• Front Page
  • Search
    • Digital Education
    • Terry Freedman's Books Bulletin
  • RSS
    • Welcome
    • The "About" Page
    • Testimonials
    • CV/Resumé
    • My Writing
    • Published articles
  • Corrections Policy
Menu

ICT & Computing in Education

Articles on education technology and related topics
  • Front Page
  • Search
  • Newsletters
    • Digital Education
    • Terry Freedman's Books Bulletin
  • RSS
  • Info
    • Welcome
    • The "About" Page
    • Testimonials
    • CV/Resumé
    • My Writing
    • Published articles
  • Corrections Policy
Bett 2020, by Terry Freedman

Bett 2020, by Terry Freedman

Bett2020 Neo Learning Management System

January 29, 2020

Cypher Learning's Neo is a Learning Management System designed for universities and schools. It has all the features you would expect, such as the ability to create competency-based courses, groups, set assignments, have the assignments marked automatically, gamification, badges and the increasingly-popular micro-credentials approach. In addition, you can have parents sent alerts when certain events occur. If you are looking for a learning platform, this seems to me to be as good as it gets. It has a nice visual layout, and drag and drop capability.

However, I think it's important for institutions to consider the following issues.

First, from my research into competency-based education (as part of my MA) it suffers from the unfortunate characteristic that someone can end up ticking all the boxes but still, overall, not be competent. It's a good example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. There's a corollary too, which is that a person might not tick all of the boxes, but still be competent overall — an example of good enough as opposed to faultless.

Secondly, although I think there is a place for automated assessment, and have advocated it for years, it's not enough. It's good for saving teacher time and work, and for getting quick feedback, but you still need more in-depth assessment, looking at students' work, and (dammit!) actually talking to students.

Thirdly, I have to agree with Stephen Downes' comment regarding micro-credentials (admittedly not regarding Cypher Learning, but the general point is well-made I think), that when you read the marketing hype about microcredentials (given by FutureLearn in this case) you'd think you could achieve a PhD in a few months without venturing from your sofa!

Something else I found when working both as an advisor and an independent consultant in schools is that no matter how easy it is to create subject portals (say) -- and in Cypher Learning it is easy to do so -- some subject departments will achieve amazing things and others will do very little. That's not to make a judgement -- there may be all kinds of reasons -- but to state an observable fact.

All of which is to say that there is more to setting up courses and all the associated infrastructure than installing a learning management system, no matter how comprehensive or well-designed it is. It's a statement of the obvious -- for which I make no apology, having seen some well-meant but ultimately useless innovations in schools -- but there needs to be a properly thought-through strategy, linked to the school's vision, with training, a shared understanding of what is expected by staff, who are given the time required to meet them, robust technical support. and full commitment from the senior leadership team. The system itself is a component of a much larger ecosystem.

As I've said, the Neo LMS seems pretty good, so if your school is at the stage where it could derive the most benefit from such a system, you will be pleased to know there is a free trial version. Why not set up a pilot study and try it out?

In Bett Tips, Leading & Managing Computing & ICT, News & views Tags Bett2020, Bett, Cypher Learning, Neo, learning management system, Stephen Downes, innovation, implementation, implementation strategy
← Bett2020 Reader PenArticles update →
Recent book reviews
digital culture shock.jpg
Quick look: Digital Culture Shock: Who Creates Technology and Why This Matters

Chapters look at how technology is used around the world, online communities, and building a culturally just infrastucture, amongst other topics.

Read More →
Artificially Gifted Notes from a Post-Genius World.jpg
Quick look: Artificially Gifted: Notes from a Post-Genius World

The author, Mechelle Gilford, explores how AI may render our usual way of interpreting the concept of “gifted” obsolete.

Read More →
dr bot.jpg
Quick look: Dr. Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us―and How AI Could Save Lives

Dr Bot discusses something I hadn’t really considered…

Read More →
seven lessons 2.jpg
Review: Seven Brief Lessons on Physics: Anniversary Edition

Rovelli draws readers into his world by describing the development of theories that scientists have posited to try and explain our world and the universe beyond.

Read More →
dear data.jpg
Review: Dear Data

The authors spent a year sending each other postcards on a different theme each week, with pictorial representations of the data they had collected.

Read More →
Blueprints.jpg
Review: Blueprints: How mathematics shapes creativity

What place might Blueprints merit on a teacher’s bookshelves?

Read More →
renaturing.jpg
Review: Renaturing: Small Ways to Wild the World

This book could prove useful to schools keen to cultivate their own dedicated ‘back to nature’ area.

Read More →
listen in.jpg
Review: Listen In: How Radio Changed the Home

A couple of generations before the first internet cafés were opened, someone attempted pretty much the same thing by opening a ‘radio café’.

Read More →
level up.jpg
Review: Level Up Your Lesson Plans: Ignite the Joy of Learning with Fun and Educational Materials

This book is awash with ideas.

Read More →
conversations-with-Third-Reich-Contemporaries.jpg
Review: Conversations With Third Reich Contemporaries: : From Luke Holland’s Final Account

This may be useful for the Hiostory department in your school.

Read More →
Dig+Ed+Banner.jpg

Contact us

Privacy

Cookies

Terms and conditions

This website is powered by Squarespace

(c) Terry Freedman All Rights Reserved