Cognite 3.5 Moves to Android, Integrates Plagiarism Detection
Cognite's student planner lets students view and manage assignments. |
Follett Software has released Cognite 3.5, an update to the company's learning management system, expanding support for state and national standards and adding integration with Turnitin. The release also extends the system onto the Android mobile platform.
Launched in 2010 as a tool for K-12 for bridging library resources, classroom instruction, and homework, Cognite is a collaborative learning environment that allows teachers to communicate with each other and with students and organize internal and external digital resources. With Destiny Library Manager integration, it allows users to access library resources, including books and databases, as well as external resources that have been pre-filtered for use in K-12. Parents can also access Cognite to view students' planners, assignments, and grades and to communicate with teachers.
Other features include:
- Access to Destiny Library Manager from any location to view resources previously available only within the library;
- Links to thousands external Web sites where students can access information (sites pre-screened by Follett);
- Tools for lesson plan development, grading, and assignment creation;
- Tools for aligning lessons to learning objectives; and
- An integrated messaging tool.
New in version 3.5 is expanded support for standards, including standards for all 50 states, Common Core State Standards, and standards published by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Version 3.5 also includes tools for correlating content to standards and enhancements for finding standards-aligned content.
On the mobile front, Follett said the new version has added support for the Android operating system (although as of this writing, the software did not appear in the Android Market). The mobile editions of the software, which is also available for iOS devices, allows users to check on assignments and read messages.
Finally, Cognite 3.5 has also added integration with iParadigms' Turnitin, a service designed for evaluating written work. It includes OriginalityCheck, a plagiarism detection and citation tool; GradeMark, which is designed to simplify paperless grading; and PeerMark, a solution for anonymous, collaborative, paperless peer review. The integration between the two systems allows students and teachers to create assignments in either Turnitin or Cognite, making it "easier for the students to submit their work and for teachers to access it," Follett claimed.
Cognite 3.5 is available now. Current users can upgrade at no charge. Further details can be found here.