Approximately 63% of K–12 students in the U.S. use online learning tools daily, demonstrating the growing role of online platforms in education. In this digital landscape, software options like Schoology and Seesaw play key roles in shaping student learning. 

Schoology offers a comprehensive learning management system (LMS) with advanced features like course creation, artificial intelligence (AI), and powerful analytics, making it suitable for K–12, higher education, and corporate training. Seesaw, on the other hand, emphasizes student portfolios and multimodal learning tools, providing a personalized and user-friendly experience for younger learners. 

However, there's much more to each platform than it first appears. This Schoology vs Seesaw guide will help you understand their strengths and assist in selecting the right tool for your teaching needs. 

Schoology Vs Seesaw: At A Glance

Feature 

Schoology 

Seesaw 

Content Creation And Customization 

Uses AI (PowerBuddy) for customizable content creation 

Offers standards-aligned lessons and multimodal tools for PreK–6 

Student Assessments 

Integrates with ‘Performance Matters’ for diverse assessments and insights 

Portfolio-based assessments with multimodal features like audio and video 

Reporting And Analytics 

Combines data from multiple sources for detailed insights 

Provides formative reports and progress dashboards 

Digital Student Portfolios 

Centralized space to showcase assignments and online content 

Multimodal portfolios that track student growth over time 

Mobile Application 

Available on iOS and Android, with essential tools for managing classes and assignments 

Available on iOS and Android, allowing real-time communication and updates 

What Is Schoology?

Developed by PowerSchool, Schoology LMS is a cloud-based platform designed to support K–12 schools in delivering engaging, personalized education. Key features include assignments, assessments, gradebooks, discussion boards, and seamless integration with student information systems (SIS) and third-party apps.

Teachers can use Schoology to create, manage, and share academic content while facilitating communication and collaboration among students, educators, and parents. The platform is widely used for blended and remote learning environments and emphasizes accessibility, equity, and curriculum customization. 

Unique Features Of Schoology 

  • Generative AI For Content Creation: PowerBuddy helps educators create customized instructional content using AI, supporting different reading levels, lengths, and languages
  • AI Student Assistant: Assists students with learning and research through guided conversation modes, language support, and accessibility tools
  • Credit Tracking: Educators can track student credit progress and identify academic gaps with visual dashboards and real-time data insights

Pros And Cons Of Schoology

Pros

  • Attaches Google Docs to assignments, automatically renaming and saving a copy to each student’s Drive for version control 
  • Teachers can set rules that control student progression through activities, promoting self-paced learning while maintaining course structure 
  • Users can enrich course content by embedding videos, images, hyperlinks, and interactive elements directly into pages, folders, and announcements 
  • The platform offers multiple quiz and test question types with automated grading, saving teachers time on assessments 

Cons 

  • Only admins can delete or unassign courses, limiting flexibility for teachers managing their content 
  • Auto-graded questions may mark correct responses wrong due to minor formatting issues, adding to teacher workload 

What Is Seesaw?

Seesaw LMS is a digital learning platform designed for students from PreK through 6th grade. It offers tools that support differentiated instruction, family engagement, and curriculum delivery. The platform also features multimodal tools, digital portfolios, assessments, and a rich lessons library to improve learning initiatives.

With AI-enhanced instruction, accessibility options, and seamless integrations, Seesaw supports core subjects, early literacy, and English language development. Educators also benefit from ongoing professional development through the Learning Hub, webinars, and live events, making it a complete classroom companion. 

Unique Feature Of Seesaw

  • Intuitive Multimodal Tools: Students can create and submit work using drawings, voice, video, text, and photos, supporting engagement, creativity, and accessibility in one simple interface
  • The Learning Loop: Built-in messaging allows real-time, two-way communication, progress sharing, and announcements within the same platform used for learning
  • Seesaw Early Literacy: Offers 600+ K2 lessons in English and Spanish focused on phonics, fluency, and foundational reading skills, available with premium subscriptions

Pros And Cons Of Seesaw 

Pros 

  • Parents get real-time updates on their child’s work and classroom activities, enhancing communication and engagement 
  • Teachers can assign auto-graded assessments, thus saving time and providing quick feedback to students 
  • Seesaw offers a wide range of teacher-created activities, and the flexibility to create personalized assignments for individual student needs 

Cons 

  • Admins have limited functionality on the mobile app and may face challenges with navigation and customization
  • Important information like assignments, messages, and updates can be spread across different tabs, leading to potential confusion 

Schoology Vs Seesaw: Side-By-Side Feature Comparison

Content Creation And Customization

Schoology's generative AI, PowerBuddy, simplifies content creation by allowing educators to generate lesson ideas, assignments, and materials through natural language prompts. Teachers can fine-tune the output by adjusting parameters like length, language, and reading level. Built on PowerSchool's responsible AI framework, it encourages inclusive, equitable learning experiences for all students.

