In South Carolina, Fort Mill School District, which serves over 18,000 students, struggled with the same challenges many districts face as they lean into digital learning:
With ClassLink, the district transformed its approach to digital learning and resource management. Using ClassLink’s comprehensive Analytics Suite and Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions, Fort Mill School District redefined its acquisition process for new apps, simplified access for educators and students, and provided their administrative and finance teams with a clear way to track and analyze app usage.
Tech teams weren’t the only ones impacted by the district’s lack of a single way to access all needed resources. Riverview Elementary K–5 Technology Teacher Heather Morris noted that “it was a hassle to use apps and sites because things took a lot longer to get into.” “If you set a timer and had your kids log in, it could take up to 10 minutes," Coordinator of Technology Integration and eLearning Rachel Holloway added. That’s 10 minutes of interrupted instruction time that many teachers found hard to recover from, especially during busy times of the year when every second of learning counts.
The district’s financial services team also struggled with similar challenges. Without a way to easily capture an overview of logins and app usage, vital information needed to make important purchasing decisions was missing. “We were blindly buying a resource and then hoping it was being utilized,” said Director of Technology Integration Kiersten Hart.
As for Fort Mill’s tech teams? With no central place to host, manage, and distribute applications, they faced the same challenge as its financial services team: there was no insight into how apps were being accessed and no way to ensure they were being accessed.
“ClassLink makes everything flow so much better. Not only does it help our teachers, but it also helps district staff and school administration—it’s given us a huge advantage,” said Kiersten Hart. And Hart isn’t the only one that feels that way, “Our teachers absolutely love learning with ClassLink, and the different departments we have partnered with love ClassLink, too.” said Rachel Holloway. Add helping teachers preserve instructional time to the mix and, “ClassLink is the perfect solution.”
Fort Mill's positive results from ClassLink don’t stop at improved access and streamlined rostering, either. The district’s implementation of Analytics has impacted more than decision-makers Holloway shared, “it’s sparked some healthy competition! Our schools like to know when they are the most active school in ClassLink and we highlight the schools with the highest usage.” The reporting capabilities of Analytics as well as the unintended boost to logins and app usage have also provided Fort Mill with a way to “focus on the digital equity throughout the district,” proving again that ClassLink is key to successful digital learning for all students.
Our teachers absolutely love learning with ClassLink, and the different departments we have partnered with love ClassLink, too.
