So, as someone who is very passionate about optimizing workflows and removing friction to allow people to do what they’re passionate about as smoothly as possible, I spent some time brainstorming various uses for WordPress in the education, ranging from direct use by students in a classroom, to school-wide and even district-wide usage.

Core

Core functionality for classroom/student management

• Scope: School/District
• User: Admin/Teacher

Features

• Student info
• BasicName, Parent contact information, etc.
• Schoolwide
• Grade/Teacher (Updates student history over the years)
• Attendance

Benefits

• Track student history (classroom, teacher, etc.) throughout years in system
• Centralized location for essential student information (emergency contacts, etc.)

Gradebook

Track assignments/grades on per-student basis

• Scope: Classroom
• User: Teacher

Features

• Create assignments
• Set grade levels (A, B, C, D, F, etc.)
• Set student grade for an assignment
• Bulk management: Add assignments/grades for multiple students at once
• Automated reports

Benefits

• Efficient grade entry
• Streamline reporting/aggregation of grades
• Easily track assignment status of a student

Library

Manage classroom book collection

• Scope: Classroom
• User: Student/Teacher

Features

• Manage collection of books in classroom
• Add/Delete books
• Set status of books (borrowed, on shelf, etc.)
• Allow students to borrow books from library
• Manage borrowing period (3 days, 1 week, etc.)
• Manage/track overdue books
• Allow students to comment/rate books
• Browse collection of books
• Search
• Filter by taxonomies (category, tag, author, etc.)

Benefits

• Enables students to track their own borrowing and returning of books
• Creates discussion of books based on student comments and ratings
• Facilitates tracking of library inventory

Homework Manager

Allow students to view/review assignments in class and at home

• Scope: Classroom
• User: Student/Teacher

Features

• Teacher
• Assign homework assignments to students
• Description
• Instructions
• Due date
• Student
• View list of assignments via web browser at home
• Check off completed assignments like a checklist
• Review notes from teacher (instructions, etc.)

Benefits

• Removes inconsistencies student writing down daily homework assignments
• Enables parents to take part in homework completion (they can see what was assigned and what has been completed by their child)

Student Notes

Documentation tool for notes about students

• Scope: Classroom
• User: Teacher

Features

• Document notes in regards to a student (good/bad behavior, subjects to work on, etc.)
• Document action taken by teacher in regards to a student (praise, warnings, etc.)
• Document communication with parents

Benefits

• Easily track notes on per-student basis
• Quickly provide documentation to administration, parents, etc. when needed

Jobs

Manage classroom jobs

• Scope: Classroom
• User: Student/Teacher

Features

• Students are assigned jobs/roles in classroom
• Different jobs have different tasks/responsibilities
• Awards (virtual) for completing responsibilities
• Points
• Badges
• For consecutive completion of responsibilities (1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 1 quarter, etc.)

Benefits

• Encourage/motivate students to consistently complete tasks/responsibilities
• Empowers students to self-manage (review and work on tasks)
• Creates game-like atmosphere to engage student involvement

The post WordPress in the Classroom: Brainstorming appeared first on Archetyped.