Seesaw provides a collection of standards-aligned lessons for PreK–6, covering subjects like language development, science, and computer science. Activities use multimodal tools and are updated quarterly to support varied teaching approaches. The platform also integrates with systems like Canvas and Schoology and supports Single Sign-on (SSO) through Google, Microsoft, and Okta.

Winner: In terms of content creation and customization, Schoology takes the lead with its advanced generative AI, offering more flexibility and customization for educators. Seesaw, in contrast, excels in delivering ready-to-use, standards-aligned activities for younger learners.

Student Assessments

Schoology Learning integrates with Performance Matters, part of the personalized learning cloud of PowerSchool. This integration supports a wide range of student assessments within course materials. Educators can generate custom questions using AI or use pre-made items from the PowerSchool Starter Item Bank. Assessment results can be viewed alongside student behavior data, helping inform instruction through a more complete student profile.

Seesaw supports student assessment through portfolio-based tools that capture learning progress over time. Students can demonstrate understanding using multimodal features like audio and screen recording, while auto-graded questions help teachers quickly check comprehension. The platform also offers a range of question formats and instant feedback options to guide both teaching and independent practice.

Winner: Schoology stands out with its comprehensive integration of ‘Performance Matters’ and AI-generated question options, providing detailed insights into student performance. Seesaw follows closely with its portfolio-based assessments and multimodal features.

Reporting And Analytics

Schoology supports advanced reporting by allowing educators to bring together assessment data from multiple sources, including national, state, and local tests. This data can be combined with early warning indicators like attendance, behavior, and grades to generate meaningful insights. Teachers can use these reports to identify trends, monitor student progress, and inform instruction at individual or group levels.

Seesaw provides learning insights that support data-driven instruction by offering tools to track student progress toward standards. Formative assessment reports categorize student responses into correct, incorrect, or no response, helping educators quickly assess classroom understanding. The progress dashboard consolidates assessment scores, activity completion, and proficiency ratings in one view. Teachers can also click on individual student responses to uncover misconceptions.

Winner: It’s a draw when it comes to the reporting capabilities of both platforms. Schoology, with its advanced reporting and a comprehensive view of student data, is ideal for in-depth analysis. Seesaw, however, offers formative assessment reports to track progress clearly and effectively.

Digital Student Portfolios

Schoology's digital portfolios allow students to collect and showcase their work in a centralized space. These portfolios can include a variety of content, such as assignments, online links, and web pages. They provide a way to organize and reflect on student achievements over time.

Seesaw's digital portfolios allow students to capture and showcase their learning, whether its from Seesaw activities or work done outside the platform. These portfolios follow students throughout their educational journey, helping track growth and celebrate development over time.

Additionally, teachers and families can easily view and reflect on student progress through photos, videos, audio recordings, and other learning artifacts.

Winner: Seesaw beats Schoology with its dynamic, multimodal approach to digital portfolios, capturing a wide range of learning achievements. This personalized, ongoing tracking of student progress makes it a standout choice for educators aiming to celebrate development over time.

Mobile Application

Schoology's mobile app offers a streamlined version of the web platform, making it easier for users to communicate and track work progress on the go. While it lacks some of the web version's advanced features, it provides essential tools for managing classes and assignments. It enhances accessibility and convenience for students and educators.

Seesaw's mobile app allows students and families to communicate with teachers and receive real-time updates, including photos and videos, throughout the school day. It helps keep everyone connected and informed about student progress and activities. This enhances engagement and fosters a supportive learning environment.

Winner: Seesaw emerges as the winner with its mobile app, which fosters real-time communication and updates on student progress on the go. Comparatively, the Schoology mobile app provides a simplified version of the web platform.

Schoology Or Seesaw: Which LMS Is Worth Trying?

Both Schoology and Seesaw offer distinct advantages, depending on the learning context. Schoology is ideal for institutions and organizations that require advanced features like course creation, grading, detailed analytics, and AI-powered tools. Its scalability, SCORM support, and deep integration with other systems make it perfect for K–12, higher education, and corporate training environments. 

In contrast, Seesaw is designed with younger learners in mind, offering a more user-friendly, portfolio-based approach to learning. It empowers students to showcase their creativity through multimodal tools like videos, photos, and audio recordings, providing teachers with personalized insights into student progress. This makes it ideal for early education settings and classrooms, fostering student engagement and reflection more visually and interactively. 

Ultimately, the right choice depends on your students' age, your teaching objectives, and the complexity of the tools you need. If you're focused on managing large-scale courses and data, Schoology is the way to go to get the best benefits of the LMS. For fostering creativity and tracking student progress in early education, Seesaw stands out as the best fit.