Meeting Students Where They Are -Social Networking in Class

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Welcome to Edmodo!
What is social networking? Any website that allows a user to post, rate, and/or comment on content. INTERACTION and ENGAGEMENT are key. Though social networks appeal to our students, they are difficult to implement in class (blocked URLs, email requirements, privacy concerns). How do you translate that experience into the modern classroom? Enter Edmodo, a FREE social networking tool with no ads and no email requirements. Edmodo tools (file sharing, discussion, polling, mobile updates, grading) and ideas for implementation will be shared during today's presentation. Posted by Emily at 8:28 PM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

The Perks of Edmodo

Free - No technology budget needed No email address required for student accounts Secure and private Social learning for classrooms Share ideas, files & assignments Mobile access and messaging Instant Microblogging Among Entire Group Calendar Share Links and Embed Video Get a custom domain for your school or school district

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Getting Started
On the left hand side of the screen, you'll see a header for your groups. Simply click on create and enter a name for your group. They recommend that you give each class a unique name. To keep things simple, I named each group according to its hour. You will need to enter a grade and subject area for each class you create. Once the class is created, you will receive a message from Edmodo with the secure access code for that class.

When students go to the sign up section, they will need to enter that access code in order to join Edmodo. On the sign up, students will need to create a username and password that are unique to them. I made the students solely responsible for remembering their combo. Perk: Although they chose the unique username, they are listed according to their real-life name. They will need to enter their first and last name - although a last initial is perfectly fine. The student email is considered optional and should be left blank. Posted by Emily at 7:55 PM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Messaging in Edmodo
At the top of your Edmodo screen, you will see a text box that allows you to share content, instructions, or ideas with whoever you choose. After typing your message, you can choose your recepients - individuals, your entire class, multiple classes, smalls groups you create, or your teacher connections. For notes, you can attach files and links from your computer or Edmodo library. Any files or links you post will automatically be added to your library, so make sure to give your links good descriptions! If you want to send a shorter, more urgent notice, you can also send an alert. While you can't attach files to an alert, it does send your message in a larger, bolder font which is hard to miss. Posted by Emily at 7:50 PM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Utilizing the Messaging Feature

By far, the messaging feature is the most engaging aspect of Edmodo for my MS students. As a teacher, I could send messages to the entire class or to individual students as needed. While I had complete freedom, the students are limited in their options. They have the ability to send a message directly to the teacher, or they can message the entire group. This kept them from engaging in side-conversations that were distracting and more difficult to manage. As the creator of the group, the teacher is automatically included in any message sent to the entire group. If a student wanted to comment to everyone, he or she knew that I would be among the first to read it. In order to facilitate discussions, I would post questions and the students would respond back with their opinions or answers. Students were permitted to send out a message to the entire group ONLY if they felt it was worthwhile enough to take up everyone's time. Ideally, this included posts like "What did you think about chapter 6?" or "I couldn't imagine living in a concentration camp" which other students took the time to respond to. In a few instances, students

did post off-topic comments like "Hey Everyboddddy!!!" - which were scorned by their classmates and eventually disappeared over time. Students could also use the messaging to send questions to me directly. Occasionally, a student would message me during our lab time rather than walking across the room to talk to me. Most of the messages, however, were sent from home while the students were working on homework and came up with a question that they wanted answered. Because we are on a block A/B schedule, I could answer their question quickly rather than waiting for two days later when they came back to class. Posted by Emily at 7:45 PM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Assignments in Edmodo
When you're ready to put an assignment online, simply click on the assignment link at the top of the messaging window. The window will then change, asking you to enter the following information:

Title Description Due date (set by clicking on the calendar icon) Add Files

Once you've entered the information, you can then choose who you want to send the assignment to - a particular student, a small group or your entire class. The assignment is then sent to the selected students and it also appears in the Grades tab of Edmodo. When the student views the assignment, they do not comment on the assignment. Rather, they click on submit and a new text box will be opened to allow them to type their response. They can also attach a file as their response. Once you've send out an assignment, it appears on your wall. Edmodo will also keep track of how many students have completed the assignment already without having to go to your Grades tab. You can also see this info in the Spotlight area in the upper right hand corner. When you are ready to grade the assignment, go to the Grades tab and select your class. Next, you will click on your assignment and be given a visual of who hasn't turned it in versus who has completed it. By clicking on the student's name, you can also see the date the student submitted the assignment. If the assignment was submitted late, the turn in date appears in red. You have the freedom to make the assignment worth different point amounts for different students. A comment box also appears so that you can offer feedback to the student on his/her work. Posted by Mrs. Allen at 7:30 PM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Utilizing the Assignments Feature

