Online+Communication

The online communication tool Megan Stewart and I chose to use was Edmodo. We chose Edmodo because we both already had accounts, and we wanted to explore more about how we could use it with our students. We discovered that Edmodo is very versatile allowing users to collect online resources in addition to communicating with students, parents, and other teachers.

We started by first just finding each other on the website, which was a learning experience in itself. The more information a teacher posts about him or herself, the easier it is to recognize the person you are looking for. Once we found each other, we practiced sharing links and replying to messages. We learned that teachers can post to a whole group or to just one individual as a direct message (much like Facebook). We looked at the Edmodo library and discovered that it allows users with Google accounts to sync their Google docs to the Edmodo library (nifty!). The library also allows users to organize resources by files so they can be easily located.

Edmodo is more beneficial to use as a class website or communication tool than Facebook. It is designed to look and feel like Facebook, but it has enhanced privacy features making it secure for students to use and does not include ads on the page. Edmodo would be a good way to post web assignments, keep digital grades, and update students/parents of classroom happenings.

We can’t say that we would actually use Edmodo yet, but it is definitely a resource we will keep in mind for the future. media type="custom" key="15382048"


 * Awareness:** I had used Edmodo briefly while trying to create an online community for the Teacher Excellence Network (TEN) through the Professional Educational department in the College of Ed. I had considered using Edmodo as a way to communicate and share resources with first year teachers/OSU graduates**.** We decided to use a different online community (Wiggio) and I didn't actually do much within Edmodo. I knew that it was possible to create private groups inside Edmodo, but that was about the extent of my familiarity with the website.


 * Exploration:** Megan and I decided to explore Edmodo on a deeper level together after I had explained to her my limited knowledge of the website. After finding each other through Edmodo's search tool, Megan and I began exploring the communication options within Edmodo. We started by simply trying to message each other. We discovered that teachers have the choice of writing on the group wall which is visible to everyone in the group, or sending a direct message which is visible only to the message recipients. I then created a poll in which Megan chose her favorite book from the Hunger Games Trilogy. The poll was then visible to the group. We also shared links with each other.


 * Learning:** We learned that teachers can create private groups within Edmodo, which would make it possible to separate classes, subjects, and PLNs. IT was also really cool to discover that Google doc account holders could sync within Edmodo making quizzes, spreadsheets, etc. available for sharing with students and parents. Parents can also have their own code, which gives them access to their student's Edmodo page. They can see their child's grades and messages, but cannot comment or add anything unless permission is granted from the teacher.


 * Application:** I could see this being a really neat way to communicate with middle school students and their parents, especially within the library setting. Creating an Edmodo group that included everyone in the school would give general announcements, advertise new books, and give students the opportunity to do their own book reviews. I could also create class groups so that specific assignments and resources would be easy to find and available to students **24/7.** The fact that parents have separate access codes makes students feel like this isn't something that they have to share with parents, but if parents request access they can look in and see what their student is doing in the library. I just love any tool that advocates reading outside of school and Edmodo could make books really cool!