a system and method for providing education - related alerts in an online learning environment is provided . an online learning environment including a plurality of users participating in online educational activities is monitored . an online database including event rules and education - related information for the online educational activities is maintained . an event occurring in the online learning environment is identified . the event satisfies at least one of the event rules . a benchmark is determined for the event . the benchmark includes at least one of information selected from and information indicated by the education - related information . an alert is generated for the event by selecting a template for the event and populating the template with the benchmark as the alert . the alert is provided to one or more of the users .