Compass Learning started out as JLC Learning Corp in 1969 with the vision of using computers to personalize learning. Current CEO Eric Loeffel joined the company in 2005 and leads a management team comprised of CFO Trey Chambers and four other vice presidents. Today, it employs 300 team members nationwide. The company has served more than 11 million students in 3,000 schools throughout the United States. Education specialists are directly involved in product development, with strong support from a team of writers, animators and creative designers.
Compass Learning's Odyssey solution keeps K-12 students engaged by furnishing activities and tests that are fun to do. All exercises are aligned with each individual's learning style. Using the assessment tools and test scores, the teacher can easily give feedback, identify areas where help is needed and determine the pace of lessons. School administrators, in turn, are able to track the progress of participants and generate reports to ensure that the school is meeting state targets. As online education software, Odyssey is invaluable for parents as well because they can check on and even coach the child by together accessing the activities and worksheets from a home laptop.
In 2010, the company integrated forum and chat features into its software suite. The Odyssey Community Forum and Message Center seek to provide a safe and secure place for students and teachers to discuss and communicate while also fostering 21st century skills. Compass Learning also added four new electives in Odyssey Secondary, its instructional program for high schools to expand learning beyond the core fields of study. The new subjects are world geography, finance, health and earth/space science.
Compass Learning has garnered several awards from software, digital content and computer education groups for its innovations in education technology. It was a SIIA CODiE winner for Best Instructional Solution for English Language Learners in 2005 and Best Student Assessment Solution in 2007. Also in 2005, Odyssey Primary was recognized as Best Software for Teaching in reading, vocabulary, English as a second language and phonics. The company is also a consistent Bessie Awards recipient, winning Best Educational Software for K-12 in 2007 and grades one and two in 2008. The websites reaped recognition from the Eddie and Bessie Award bodies in 2009 and 2010, as well.