Piazza

Piazza is a collaborative discussion platform designed to foster interactive, community-driven conversations within academic courses. Integrated with Loyola University Chicago’s Sakai learning management system, Piazza enables faculty and students to engage in class discussions, share knowledge, and collectively work through questions and course material. The platform's dynamic features, including wiki-style editing and real-time updates, make it easy for students and instructors to connect in a way that’s both structured and flexible, encouraging a supportive learning environment.

Key Features

• Interactive Q&A Forum: Students and instructors can post questions, provide answers, and endorse responses to create a rich knowledge base within the course.
• Wiki-Style Collaboration: Posts can be edited collaboratively by instructors and students, allowing for continuous improvement and clarification of information.
• Real-Time Notifications: Users can receive real-time updates and highlights on new posts or urgent questions, fostering timely engagement.
• Polls & Feedback: Instructors can create polls to gather class feedback or gauge understanding, enabling more targeted instruction.
• Anonymous Posting Option: Students can post questions anonymously, encouraging them to seek help without fear of judgment, which can lead to increased engagement.

Benefits

• Enhanced Collaborative Learning: Piazza encourages students to work together on solving problems and discussing course content, fostering a deeper understanding through peer interaction.
• Increased Accessibility & Inclusivity: The platform’s anonymous posting option and flexibility make it easier for all students to participate, including those who may be hesitant to speak up in class.
• Efficient Communication: Instructors can endorse responses, providing clarity to the entire class while minimizing repetitive inquiries.
• Real-Time Insight: Faculty can quickly identify common questions or misconceptions, allowing them to address these points promptly in class or through posts.
• Supports Student Engagement & Accountability: Piazza's format incentivizes students to actively participate, contribute answers, and collaborate, which can promote accountability in learning.

Piazza is available to all Loyola University Chicago faculty and students for use within their academic courses, enabling interactive discussion and engagement in both in-person and online settings.

This service is provided at no additional cost to eligible* individuals or departments, as it is fully funded by the institution.

*Questions on eligibility, please contact the ITS Service Desk*