Edmodo

Edmodo Group 

I am excited to announce that I have created an Edmodo account. According to Tech Talk (1999), “Edmodo is a social learning network that gives teachers and students an easy way to connect and collaborate in real time” (p. 15). Teachers, as well as parents can use Edmodo to search for information on all educational topics from book suggestions to solving math problems. Teachers can use it to post links to websites, articles, and videos or post lessons and projects. It is helpful to think of Edmodo as Facebook for the classroom. There is a wall that is set up by the teacher, which can have different groups. Anyone can post to the wall, but just like Facebook, it is monitored by the creator or the teacher. Having students share their ideas and work on Edmodo provides them with the opportunity to experience a real world application in a safe and secure setting. Additionally, this learning environment provides teachers and parents the opportunity to discuss netiquette. Netiquette is the proper behavior that should be used when sending emails and using the Internet (Levin & Schrum, 2009). Students can also save their work on Edmodo, which is great since it can be accessed anywhere with an Internet connection. Since I am new to Edmodo, I want to share with you some ways Jan Wells, a fourth grade teacher from Kansas uses Edmodo to enhance her instruction.

Jan's class had a guest speaker via Skype and while the speaker was presenting the students were using Edmodo to “carry an online conversation about the spoken remarks” with another class (Dobler, 2012, p. 12). She also uses Edmodo to introduce new topics by posting links to videos, images, and sites on the same topic. In her class, students post their independent or group work to Edmodo, so their classmates can see what they working on during the day. Lastly, she uses Edmodo to encourage conversations and connections. For example the students might discuss school events or holidays.

As you can see the possibilities and uses of Edmodo are endless. I am looking forward to jumping into this new adventure with you. Please feel free to post to our board often.

Dobler, E. (2012). Flattening classroom walls: Edmodo takes teaching and learning across the globe. Reading Today, 29(4), 12-13. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/926994460?accountid=3783

Levin, B. B. & Schrum, L. (2009). Leading 21^st Century Schools: Harnessing Technology for Engagement and Achievement. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Tech talk: Edmodo. (2011). Instructor (1999), 120(6), 15. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/865333109?accountid=3783