Learning Management Systems

Pearson, Instructure Integrate LMS and SIS

• By Michael Hart
• 03/10/15

A popular learning management system (LMS) has now been integrated with the most widely used student information system (SIS) in the United States.

Instructure, which created the Canvas LMS, has partnered with Pearson, which provides PowerSchool SIS, to integrate the two systems, eliminating substantial duplicate data entry between the two systems.

According to Pearson, more than 30 percent of school districts in the United States use PowerSchool, including 80 that already use Canvas as well. Starting immediately, those K-12 districts that use both will now be able to enable a "passback" feature that allows teachers to automatically transfer assignments and grade data from Canvas directly into PowerSchool.

The integration will also allow users of Canvas to populate the LMS with information on students already stored in PowerSchool. Once the implementation is completed at a school district, teachers will be able to click a "Post to SIS" button on their Canvas grades page to get the information on to PowerSchool.

"This bi-directional integration with PowerSchool has been the most common feature request from Canvas K-12 customers," said Instructure Vice President for K-12 Mitch Benson. "We're giving educators the flexibility to choose the best tools for teaching, assessing and grading."