September 4, 2012
It was the official Edmodo Day! Our fourth grade schedule has three seventy minute blocks. Currently, students are grouped by homeroom, but soon they will be ability grouped. The fourth grade team was extremely bought in to using Edmodo as a communication tool and homework option, I had no problem convincing them. I met with each homeroom during their writing block. I began by introducing the site (the concept, safety features, etc). I then gave them a brief overview of how we would use the site for school purposes. I then reviewed the Edmodo student use agreements that I had created. I made a big deal about appropriateness and responsibility. The students were asked to sign the agreement and then directed on creating a username and password. Together, they created profiles, including pictures. I posted several generic questions, “What’s your favorite food?,” “What’s your favorite book?,” etc. They were so excited.
I encountered several obstacles in the lesson. We had some struggles with the school’s mobile computer lab. Some computers just would not connect to the internet. We did call Lisa (school’s Tech person) to have them looked at. Secondly, one student did post one slightly inappropriate item about a hotdog. I spoke with him and used my admin access to delete the post.
We encouraged the students to access Edmodo from home. This evening, there were over 100 posts (I get a notification via e-mail). I’m glad we are getting some momentum already and anxious to see where this goes.
I encountered several obstacles in the lesson. We had some struggles with the school’s mobile computer lab. Some computers just would not connect to the internet. We did call Lisa (school’s Tech person) to have them looked at. Secondly, one student did post one slightly inappropriate item about a hotdog. I spoke with him and used my admin access to delete the post.
We encouraged the students to access Edmodo from home. This evening, there were over 100 posts (I get a notification via e-mail). I’m glad we are getting some momentum already and anxious to see where this goes.
September 5, 2012
I spoke with Alli (math teacher) about how she can use Edmodo for homework. We came up with some interesting ideas and decided to give students several homework options. I wrote a parent letter explaining this. Students can do a worksheet, time test, IXL, or respond to the teacher’s Edmodo post. Tonight’s response question was “How do you use math in your everyday life?” Looking forward to some great answers.
September 9, 2012
Originally, we thought we would have one page for each content area, math, writing, and science/social studies. Reading is a whole other animal at our school because of SFA. It’s obvious that our students also need their own page just to blog and talk with each other. So, we’ve decided to give them that outlet via a KSE Rocks! page. It’s adorable reading through their posts. We have one student that hardly talks in class and she’s posting all the time on the page. I do think it will be important to monitor this and make sure everything is appropriate.
We are still trying to decide what to do about parents. The fourth grade team did not feel like they are using the site effectively and want to give it some time to be productive before inviting parents. I agree and see how this project may be a large time commitment. I wrote a parent letter based on a sample letter from the Edmodo site. Still thinking on how to move forward.
We are still trying to decide what to do about parents. The fourth grade team did not feel like they are using the site effectively and want to give it some time to be productive before inviting parents. I agree and see how this project may be a large time commitment. I wrote a parent letter based on a sample letter from the Edmodo site. Still thinking on how to move forward.
September 12, 2012
Students have been working on posting their avatars. They were told that they could use one of the stock photos that Edmodo provides or take a head shot with “Photo Booth”. They love looking at each other’s photos and seem to get so excited to comment, even when they’re in the same room.
September 14, 2012
Introduced entire staff to Edmodo and today’s Collaboration Day. They were very excited about the concept and all seemed very interested. I shared some of our fourth grader’s posts and they were all very entertained. I made the realization that the site even’s the playing field socially for our students. Students that normally don’t socialize with certain students are now all talking to each other on the site. This is a very exciting unintended consequence.
Using social networking at a writing tool is now officially written into our Unified Improvement Plan (UIP). I’m excited that people are getting on board with multi-literacies and hopeful that our student’s passion for writing will increase as they gain a broader audience.
Using social networking at a writing tool is now officially written into our Unified Improvement Plan (UIP). I’m excited that people are getting on board with multi-literacies and hopeful that our student’s passion for writing will increase as they gain a broader audience.
September 15, 2012
I forgot to mention that I sent home a parent communication survey in the beginning of the year. I wanted to see how many parents would use various communication tools (including social media) to increase their participation in the school. I received our 200 surveys back and have stared at them on my coffee table for two weeks. I asked my mom if she was willing to tally the survey results and she was excited to help out. Anyway, dropped them off at the post office today and getting nervous that they’ll get lost in the mail!
