Edmodo: I’m finally drinking the koolaid
Mar 10th, 2013 by Cathy Jo Nelson
How will I manage all these Edmodo groups!? After SCASL13, I find my sidebar of groups (ones I’ve joined) to be quite full. SCASL asked presenters to create an Edmodo group for conference sessions this year, and now that I’ve opted to join those conference session groups, I have to click “show all” to find ones I want to revisit. As I ponder this, I wonder how I will manage it? Let me tell you how. Now that I have a working understanding of the groups, once I decide there will be no more interactions to extend my learning, and I have taken the resources offered, I’ll leave that group.
Edmodo at first
My first experience with Edmodo came maybe 18 months ago. I read of the new “Facebook-like” app several years ago. It began in September 2008, and by the next summer was being raved by many in my PLN as the be all end all classroom app. I signed on for an account, but could not wrap my head around how I could use it in my teaching context. Afterall, I am a librarian, and every class in school is “my class.” Being in a school with 2600+ students, it seemed a bit overwhelming to begin promoting a code to join the library. I seriously believed my colibrarian and I would be overwhelmed with sheer numbers.
One more thing?
Don’t get me wrong, I manage other online spaces pretty well. In some I’m a lurker, others I’m an active participant, and even others I’ve created a spaced and actively recruited members. Edmodo to me seemed like one more place to navigate and manage, and just another option. It would add to my already too full plate. So while I could see the beauty of it, it was just one more thing to add to my teacher toolbox, one I didn’t have a lot of time for. Over the last few years I’ve promoted its use to my faculty, and I know of several who with my encouragement among other sources, actually jumped right into using Edmodo with their classes. Successfully. I even felt a little smug that I (essentially a non user) had convinced others to give it a try.
SC Edtech used it for virtual handouts and more
http://www.scaet.org/edtech/2012/
My first real experience with using Edmodo in a professional sense came from SCEdtech in the fall of 2012. The organizers asked us to create a group for our sessions, as that would be the conference endorsed way to digitally share online handouts. Dutifully as a presenter, I created my space, uploaded my links, presentation powerpoint, and digital handout. But I confess I never even looked back at it. The chatter about the conference was that even if you missed a session or had a session conflict, you could still get to the resources same day. I totally missed the part of interacting live with participants and having a back-channel happen in an “edmodo room,” but I did know some were exclaiming the virtues of it. I did keep getting notifications of new members. I never even looked back at it or even tried to interact with the group. Never took the opportunity to exchange ideas, interact, or crowdsource new and better to build on the foundation I lay in my session. I was too busy for Edmodo, and so just took a passing interest that eventually turned into indifference and disinterest. I even eventually deleted that group (horrors!) when the chatter died down, roughly four weeks or so after SC Edtech 2012. (Truthfully I wanted to forget it as I had issues with connectivity in the session, making me think it was sub par to my standard, and I had overwritten the absolute latest version of my presentation fifteen minutes before time. I couldn’t even use the pres in Edmodo, as it was a far cry from the one I had majorly tweaked and updated the night before. I really wanted to FORGET it forever, despite kind words from attendees and follow up emails. Maybe they didn’t understand the interaction feature of Edmodo either, so I wasn’t alone. But maybe-and probably more likely-they saw I wasn’t using the space that way either.)
Glad to be done and leaving!
I had to leave the conference early, right after my presentation that fateful day, as our family had lost a loved one, and so I drove away to be with them, which would really help me forget. I still cringe inwardly when I think of SC Edtech 2012. But I will probably be back in 2013.
Fast-forward to SCASL 2013
Jennifer Tazerouti. IT Chair
Jennifer Tazerouti, aka “AuntieLibrarian,” and current SCASL Information Technology Committee Chair convinced the SCASL Board to go the route of Edmodo for our conference handouts this year. Sigh. Here we go again! So I reacquainted myself with Edmodo, tweaking my space some. I decided I really needed to understand it better, so worked to develop my profile. I found and joined some communities, created a badge for my session attendees (#fail since teachers can’t award teachers badges), and waited for interaction to begin. I also selected a few sessions (groups) from SCASL13 to join. Hey, I’m not 100% sure it was her brainstorm, but I am 100% sure who made me feel comfortable using it.
And then the light came on!
