Edmodo


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=What is Edmodo? = (Description)

Almost everyone I know has a Facebook account, which gets checked religiously (sometimes hourly) for important updates and the latest news. This can be quite the bad habit if constant social networking is allowed to interfere with work or school. Why not try to harness that habit and utilize it to benefit students instead?

Edmodo is a free and secure social networking site that works much like Facebook. Although geared more towards the K-12 student, it could potentially be useful in post-secondary education as well. Once an account is created, you are given your own private page and can subscribe to various educational communities whose posts will then show up in your newsfeed. You can also assign your students to separate class groups that would each be assigned a distinct access code. Only those students that have the access code can see and write on their class page. You can moderate everything that is being posted in all of your groups in order to maintain control in your new virtual classroom.

Edmodo can also be useful for educators who are always on-the-go, as most of us are. There is a phone application available for both Android and iPhone users to download and utilize in order to access their Edmodo site at any time from anywhere. The site itself also contains a “store” that offers tons of free and paid application tools that can be used to customize your page. You can choose to install various helpful applications on certain pages, or allow all of your students to access them.

Edmodo can be used to supplement learning at any grade level, for any subject. Students can use the site as a safe place to “meet” and work on projects together. They can post questions and obtain clarification on homework assignments from their instructor, or continue class discussions after the actual class session is over. Edmodo is a great venue for introducing students to social media early, teaching them appropriate digital interaction skills and ways to positively interact in a virtual environment.

Teachers can create their own quizzes or polls on their Edmodo page in order to assess student understanding. They can upload assignments for each class group, or send out an alert to all students regarding important changes or information. They can also post reminders or notifications to keep parents updated on upcoming events in school. Edmodo can be very helpful for educators to aid their own professional development as well, by allowing for collaboration with other teachers across the nation.

Education in the 21st century - keep safe, but stay connected.

media type="file" key="Edmodo Demo 1.mp4" width="300" height="300" align="center"

Video clip courtesy of Edmodo, Inc. (https://www.edmodo.com/about)

=Where Did Edmodo Come From? = (History)

Social media can be a powerful tool in the classroom. However, keeping our students safe in the virtual world can be difficult in this day and age of free-flowing information and unlimited access via the Internet. Educators need a tool that can maintain a certain level of privacy while allowing students, parents, and teachers to remain in constant communication both inside and outside of the classroom.

In an interview done by Victor Rivero (2011), Edmodo co-founder Nic Borg states that the main goal in creating Edmodo was to "develop a space that allowed teachers, students, and schools to connect in a more engaging way while keeping students safe and protected." Both Borg and co-founder Jeff O'Hara recognized that there was a discrepancy between how connected students were outside of school and how disconnected they became within the walls of a classroom. They believed that the resource sharing that goes on in the outside world was an important component which was missing from the classroom. In September 2008, they set out to bridge that gap by developing a safe venue for virtual learning based on educator feedback. Edmodo was born.

Meet the founders of this educational social networking site here: The History Behind Edmodo

=What Can Edmodo Do For You? = (Impact on Teaching and Learning)

At over 26 million users worldwide (and growing), Edmodo is rapidly showing itself to be one of the top free online learning tools available. Borg states that their ultimate goal is to ensure that every educator in the world has access to the tools necessary to engage learners individually, differentiate instruction, and help students to reach their full potential (Rivero, 2011). In an article written by C.M. Rubin (2013), Edmodo's CEO, Crystal Hutter verifies that this platform "can be adapted to any type of classroom" and views this site as a way to "create a powerful network of learners so that all of the best ideas and resources can surface." Hutter further expounds that the delivery of material can be easily personalized to individual learners because teachers obtain immediate feedback on how each student is grasping the content at hand.

Borg envisions Edmodo as supplying a secure "anytime-anywhere learning environment", usurping the traditional notion of a classroom with four walls as the primary educational arena. The online platform with a growing number of teacher-developed tools makes for easier classroom management, and the Edmodo community groups facilitate professional development through connections with other educators from around the world. Entire school districts can be linked via Edmodo, opening up possibilities for administrators to utilize specifically-designed tools to analyze data at various levels of the school system in order to see at a glance how effective implemented policies are (Rivero, 2011).

Although limitations to technology access would seem a prohibitive factor in implementing Edmodo school- or district-wide, Hutter explains that Edmodo can still be effectively utilized to serve low-income populations. Schools do try to accommodate and include all students by providing access to a computer lab, by sharing laptops between classes, or by allowing the use of personal mobile devices during class. Edmodo offers a mobile website and applications for both Apple and Android operating systems, making it easy for any student with access to a mobile device to use their site (Rubin, 2013).