If there is enough parent interest, we’ll really push to get the whole school and parents onto Edmodo. For now, we have the school website and a Facebook page. There are also grade level and school newsletters, auto-dialers, etc.
If there is enough parent interest, we’ll really push to get the whole school and parents onto Edmodo. For now, we have the school website and a Facebook page. There are also grade level and school newsletters, auto-dialers, etc.
September 24, 2012
Kids have been working on some songs to help them remember the latest math vocabulary. Check out tonight’s homework:
September 25, 2012
I hated to do it, but I had to erase two student’s posts because they were inappropriate. I felt like Big Brother! One girl posted a picture of a creepy van that said to call police if you see this car. I don’t need parents and kids getting worried over nothing. A boy posted something about meeting at his house to play after school. I only removed this because I specifically told them that this was not a use for Edmodo. I posted a gentle reminder on the main page about remember to think before you post. I’m trying to determine what next steps will be to make sure kids are the site for appropriate purposes. These kids have a need for social networking and are so excited. I’m sure many of their parents won’t allow them on Facebook. I still think it’s great that they are writing for a different purpose and having their voices heard to a greater audience.
I chose to put the following post up, hoping kids would get the hint as to why their inappropriate posts were deleted:
I chose to put the following post up, hoping kids would get the hint as to why their inappropriate posts were deleted:
September 26, 2012
Met with Darlene (Technology Teacher) to discuss how she can reinforce Edmodo when students go to their Technology class for specials. She’s excited to support and seems a bit confused about how the site works. I’m planning on co-teaching next week with her to model some of the site’s features. She’ll teach the same lesson with students on the following days. She’s was very interested in student’s contracts and asked for a copy so that will increase accountability.
September 30, 2012
Excited that kids are starting to post pictures. Donnavan posted the picture below. We didn’t teach them this, they figured it out on their own. Although I realize that there is little academic purpose at the moment, this is a good skill that we can carry over. It’s also a great way for kids to learn more about each other and see more into their home lives. Meeting with Alli (Mrs. Rickert) this week to brainstorm our next list of homework ideas.
October 2, 2012
Tonight’s Writing homework: Write a joke. I loved Daniel’s (see below):
October 3, 2012
Tonight’s Math homework:
October 8, 2012
Found Edmodo’s badges when I was playing around on the site this morning. I decided to give out a few to some students that do a lot of posting. By the end of the day, I had two students ask me how they could earn badges too. This may be a good tool to keep kids interested. I also spoke with Denise (writing teacher), I’d like to design a badge for each of the six traits. We can post students work samples that are exceptional advantages of the traits. Eventually, we talked about awarding students each badge as they mastered a trait in their writing.
October 12, 2012
Tonight’s math homework was for students to post a graph on the site. The majority of students seemed to just put graph into their google bar and drag the image. We’ve talked about copyright issues and giving credit for other’s work, but they missed that element on this assignment. Additionally, I don’t think there was much processing for the assignment. They hardly looked at the graphs before posting. Ideally, there would be class time or a follow-up assignment to compare/contrast or discuss the graphs.
October 13, 2012
I’m struggling a bit with the Edmodo project because I’m realizing the need for teacher’s “buy-in” in order for social networking to be successful at school. Without teachers posting, responding, and encouraging participation, the momentum seems to be dwindling. Although Alli is invested and posts the daily homework assignments, the other fourth grade teachers have don very little. They are on board if I sit with them and support the process of them getting content on the site.
Even the students seem to have lost their enthusiasm. There are the same students that post every night. Occasionally, other students post or if they get on the site during their Technology specials block, there is a lot of activity.
Still thinking about next steps and how to move forward. I believe that we’re teaching kids great skills. I also think it’s a great way to write across the content areas, help them achieve a greater audience, and provide variety to their homework options.
Even the students seem to have lost their enthusiasm. There are the same students that post every night. Occasionally, other students post or if they get on the site during their Technology specials block, there is a lot of activity.
Still thinking about next steps and how to move forward. I believe that we’re teaching kids great skills. I also think it’s a great way to write across the content areas, help them achieve a greater audience, and provide variety to their homework options.