Silverback Mileposts

SUMMARY

Teachers, students and parents can use Mileposts in any K-12 classroom.  Mileposts collects data from a variety of sources on individual students; Teachers then use this data to inform students' assignments  across a variety of subjects. A dashboard function allows teachers and administrators to compare students’ progress over time, as well as to each other and to state or national test scores. Mileposts is available for purchase by a district administrator.

GOALS

Mileposts is a tool that can be used by teachers and parents for a variety of purposes in any classroom, K-12. The product is designed with the goal of using student data to facilitate individualized learning both in and out of the classroom.

APPROACH

At its core, Mileposts is based on student data collected from a variety of sources. Data from formative, benchmark and state summative assessments can all be imported into, and displayed on, Mileposts. Mileposts interacts with a school's student information system to capture and transfer data appropriately. A dashboard function presents data for teachers to compare individual students or whole classrooms. Students’ data can also be compared to various state or district assessments. 

Teachers then use this collection of data to differentiate assignments for each student in the classroom.
Free assignments come from Gooru’s open education resources and therefore can be from any school subject; teachers can also use and assign any other content they have have already purchased. Once students complete the work, teachers can use Mileposts to track an individual’s progress and assign additional lessons in problem areas.

Simultaneously, parents can use Mileposts’ Parents Portal to track their student’s progress, and to find additional resources for their children to practice. Parents and teachers can collaborate through the Parent Portal, assigning tasks and responsibilities for each with regards to the student.

Connections with the student information system and Gooru resources are all accomplished through single sign on, facilitating all stakeholders' interactions with the tool.

If desired, Mileposts can also be used to facilitate teachers’ performance evaluations.

IMPLEMENTATION

Mileposts is a browser-based tool that can be accessed on any computer, tablet, or mobile device. Teachers, students, and parents all need an internet connection to use the tool.

Silverback Learning Solutions (the parent company of the Mileposts tool) provides a variety of support services for implementing Mileposts. These include the customization of Mileposts to the interventions & assessments used in the school, importing of past assessment data, and training for teachers in using the tool.

PRICING

Mileposts is available for purchase at $12/student/year. The decision to purchase Mileposts is usually made by a district administrator, who buys the tool for the full district.

WHO IS USING IT

As of October 2014, more than 180,000 students and 11,000 teachers in over 100 schools used Mileposts.