Keith Curry Lance at SCASL13
Since I had signed up to attend Keith Curry Lance’s preconference session, I joined his group too. Later I found out this was his first experience with Edmodo. But I must say, he hit the ground running. He modeled for me a professional use of Edmodo as it should be–sharing his presentation materials, links, and most importantly discussion and pushback on my own thinking as we interacted with him and other session attendees in his group space. He posted all his session presentations (preconference, break-out session, and keynote) in this space. This confused some initially since the group was titled Preconference, but it didn’t take long for most to forgive that issue and plow right into asking questions and engaging in virtual conversations around his topics.
I’ve grown!
So now I have a whole new appreciation for this school-friendly tool, and even how i can use it professionally as well as with students. I’m going to create some more groups and get some students interacting in it too! It IS a great thing. Hey, why not connect with me there??
So now I want you to wow me with how you have used it. Do tell.
- Edmodo Sign-up Page image came from http://middleschool.wiki.lovett.org
- SC Edtech Logo - http://www.scaet.org/edtech/2012/
- Jennifer Tazerouti and Dr. Keith Curry Lance – SCASL13 Confernece Set http://www.flickr.com/photos/scasl/sets/72157632903007213/
- Facebook Like Button – via FlickrCC http://www.flickr.com/photos/18090920@N07/5684115572
- My Edmodo Profile Screenshot (right from my desktop)
I was happy to see this used at SCASL, as we used it this year in the Media Center with our Book Club. Our district also used it for our technology in-service day in much the same way SCASL did – to post handouts and get feedback.
YES! How did I ever miss the boat so bad at Edtech? I just need to keep saying to myself–Self, the world does not revolve around you!
Thanks for the shout out~! My use of edmodo with students waxes and wanes. But, I find myself returning to it more frequently for peer to peer networking and suggestions. I am a big fan of the communities. Anne Lemieux and I were at the Upstate Technology Conference and liked the way they used edmodo. And I have to admit, my first reaction to it was not positive. Then, I sat in a session on iMovie and joined the edmodo group during the session on my ipad. I was hooked from that moment on, cause I am a geek who asks LOTS of questions when I am really excited about a topic. Edmodo really helped me there! I am glad you found edmodo to be helpful at SCASL. I think it was worth all the work. And, looking at it now, its almost like we had another day of virtual conference after conference was officially over. (There’s an idea for you!) LOL.
You are so right. I’ve been visiting sessions virtually all weekend. And I think this is so much better than a link on the website.
One more thing … Ellen Bunch gave us a great idea to make what almost seems to be our own Goodreads or Shelfari using Edmodo badges. That is something I am jumping into with both feet. Can’t wait to try it with my students.
I have also been visiting sessions this weekend. I have “forced” myself to sit down and transfer files of interest from edmodo and PaperDesk (my notes) to my personal files. I actually put the files where they would go instead of just creating an Evernote SCASL13 folder or personal folder as I have done in the past. Thinking I will use it more this way.
Professionally, I would like to begin using edmodo with my teachers. I think I will introduce it during Tuesday’s Tech Tips in Ten!
With students, I am thinking of a summer book club, using the ideas, tips and suggestions of Betsy Long, Valerie Byrd Fort (& company!) from the “Traditional Concept with a 21st Century Approach” presentation.
Being able to go through the edmodo groups over the weekend really helped me to focus my learning and think about the future. Hopefully, it will also help me to follow through…
Monica Roveri´s last [type] ..StarBooks Café: Now Open!
So sad I missed SCASL this year, but I was at SCEdTech, and it was definitely hit or miss there on whether or not Edmodo was used to the max. I’ve been using Edmodo for the past couple years, mainly to gather resources. I trained a LOT of teachers and media specialists in Greenville County and it seems several teachers/schools have taken off with it. I had the same struggles with how to use it with 1000 kids, but this year I bit the bullet and made a generic media center group. I cannot BELIEVE the amount of peer to peer recommendations that happen, and I actually had a great moment to address parental “censorship” with my middle schoolers as well. I kept up with who read the SC JBA books using badges, and the kids loved it! I have 5-6 teachers who use Edmodo with their classes, and I know there are teams of teachers using Edmodo to conduct virtual meetings. I also maintain pages to help teachers transition to Common Core with resources and articles, which has been helpful as the chatter increases. It’s a great tool, both for professional development, and maintaining a safe online presence for your students!
Thank you for this blog, love your ideas. Have you heard of the Edmodo Rap to teach kids about social media? My students love it. I found it at http://www.commoncorerap.com My students have really enjoyed the Science Rap Videos from http://www.commoncorerap.com to learn the vocabulary songs for each unit. I post the Science Rap Videos to my class Edmodo page and the students can view them from home, I then give them tickets the next day for studying from home.