Motivis Learning, Teton Science Schools Connect Classrooms to Communities
Learning relationship management technology enables place-based learning in communities across the country.
Salem, New Hampshire, November 23, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Motivis Learning, an educational technology company developing next-generation learning technology, today announced a partnership with Teton Science Schools in Wyoming, a leading innovator in K-12 education, to help them achieve their mission of connecting people, nature and place through education, science and stewardship.
Community-Based Education
I really like this idea of building for a competency-based system from the ground up, not modifying a traditional system to be competency-based.
Nate McClennen, Vice President of Education and Innovation, Teton Science Schools
Teton Science Schools will be using the Motivis learning relationship management (LRM) platform to enable its brand new initiative: a program for students in grades 3-8 that blends an online learning experience with a place-based approach. In Teton Science School’s competency-based program, students are taught to inquire into their communities through ecological, social, and economic lenses. Students then design solutions around the challenges they’ve discovered in their communities.
“If you teach people how to understand communities and you teach them a very specific way to solve challenges that they find in those communities, then no matter where they go in the world, they’ll be able to make an impact and thus, help the world become a better place,” explains Nate McClennan, Vice President of Education and Innovation at Teton Science Schools.
Reaching Students Beyond the Walls of Wyoming
The Motivis learning relationship management platform will enable Teton Science Schools to bring its program from regional campuses to a global offering while still providing its students a personalized approach to learning.
“Our partnership with Motivis is a way for us to reach a huge number of students who can’t come to our K-12 schools or our week-long education programs,” McClennen continues. “We want to reach far more students and teach far more students how to get out in their communities and complete a curriculum with not only the core information that they need, but also how to really understand how communities and places function. The Motivis technology, a competency-based online delivery system, is a great way to make that happen.”
Beyond the Iron Walls of the Old LMS
McClennen explains that he evaluated several other learning management systems, but he chose Motivis for three main reasons.
He was excited about the benefits of an integrated platform built on a Salesforce foundation: “We, as an institution, are looking for a holistic database, data management, customer management solution, and Salesforce is at the top of our list. So if I can get our online initiatives build on top of Salesforce, that’s a very attractive feature. None of the other technology companies could do this.”
McClennen was also attracted to the agility and flexibility of Motivis technology to grow with his needs. He explains, “Our current system has iron walls around it. It’s extraordinarily hard to make any changes in the system, and it’s overly complicated...everybody is yearning for simplicity and flexibility.”
Finally, McClennen wanted a platform specifically designed to support his competency-based program. “I really like this idea of building for a competency-based system from the ground up, not modifying a traditional system to be competency-based. In the short time I’ve explored Motivis, I’ve been able to see it’s much different than the structure of the learning management system we’re using now. It’s designed with the learner in mind, so it feels simple and very learner-focused.”
“Our whole team here at Motivis has been beyond excited about our partnership with Teton Science Schools,” explains Brian Peddle, Motivis CEO. “We’re very impressed with the way they’re engaging students across geographies by connecting them to their own communities. Place-based learning has a lot of potential and we are thankful to be a part of it’s evolution.”
About Motivis Learning
Born out of the Innovation Lab at Southern New Hampshire University, Motivis Learning is disrupting typical educational technology—and traditional models of education. As a pioneer in Learning Relationship Management, we build the technology that lets you build dynamic relationships with your students. Dynamic relationships lead to positive outcomes—our ultimate mission. To achieve this mission, we’ve developed a fully-integrated suite of learning tools (built on Salesforce) that provide the complete, yet elusive, 360-degree view-of-student through an easy, familiar interface. Think fully integrated LMS, SIS, community engagement...everything you need to surprise, delight and engage students at every point of interaction, from prospect to alumnus. The result? Happier, more successful students. Happier, more successful educators. Happier, more successful everyone.
About Teton Science Schools
Teton Science Schools were founded in 1967. Since that time the schools have been educating, training and inspiring students of all ages, achieving the mission of connecting people, nature and place through education, science and stewardship. The schools enjoy a reputation as an innovative education center, and the programs serve as models worldwide. Teton Science Schools’ Kelly Campus in Grand Teton National Park serves as home for the Graduate Program and a selection of residential education programs for youth, while the nearly 900-acre Jackson Campus is home to the Pre-K through 12th grade Journeys School, the Teacher Learning Center, and an array of education programs for school groups, families and adults. Teton Science Schools’ Wildlife Expeditions offers responsible year-round wildlife observation and natural history explorations throughout Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Located in Eastern Idaho, Teton Valley Community School serves students Pre-K through 6th grade. The Murie Center is now a program of Teton Science Schools and is located on the historic Murie Ranch in Moose, Wyoming. http://www.tetonscience.org/
