Classwize vs Piazza

Classwize gives teachers a real-time view of students’ online activity and tools to manage it during class. Teachers can spot off-task use, block or unblock websites, close tabs, and pause internet access for a class, group, or individual students. They can choose sites and apps ahead of a lesson, then open resources on all student devices or selected devices. The product supports managed BYOD for Chrome, Windows, and macOS. Schools can sync Google Classroom classes, assigned students, and teachers. Linewize says the Google connection reads only the specific data required and cannot access or change other Google Workspace data. The product sheet describes detailed user reports and collaborative classroom tools. The product page displays SOC 2 Type I, SOC 2 Type II, and 1EdTech TrustEd Apps Certified badges. Training courses and video tutorials are available through Qoria’s Academy. Classwize is presented for schools and districts; prospective customers can request a demo, and pricing is on request.

Piazza is a course Q&A platform connecting students, teaching assistants, and professors around coursework. Its wiki-style format lets participants edit shared responses, with one student answer and one instructor answer for each question. Students can post anonymously to classmates, or anonymously to the instructor if the instructor permits it; instructors can endorse questions and answers. Course pages can hold announcements, course information, syllabi, assignments, lecture notes, and links. Participation reports show instructors who asks, answers, edits, or reads, as well as when questions arise during the term. Piazza lists integrations with Blackboard, Moodle, Sakai, Desire2Learn, Canvas, Jenzabar, and Angel. Integrated rosters can enroll users with appropriate roles, and users can sign in through the LMS. Piazza is available on web, iOS, and Android, with class alerts in its mobile apps. It says student email addresses and course enrollment details are accessible only to class instructors, and describes technical, administrative, and physical safeguards. Founded in 2009, it is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. A contribution-supported plan is free; paid instructor licenses start at $379 a month, billed per term.