ISTE 2016 Coverage

Texas Department of Information Resources Awards LMS Contract to itslearning

• By Richard Chang
• 06/23/16

The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) has added itslearning to its statewide approved list of learning management systems. Texas school districts can now purchase the cloud-based teaching and learning platform with the knowledge that it has been successfully reviewed and determined to meet or exceed all of the technical requirements outlined by state purchasing and procurement guidelines.

Designed specifically for the K-12 sector, itslearning is an LMS that enables teachers to effectively engage and personalize learning for today’s digitally wired students anytime, anywhere and on any device, the company said in a statement.

“This partnership is great news for Texas educators looking for a state-authorized purchasing solution that leverages the credibility of the Texas DIR,” said itslearning CEO Arne Bergby in a prepared statement. “Not all learning platforms and providers are created equal, and we have gone the extra mile through this procurement process to demonstrate just that.”

As a student-centered platform, itslearning gives teachers, students and parents access to course materials, assignments, communities for collaboration, professional development tools and student progress reports. The LMS’s accessible dashboards offer teachers a way to quickly and easily share instructional resources, assignments and activities and assessments with students while informing parents via personalized dashboards.

At the same time, students have the power to decide how they learn as the platform enables curriculum managers and teachers the ability to offer students a voice and choice of learning styles that direct toward the best opportunities for success, the company said. The LMS offers recommendations that are tailored specifically to the individual learning styles of each student, regardless of age, ability level, interests or special requirements.

Texas administrators interested in more can go to the DIR/itslearning site.

Established in 1999, itslearning is headquartered in Bergen, Norway, with other offices around the world. The company will be hosting six roundtable discussions on educational practices during ISTE 2016 in Denver, June 26-29. All session will take place in the Colorado Convention Center’s Expo Hall, meeting room No. 8. itslearning will also be at booth No. 1541. Visit the ISTE site or itslearning.net for details.