-in assessment capabilities. Assessments such as quizzes and exams are often conducted offline or through other platforms, with grades and results being recorded in Alma.

   • Schoology: Schoology includes built-in assessment tools that allow teachers to create and administer online quizzes, tests, and assessments. Parents can view their child's assessment scores and feedback directly within Schoology.