Having gone through a number of Learning Management Systems (LMS), struggling with downtime, dated tools and lack of flexibility, Grace University has finally found a learning platform that is embraced equally by students, faculty and IT staff: “it’s learning has given us the best of both worlds: A flexible set of teaching and communication tools in a stable, accessible environment”, says Director of Online Learning, Nathan Boeker.

Teacher Sian Jones at Lutterworth College is the winner of our Tip of the Month with her suggestion for use of portfolio assessment. "Continuous feedback from the teacher and their interaction with students is the most effective way of stimulating student activity. Jones' approach is a very good example of this", explains it's learning educational specialist, Elisa Bjersand.

Fall 2008, schools in the Norwegian district of Arendal saw a significant rise in the number of logins to it's learning. The reason? According to Glenn Kristiansen, project manager leading the initiative to "develop technology success in schools", it was undoubtedly down to the course "Becoming the framework for using many tools and educational assets" organized by it's learning for teachers and school managers. Enthusiastic participants were quick to follow up the course with specific measures in their respective schools.

Daniel M. Kammen, former Senior Climate advisor to Barack Obama and Professor in the Energy and Resources Group at UC Berkeley worked on an interdisciplinary team of teachers using it's learning to develop the first international online course on climate change.

Having used it’s learning over the past three years Magali Raffin, English teacher in Thouars, France, concludes that the learning platform is a major motivator for her students – independently of their level: “The students work more and better with it’s learning”, she says.

We first saw it’s learning at an educational show in Birmingham. At this time, we were undertaking a mini procurement process and were researching different LMSs.  it’s learning stood out thanks to its simple look and feel. Out of all of the LMSs that we considered, we felt it to have the most un-cluttered and carefully planned interface.

Jorunn Soertveit has taught in junior high for six years and has been using it’s learning since 2003. During this time she has developed her own way of using the learning platform to stimulate students. “Simplicity is more,” is her slogan. Here are a few tips – from one teacher to another.

The social aspect of e-learning is very important, concludes associate professor Anne Karin Larsen at Bergen University College, Norway. She has been working on e-learning studies for a number of years.

Several teachers have been telling us how they use audio in it’s learning. English homework, multiplication tables and homework for pupils with writing difficulties are but a few examples.

At the Norwegian primary school, Liland, a Year 4 class has carried out a project on the Stone Age. Many of the activities took place using it’s learning, and the use of the test tool produced some surprising results.

In our last newsletter we invited you to send us tips on how to use it’s learning. Three teachers from three very different schools have shared their experiences with us, and we have rewarded each of them with a memory stick. We are grateful to them for being the first to share their thoughts with us. Here are their tips – next time we would love to hear from you!