During our novel unit, I took a handful of traditional paper assignments and posted them online. When lab availability allowed, I took the entire class and required that the assignment be submitted electronically. For the other assignments, I accepted paper copies but found that most students with Internet access in their home preferred to turn them in online. I also found that I had the same - or higher - assignment completion rates with the online assignments. I also realized that I was more likely to write comments on the online assignments because it was much faster to type a quick comment. The students responded very favorly to my comments - which were delivered to their message stream - and many then chose to respond back thanking me for the kind words. Once the grades were entered, it did prove more difficult to get them into my actual Skyward gradebook. The file can be downloaded as a CSV, but I found it easier to just print out the page with the scores and reenter the grades rather than fighting the technology. Posted by Mrs. Allen at 7:25 PM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Filesharing in Edmodo
Edmodo allows teachers and students alike the ability to store uploaded files, so that they are available anytime and anywhere you need them. To add a document to your library, simply click on the Library tab and choose the Add to Library button. You will then choose the file you want to upload (100MB max) or the link you'd like to save. Any messages sent to you containing uploaded files or links are automatically placed into your library. Posted by Mrs. Allen at 7:20 PM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Utilizing the File Sharing Feature

After using Edmodo for the Holcaust reading unit, I also began using Edmodo for my Writing classes. During the month of November, my students participated in the Young Writers Program as a part of NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. I had reserved class time in the computer lab, but I wanted my students to have the opportunity to work on their stories outside of class. At my school, students are not allowed to access personal email, use flashdrives to bring files from home, or access accounts like Google Docs that require a personal email. Edmodo became the perfect tool. They typed their stories at school, uploaded the document to Edmodo, and then were able to access it at home. Once at home, they added to their novels, uploaded the changes, and had full access at all times. Posted by Mrs. Allen at 7:15 PM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Polls in Edmodo

If you'd like to get your students' opinions, the Edmodo poll feature is a great choice. In the message box at the top of your wall, simply click on Poll. You're given a text box to write out your question and then space to add as many options as you choose. You can then send the poll to whoever you like. When the students see the poll, they have the option to vote once and then they are able to see the updated results in a bar graph form. They are also able to comment on the poll, so you can use the poll as a jumping off point for a larger discussion. Posted by Mrs. Allen at 7:10 PM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Utilizing the Polling Feature

Polls were one of the easiest functions of Edmodo to incorporate. Formatting the poll is virtually idiot-proof, and it's very easy for the kids to answer and then click to see the feedback from the rest of the group. I inserted a very simple poll about their favorite character during our novel reading, but I'm looking forward to utilizing the poll feature as a stepping stone to sharing opinions with online discussion questions in the future. Posted by Mrs. Allen at 9:23 AM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Mobile Web Access in Edmodo

If you like having constant access, you can also use the Mobile Web feature to ceck updates, view and reply to posts, and publish new messages to your Edmodo groups. To access your account: Log onto to our mobile Web site (http://m.edmodo.com/) from an iPhone, iPod Touch, or Web-enabled smart phone. Enter your Edmodo username and password. View posts from your Edmodo home page, check for new messages in Spotlight, or post a new message. Posted by Mrs. Allen at 9:22 AM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Co-Teaching
If you are in a co-teaching setting and want both teachers to have full access to Edmodo, you're in luck. First, the co-teacher needs to be invited to join the group using the same access code that the students were given. Once the co-teacher has joined, you then need to hover your mouse over the group's name listed on the lefthand side of the screen. Hover until the Manage Groups option appears and select Members. By selecting the co-teacher's name, you can then click the drop down menu and change the status from Teacher(Member) to Co-Teacher. Now both teachers have full access to all of the Edmodo tools. Posted by Mrs. Allen at 9:21 AM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Creating Small Groups

Once all students have joined your class, you can also create small groups. Perfect for projects or literature circles, the small group function allows the students to communicate just with their group. They still will not be able to message each other individually, but it will allow them to discuss their ideas and send files to just their group members. Choose your selected class from the list of all classes you've created. Once you do so, you will see a master list of all students enrolled in that class. On the lefthand side of the screen, choose Create a Small Group. You will name the group (be specific!) and then be given a list of all of your students so that you can select which ones should join each group. Teachers are automatically added as members of each small group, so that you can continue to monitor all communication. Posted by Mrs. Allen at 9:19 AM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Joining Multiple Classes