One of the biggest strengths of the Edmodo educational platform is that its development has been teacher-driven from the very start. Borg recognizes that teachers "know what works in the classroom" and that they are constantly inventing and adapting new ways to engage students. In March 2012, Edmodo announced that it was opening its application programming interface (API) to third party developers, allowing for the development of educational apps across its platform. Borg believes that by encouraging collaboration between experienced educators and the developers who can create the tools they want, the quality of the resulting products generated will increase dramatically (Donahoo, 2012).

Edmodo continues to be at the forefront of the movement towards more effective education through the partnership between teachers and technology in the classroom. The increasing incorporation of technology in education (and society in general) is changing the way that students learn; and accordingly, teachers must find tools like this one to transform the way they teach.

=How Can We Use Edmodo? = (Practical Applications)

Edmodo offers teacher, parent, and student accounts, all at no cost.



**Suggestions for use: **

 * Teachers can set up groups in Edmodo not only for their classes, but to facilitate extracurricular activities, school clubs, parent groups, or faculty committees within their school.
 * Global classroom groups - electronically connecting students and teachers from all over the world.
 * Facilitating a "flipped-classroom" model.
 * Facilitating project-based learning via application of real-world skills through an educational social media platform.
 * Aiding in distance education, providing a virtual classroom for students who may not be able to attend school in person.
 * Promoting inclusion of all student populations, due to ability to differentiate between learners of varying ability.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Keep parents involved by inviting them to join your virtual classroom in Edmodo; you can disseminate information quickly and reliably via this route regarding upcoming events, share their child's work with them, and address issues without requiring a face-to-face meeting.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Create a paperless classroom by putting all your quizzes and assignments online - good for the environment!

**<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">More ideas and teacher testimonials: **
Teacher Stories: Using Edmodo in the Classroom (Article) Using Edmodo (Video from Edmodo site) 20 Ways to Use Edmodo (From Edmodo site) 7 Brilliant Ways to use Edmodo that will Blow. Your. Mind. (Blog) 15 More Brilliant Ways to Use Edmodo (Blog) 20 Ways to Use Edmodo (SlideShare Presentation) Flipped Learning Using Edmodo (Blog)

=<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">How Can I Get Started With Using Edmodo? = <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Examples and Demonstrations) == ==

Teacher Training Video for Using Edmodo A Guide to Getting Started With Edmodo 10 Tips for Getting Started With Edmodo Back to School With Edmodo: Quick Guides (for Every Grade Level)

=<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">References =

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Borg, N. and O’Hara, J. (n.d.). Our History [Video file]. Retrieved Sept. 30, 2013 from []

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Edmodo. (2010, November 17). 7 brilliant ways to use Edmodo that will blow. your. mind. Edmodo, Blog. Retrieved October 1, 2013, from []

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Edmodo. (2010, November 23). We asked, you answered! 15 more brilliant ways to use Edmodo. Edmodo, Blog. Retrieved October 1, 2013, from []

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Edmodo. (2013, June 28). A guide to getting started with Edmodo. Edmodo, Blog. Retrieved September 30, 2013, from https://blog.edmodo.com/2013/06/28/a-guide-to-getting-started-with-edmodo/

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Donahoo, D. (2012, March 7). Edmodo links developers with educators. The Huffington Post, Tech Blog. Retrieved October 1, 2013, from []

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kite, V. (2013, July 30). 10 tips for getting started with Edmodo. Edmodo, Blog. Retrieved October 1, 2013, from https://blog.edmodo.com/2013/06/28/a-guide-to-getting-started-with-edmodo/

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rivero, V. (2011, May 20). Interview: find Nic Borg on Edmodo. Edtech Digest, Fascinating Edupreneurs No. 34. Retrieved September 30, 2013, from []

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rubin, C.M. (2013, February 21). The global search for education: social learning. The Huffington Post, Impact Blog. Retrieved October 1, 2013, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/c-m-rubin/the-global-search-for-edu_61_b_2729435.html

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rubin, C.M. (2013). Teacher stories: using Edmodo in the classroom. EducationWorld, Prof. Development. Retrieved September 30, 2013, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/rubin/edmodo-teachers-share-experiences.shtml

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wolfe, J. (2013, April 26). Flipped learning using Edmodo: an innovative approach to education. BlogHer, Mamawolf’s Blog. Retrieved October 1, 2013, from http://jenniferwolfe.net/2013/04/flipped-learning-using-edmodo-an-innovative-approach-to-education.html

=<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">External Links =

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Want to learn more about Edmodo, or sign up to use it? <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">About Edmodo

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Have specific questions regarding Edmodo? <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Edmodo Support Page

=<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">About the Author = <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Kimberly Suwa is a student in the Master's of Educational Technology Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She is also a nationally-registered and state-licensed radiologic technologist who currently works at the John A. Burns School of Medicine assisting with their surgical labs. Her primary occupation and passion is teaching at Kapiolani Community College for the Radiologic Technology program.