Otus is a ground-breaking operating system designed especially for kindergarten through twelfth grade classes, schools, and districts. Otus was created by two social studies educators from the Chicago district who set out to make educational innovations easier to use. They hope to achieve this by assembling learner interests, engagements, performance, and growth in a top-to-bottom, holistic approach.

Website: http://www.otus.com/

What Users Love About the App

“Otus is free and has multiple uses. It comes with multiple uses. It has over 8 major linkages for example Split screen, class page, bookshelf Browser, Poll, Assessment Center Blog and EdPen. I was given an open and was fascinated by it.”

“It helps parents be able to see much more of how their child is doing. Map testing scores are included in each student’s profiles. I like how I can email straight from Otus.”

“The LMS is well designed and has a number of features that I am looking for – connection to google drive, connection to apps such as Zaption, a stable grading program, a viable analytics function, a clear grouping function.”

“I loved the connection to Google drive and the browser. All the interface tools were easy to use and identify, which would be perfect for students and teachers alike. I love that it’s free most of all!”

“I think it does a great job organizing students’ work and given assignments. I think students will be able to do better than what they do using paper because they are using something phone and engaging.”

What Users Dislike About the App

“Would be better if the entry of info could be done less labor-intensively. Needs more development to get to maximum potential.”

“I would like this LMS to be connected to AERIES so that I could truly sell it to the district. This is really the only negative that I see/”

“Make it accessible on pcs. Not all schools have tablets for all students. Have a tutorial for students to know how to use it. Give an option to add rewards for behavior.”

“I’d like to see a more playful cartoon-looking interface- more BrainPOP, class dojo looking. Get some clear colors, logos, and graphics. Have a different interface for elementary, middle, and high school targeting images and interface that is appealing to those age groups.”

“I would like the ability to integrate with a student information system. I also would like to see the ability to draw on the screen through the app, i.e. with polling.”