Ed Tech in Rural Schools

Idaho IMS Consortium Looks to Support Personalized Learning in Public Schools

• By Richard Chang
• 10/04/16

Silverback Learning Solutions has partnered with the Idaho Association of School Administrators to launch the Idaho IMS Consortium, a collaborative approach to supporting public education in Idaho.

A number of other organizations have joined forces in the consortium, including Boise State University’s Leads Learning Network, AdvancED Idaho, Idaho Digital Learning Academy and Gooru, to offer a comprehensive and multifaceted education solution.

The launch of the Idaho IMS Consortium sets the stage for a personalized learning collaborative with the ability to reach more than 150,000 students, Silverback said in a statement.

“In Idaho, there are many rural school districts — more rural than urban or suburban,” said Alexandra Sundali, spokeswoman for Silverback Learning Solutions, in an interview. “Access to the same quality products is often an issue. [The consortium] really gives teachers in urban, suburban and rural schools the same access to quality products and services, which is very important.”

The Idaho IMS Consortium should not be confused with the IMS Global Learning Consortium, which promotes interoperability standards in education.

Gaylen Smyer, superintendent for Cassia County School District, said in a prepared statement: “The consortium provides personnel in this district with greater access to products and support. Similarly, the consortium creates an inter-district network where education practitioners share experiences, ideas and solutions that directly impact classroom instruction and ultimately increase student achievement.”

Silverback, based in Boise, ID, produces Mileposts, a cloud-based learning portfolio that helps K–12 educators and administrators create and connect personalized learning plans and interactions with assessments and instructional resources already available in schools.

Silverback also makes Teacher Vitae, an educator and administrator effectiveness platform that supports the professional learning process from coaching to observation to evaluation.

Earlier this year, the Idaho legislature approved spending up to $3 million for school districts and charter schools to implement and operate an instructional management system of their choice. The organizations listed above chose Silverback and to join the Idaho IMS Consortium.

To learn more about Silverback and its programs, visit the company’s website.