FACTS Student Information System vs. Unique Learning System

We base our entire student data on the Student ID that is produced in FACTS. We create user accounts for technology and online textbooks as well as their lunch account, all based on the Student ID. We also can run many different reports using the SID as the data constant and all the other information variables are available as needed to report.

Incentivized

Unique Learning System is well suited for students in self-contained classrooms who need to access grade-level curriculum. I would love to see more life skills incorporated for students who are working on functional skills. It doesn’t translate well to the general education classroom for students who go to inclusive settings.

Incentivized

• Allows full student/family information to be placed in student file.
• Can report from any field of information including custom fields.
• Creates student schedules and Classroom rosters.
• Allows parents insight into grades and discipline as well as lesson plans and daily/weekly classroom topics.

Incentivized

• differentiated reading levels with picture support
• constantly updated articles and materials
• ease of login for students with disabilities
• broad variety of topics
• easily accessible games for students of all cognitive levels

Incentivized

• The new inputting process is a bit complicated.
• Label creation is sometimes hard to get the info you want on the label.
• There is no notification when an email does not go through. You'd have to look it up to know.

Incentivized

• I would like the print options to be easier to use. I wish I could create a file of the pages I want to print instead of downloading the entire PDF across multiple levels and picking and choosing. My students do not all have digital access due to a variety of reasons and print is a better option for many.
• I would like Unique Learning System to offer shared licensing. We have classrooms of 6 students where there may be 1 teacher, 5 paraprofessionals, 1 BCBA, 1 SLP, 1 OT, etc. It is a group effort to prepare learning materials for the students and deliver the instruction. I would prefer the licensing to be by student instead of by teacher, it takes a village.
• I dislike how complicated materials have become with courses, the library, the units, etc. I wish there was a way it could all be organized a little better. I would also love small graphics to be paired with the materials so I don't need to open everything to find what I am looking for. Such as in the Transition Portfolio section.

Incentivized

It's user-friendly, the customer service is great, and we have a significant amount of time invested in training our faculty and staff to use many aspects of FACTS within their areas of responsibility. I really like the variety of reports I can generate which gives important data to our administration and Board.

Incentivized

I’ve been using Unique Learning System for about 12 1/2 years. And I feel like I am very well-versed and all of the different features. I will say it did take me time to get to this comfortability level. However, if you aren’t afraid to explore and learn, then it will be very easy for you to Figure out

Incentivized

The individuals helping have always been great. The response to requests for changes in functionality or reporting less so.

Incentivized

I greatly prefer FACTS to the other grade book systems we have used. I think it is far superior to Blackbaud, Renweb, and Edmodo. It is the simplest and most efficient system that we have used. We are so excited about the vast number of options we have at our fingertips with FACTS.

Incentivized

Unique Learning System is by far easier to utilize. The Vizzle system was fraught with issues for me and the students just used their learning online systems as games and clicked through to the finish with total disregard to what the computer was asking or saying to them. They did not have as much available for level one students and you could not easily assign work or print materials as you can in Unique Learning System.

• It keeps parents happy and therefore creates fewer complaints.
• It creates a solid record of student performance so that any discrepancies or allegations can immediately be resolved (when used with regularity and consistency).
• It allows for qualitative as well as quantitative feedback so that students can receive specific, detailed assessments of their work.

Incentivized

• There has been nearly 100% improvement in data collection for teachers who began implementing Benchmark assessments and Unit Checkpoints. Many teachers don't have the time or capacity to create their own data tracking tools - if it's not provided, it falls through the cracks.
• When content is applicable, Unique Learning System saves on planning time immensely. It is a grab and go resource, but also customizable based on student needs.
• I like how the checkpoints are modeled in a similar fashion to our Florida Alternate Assessment. This helps students practice how to test take throughout the year.

Incentivized