Module C: Introduction to the Collaborative use of Technology

This week I examined the website Edmodo (http://www.edmodo.com.) Edmodo can be described as an educational version of Facebook. Students create their own profile and make connections with teachers and other students. Teachers can make groups, specific to certain classes, such as Year 7 English and invite their students to join the group and lines for communication are opened. Members of the group are able to participate in discussions, access notes and assignment information, attempt quizzes and participate in polls.  This tool involves mostly reading and writing, with some viewing. Students may be required to recall information when answering quizzes, apply information and knowledge for various assignments, and create their own notes, quizzes or polls. This tool can be utilized in the classroom and at home, teachers would need to demonstrate how to use this tool and assist students in creating their own profiles and navigating the various functions of the tool. Further to this written communication is essential as the website involves students being able to comprehend written notes from teachers in regards to general information and assignments, as well as written communication from peers involving discussions, quizzes and polls. This tool could be effectively used in various secondary English classrooms for differing topics. Students could be studying a poem and be asked to ‘discuss’ a certain technique in the poem, students could also be asked to create a quiz or poll regarding character’s in a novel and answer others’ quizzes and polls. In all Edmodo is a very effective tool that can be used to encourage communication between students and teachers, collaboration amongst students and finally peer evaluation and support.