Case Study: PlaygroundLearning by Project Recess (https://projectrecess.org/)
Introduction
Project Recess is committed to enhancing educational experiences through technology, providing professional development services for K-12 schools in NYC. PlaygroundLearning, the latest initiative under Project Recess, was developed to streamline the professional development and training process for teachers and to facilitate student engagement in digital courses.
Objective
The primary goal of PlaygroundLearning was to create a platform that enables schools to enroll students and teachers, allowing them to access and complete pre-built courses. This platform not only aids teachers in earning Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) hours but also equips school administrations with robust monitoring tools through an informative dashboard and reporting system.
Challenges
PlaygroundLearning faced several significant challenges:
Progress Tracking: The platform needed to accurately track individual progress for both students and teachers, monitoring metrics such as video consumption and course completion rates.
Integration with NYC DOE SSO: Integration with the NYC DOE Single Sign-On (SSO) was crucial for seamless access, as the platform is listed on the NYC School Hub.
Security Compliance: The platform required rigorous security audits to ensure it met
stringent standards before it could be launched.
Solutions
To overcome these challenges, the following solutions were implemented:
Advanced Tracking: A video player with advanced tracking capabilities was integrated to monitor user engagement and progress. This allowed for detailed reporting on course completion.
SSO Implementation: OAuth technology was utilized to implement the NYC DOE SSO, ensuring secure and straightforward access for all users.
Security Enhancements: The website underwent comprehensive security hardening measures to pass all required security audits successfully.
Results
The launch of PlaygroundLearning was met with considerable success. Prelaunch marketing efforts led to substantial initial traffic, which continued to grow as more schools joined. This early adoption underscored the platform’s value and effectiveness in meeting the needs of educators and students alike.
Learnings
The development of PlaygroundLearning provided valuable insights into:
Tracking and Reporting: The team learned advanced techniques in user activity tracking and data reporting.
Web Security: Significant knowledge was gained in web security best practices and audit compliance.
Educational System Processes: The project deepened understanding of the operational and procedural frameworks within the NYC educational system.
Visuals and Quotes: Provisions for future inclusion of visuals and quotes from users and stakeholders will enhance this case study.
Explore More
Visit PlaygroundLearning to discover more about the platform and its features. https://www.playgroundlearning.org/