Learning Management Systems

Instructure, MasteryConnect Partner on Formative Assessments

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 07/26/16

Instructure and MasteryConnect have partnered in an effort to streamline the use of formative assessments in classrooms that use the Canvas learning management system (LMS).

Slated for release in August, the new integration is designed to "deliver deeper insights into classroom learning by helping educators more easily get the formative assessments they need to identify levels of understanding against any set of standards, including state and Common Core standards," according to a news release. "In addition to single sign-on and automatic data pass back, teachers will be able to launch formative assessments created from any of the million standards within the MasteryConnect platform, directly from the Canvas interface. Students will gain a smoother experience by completing these assessments within Canvas."

Features of MasteryConnect include:

• Professional learning communities;
• Tools for aggregating standards;
• The ability to share standards-aligned resources and assessments; and
• Grading tools for performances, multiple choice, technology-enhanced questions, writing assignments, oral presentations and more.

"Our partnership with MasteryConnect helps K-12 teachers better assess how well their students are progressing," said Mitch Benson, vice president of Canvas product, in a prepared statement. "We're very excited to see how schools and districts use MasteryConnect's real-time assessments, in conjunction with Canvas, to inform teaching and learning."