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Edmodo is even better
Being a part of a community is so important. Think about the communities you have been a part of since you were little. Family, is obviously the most important, but so many other communities mold and shape us: our schools, our churches/youth groups, sororities/fraternities, Mom's groups, Bible study/prayer groups and PLC/PLNs today (Professional Learning Communities/Professional Learning Networks). Learning to live/work within a community takes character and perseverance. The benefits are huge. When we bounce ideas off others or create works of art or presentations, the sense of accomplishment is heightened. The largest community today is Facebook which gives us the ability to reconnect and stay in touch in a most unique approach. So why is it that when our students come to school, our natural desire to live in community is so often discouraged? How can we take advantage of social communities without compromising the safety of our students. This "tuesdays" I would love to share an answer to this dilemma with enthusiasm and caution.
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Four years ago, Nic Borg and Jeff O'Hara, believed that they needed to change their school environment to reflect the connected world in which they lived by creating a tool that closes the gap between how students live their lives and how they learn in school. Their creation is Edmodo, a safe and easy way for classrooms to connect and collaborate, share content, and access homework, grades and school notices. I have written about Edmodo on "tuesdays" a year ago, but have had such a great personal experience with it that I want to give you a second look at it if you were still on the fence. For most PD sessions that I deliver, I create an Edmodo course because instead of putting stickies in a parking lot, I have a running record of ideas to share. I have also watch my own daughter use Edmodo as the access point for her "flip classroom" in Algebra 2 Honors.
Edmodo promotes any time, any place learning. Teachers can post messages, discuss classroom topics, assign and grade classwork, share content and materials, network and exchange ideas with their students and colleagues. Students are even able to upload homework, take part in discussions, earn badges and rewards and share their learning. Wow, what a concept! They have really done a great job creating a safe environment for learning. I am very impressed with their just-in-time support and vast help resources that can be found in their Teacher Roll-out section.
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Before I get you all excited to sign up for Edmodo, I want to encourage you to find out if your district supports it. Edmodo should only be used under the umbrella and permission of your school district because it is in that setting that you receive support and encouragement. Edmodo has a complete school district area of it's FREE product that can be found at http://www.edmodo.com/institutions. It is critically important that you comply with the COPPA - Children's Online Privacy Protection Act as a teacher or school personnel. Each district is held to a higher standard and all teachers needs to be compliant to online social interaction that is both safe and private. Edmodo for school districts is the way to go. I would encourage you to ask around in your district to see if they have signed up yet and if they have go for it! If they haven't, begin the conversation because this tool can revolutionize learning in the classroom without a doubt. There are hundreds of school districts using Edmodo and thousands more considering its powerful impact.
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How do you get started with Edmodo? Let's assume that you have done your research and have found that your district has authorized its use. Each teacher will receive a code to connect their account the district and then each student will receive a code from his/her teacher once they have created their class. Only those students who are in the class will see the postings and interactions of that class and only the teacher and student will see assignments, grades and comments. Parents can even have an account to see how their child is doing where they would have access to the interactions of their child and the teacher only. The best part is that it is ubiquitous - any time, any place and any pace real time learning. Schools are also able to manage and track usage and measure adaption and engagement. I recommend checking out their high quality introductory videos on their home page. Edmodo was made by teachers for teachers and has the potential for true student engagement, interaction and learning. Kudos to Nic and Jeff!
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| What is "tuesdays with Karen"?
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"tuesdays with Karen" is a weekly newsletter/blog designed to encourage, equip and empower teachers to be creative with educational technology. Please add your technology comments to my "tuesdays with Karen" blog. |
