Comenius could save teachers five hours a week

Icelandic software startup Comenius is developing a data layer and learning management system intended to help schools share information and reduce teachers’ administrative work, mbl.is reports. The company says its system could save teachers five hours a week.

Computer scientist Valgeir Haukdal Ágústsson came up with the idea after attending a parents’ meeting at a school in Reykjavik’s Vesturbær district. A discussion about colour codes in student assessments led him to question the school’s information systems. He later founded Comenius with Magnús Gunnarsson.

Neither founder comes from the education sector, Valgeir said, but both have children in school. After the meeting, they spoke with teachers, office staff, school administrators and others in the education system. Those conversations revealed widespread problems with school technology, particularly learning management systems.

Valgeir said school systems often do not communicate with one another. Staff must transfer information manually, taking time away from other work. Comenius is developing a system that other school software can connect to, with the aim of improving information flow between schools and families and giving teachers more time for teaching.

He pointed to digital homework as an example. Students may complete assignments in Google Classroom, where teachers review their work and provide feedback. But final grades then have to be entered manually into a separate learning management system. In that process, details such as the grading scale, mistakes and feedback can be lost, and parents may not be able to see them.

Valgeir said Comenius has interviewed 20 to 30 school employees and heard similar accounts. He added that standardised solutions could also help schools meet privacy requirements.

Comenius took part this year in Startup SuperNova, a startup competition run by KLAK Icelandic Startups. The founders first met at the software company Menn og mús.