Once students have signed up on Edmodo, they can use the same username to access many different classes. In order to join another class, they just have to select Join under the Groups heading on the lefthand side of the screen. They will need to enter the access code you were given when you created the class. Having one username and password has come in handy as middle school students are notoriously forgetful and it keeps things streamlined. Now that I'm encouraging other teachers at my school to get involved with Edmodo, they can easily join classes in other subjects or disciplines. Posted by Mrs. Allen at 9:19 AM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

What Works Well
Students loved having access to social networking in an educational setting. It was a format that many were familiar with, and that many others were wanting to learn more about. They found it to be engaging and were more willing to participate, discuss, and turn in homework than in the traditional classroom setting. The messaging component was a huge hit. They loved the idea of being able to communicate with their peers - even if it was for an "academic" reason. The students also seemed more comfortable asking questions of me about their homework, the content we were studying, or other general questions they thought I could answer. Utilizing the filesharing abilities of Edmodo opened up new possibilities for my Writing students. Even in a small rural district like Warrensburg, around 80% of my students have access to a computer and the Internet at their home. We're no longer

confined to just the time that I can carve out for us in the computer lab. They now have more flexibility to work on their writing at home, and it allows absent students to be able to contribute even when they aren't at school. Posted by Emily at 8:57 PM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Sharing with Parents - The Public Wall or Student Account

In order to share information with parents, you have a couple options. The Public Wall lets you take any piece of your Edmodo group public. It is published to a specific URL that you can share with parents.

You can make any message in your group a public message. This lets you share assignments, polls, notes (that allow you to embed video, images and more). Can NOT share calendar events. Parents can subscribe to an RSS feed of this page Or, use Feedburner.com to create an email subscription option.

You could let parents create an account in the same way you have your students create accounts. You could allow them in the same group as your students or create a parent group. Or, when you inform parents that you are using this technology, encourage them to talk with their students and look around the site with them. Posted by Emily at 1:51 PM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

At the end of the project term -- Archive or Recycle Groups

Archive--hides the course from you and students, but can be re-activated at any time. Leaves all the interactions and information intact. Recycle -- remove students. This removes all the content they have posted so you may re-use a group. Posted by Emily at 11:34 AM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Monday, November 15, 2010

How Can You Use It with Your Students?

Think about your content first and the technology second! Deliver assignments and notes Teach Digital Netiquette. o Choose to receive text messages when student direct message you as the teacher. Are their questions really burning and need to be

answered? Post a direct message. Can they wait until tomorrow? Post them on the wall or ask at school. Private microblogging (think Twitter). o Assign students a task, and have them report findings through the link , embed, and file sharing features. Share assignments & rubrics o Great for parents, students, especially absent students! No more (or less) falling behind. Co-teaching anything Create a "Recess" group for social chatter. o Set the parameters for use with your students. Having a place for open conversation can help engage students who are otherwise not engaged. It bridges technology use for them. Art o Pixton (create cartoons) o Glogster (create image, text, audio, video posters) These two tools allow you to post these artifacts directly to the Edmodo library Social Studies o Current Events uploading by teacher, reading by students, discussion by class o Backchanneling discuss video content while video is being viewed o Have students create commercials to summarize or introduce topics o Pixton (create cartoons) for political events and share directly to Edmodo library Mathematics o Answer questions outside class o Post video tutorials check out Khan Academy http://www.khanacademy.org/ o Deliver detailed explanations on homework with students o Edmodo supports LaTeX markup. Learn it with this free wikibook Science o Share lab results o Submit lab reports in a green way! No paper. Literature o Brainstorming ideas on a topic o Predict events in a book during group read a loud o Literature Circles create an Edmodo group for each book discussion o Poetry Slam or Story Train

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Sunday, November 14, 2010

Edmodo: What Students Think from Technology and Education Box of Tricks

http://www.boxoftricks.net/?p=432 A high school foreign language teacher named Jose Picardo I asked my students to compare Edmodo to our AsiSeHace Ning social network which we would otherwise use for the purpose of communication. For the students I interviewed, these are Edmodos main benefits:

Edmodos simplicity in terms of interface is what makes it so effective The ability to send homework to the teacher as soon as its done and then forget about it Being able to communicate with the teacher if a student is struggling with work or requires further guidance

When asked what features they would like to see in Edmodo, they highlighted the following:

Useful links to external resources get lost in the timeline, therefore they suggested the possibility to have a permanent links section for each group on the sidebar Some students expressed an interest in being able to communicate with each other synchronously when they are both on line instant messaging Other students would like to have the ability to customise their profile or group pages to a greater degree

It is only rarely that my students seem so enthused about a new tool. They have genuinely found Edmodo useful and I look forward to rolling it out to other, younger year groups.