Edmodo



=What is Edmodo? =

Edmodo is a social networking site for schools. It is free and takes only minutes to sign up. Edmodo is very simple to use and provides a platform for communication between parents, students, and teachers. It is very similar to Facebook; however, it is designed for schools and gives more controls to teachers. Below is an image of my home page. It takes approximately three minutes to join and was really simple to navigate.



=How can Edmodo be used in a classroom? =

Edmodo can be used as a platform for online learning and communication. It allows teachers to set up a homepage and a grade book. Teachers can upload files to the class library as well as collect work from students through Edmodo. Teachers can set up discussions, break students up into groups, survey students, and also provide online quizzes. Students can participate in class discussions, submit homework, and respond to surveys from the classroom, home, or on their smart phones using the iPhone app.To the right is an image of the iPhone app for Edmodo that students can use. (Edmodo, 2012)

Teachers could use Edmodo to assign homework, provide readings and course materials to students, communicate with students and parents, post announcements, and to provide a safe online learning environment for class discussions. Below is a video created by Edmodo that describes what it is and how it can be used in the classroom.

media type="youtube" key="TzPHQr1ONaA" height="315" width="420"

=Advantages & Disadvantages =

Advantages
 * Free
 * Convenient navigation & features
 * Free iPhone App
 * Safe online learning environment
 * Simple way to communicate expectations to students and parents

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Disadvantages
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Very similar to Facebook- may cause student conduct problems
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Not as useful for student to student collaboration

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">How can teachers hold individual students accountable? = <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Teachers using Edmodo can see what their individual students have posted and the work that they submit. While Edmodo is a great website for teachers, it is not entirely a collaborative student to student website. Edmodo does not provide an open document editor like other websites discussed in Chapter 4. Edmodo is better used for communication of grades, course material, and expectations than as a collaborative tool for learning.

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Navigation =

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Check out the next collaborative tool, Google Documents.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Chapter 4 Introduction || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Bubbl.us || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Collaborize Classroom  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">CrocoDoc  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Edmodo  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Google Documents  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">KidBlog  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Skype  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">VoiceThread  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">WikiSpaces  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Chapter 4 Conclusions ||

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">References = <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Edmodo. (2012, February 16). //Edmodo iPhone App Image.// Retrieved March 17, 2012, from iTunes Store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/edmodo/id378352300?mt=8

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Edmodo1. (2010, March 6). //Edmodo Demo Video.// Retrieved March 17, 2012, from You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzPHQr1ONaA

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">//Open clip art// (2011). Thumbs [picture]. Retrieved from Open clip art, @http://openclipart.org/

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Severance, C. (2010, December 23). //Edmodo Logo//. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from Dr. Chuck's Blog: http://www.dr-chuck.com/csev-blog/2010/12/using-edmodo-to-teach-open-source-software-development-course