The Edmodo Learning App

The app that I selected and tried is called “Edmodo” on https://www.edmodo.com/. I downloaded it from the App store and installed it on my smartphone. From my experience, it is a highly interactive app, which has a messaging tool that works like an instant messaging tool. Once one installs the application, they have to create an account either as a teacher, or student. I created the teacher account for the demonstration. With the teacher account, I am able to create learning communities with students and other tutors. I can identify and search for learning resources such as books, articles, photos among others, and share them with my students and/or fellow teachers in the learning community. All of this is possible under the “Stream” feature. The other feature is the “Classes,” which allows the teacher to engage with their students, sharing and communicating with the students. I can create several classes, and manage them using the app to track the learning process, upload class materials such as tutorials, and update them as the need may be. This features lets the teacher to manage assignments, learning materials uploaded, and the discussions.

There is also a “Messages” feature, which lets the instructor create and send messages to students in the various classes they manage, as well as other teachers that may be involved in a particular class or forum. The students are able to communicate with the teachers via messages, and the teacher can manage those messages using this feature. The messaging service is instant, so it saves time and enhances connectivity. What is more, the app offers a ”Notifications” features, which enables the teachers to stay up to date with all the alerts, class activities and any requests that may be received from students, other classes, and learning groups. So, the teacher can keep up with class anywhere, as long as they have they smartphone that has the app installed.

A teacher can also create and manage groups, and maintain a library where they can add links to resources, files, folders and photo resources. The user can easily access the library and read or share these library resources with their students and other participants in groups/classes. I also found the “What’s Due” tab highly resourceful, because it allows the teacher to create and manage assignments, including tracking the submissions on the go, without the limitation of location.

As I tried the Edmodo app, it is obvious that it would be a resourceful technology in a school library setting. As we have learned this week, the idea of integrating the relevant technologies is to streamline the teaching process, make learning fun and engaging, and ultimately enhance the learning outcomes of the learners (McGrath et al., 2011). For example, as I described the features that the app offers, it is evident that a teacher can use the app to create a collaborative learning experience, where teachers and students can participate in learning groups. Here, students and teachers can share learning resources such as websites and articles. This can be quite resourceful in terms of enriching discussions on a topic. Librarians and teachers can use this tool to identify and upload the relevant library resources that are needed in teaching a certain class. This can go a long way in enhancing the learning process.

Also, since the learners can also create accounts and join learning groups, the app can be used to enhance student engagements through discussion forums and sharing of ideas and learning resources. If a student finds a resource that is relevant to a topic, they can share it with the classmates, thereby boosting the learning process in an online classroom setting. The fact that a teacher can create, manage and track assignments and submission also provides an opportunity to enhance the learning and teaching process. It would enable the tutor to save time and experience more convenience in managing the assignment and giving feedback. This can be applied to both the online and offline classroom settings since all a user needs is a smartphone to access materials and participate in a discussion. As a result, overall the Edmodo app can simplify the teaching experience for teachers and allow them to plan and delivery educational content more efficiently. On the other hand, the learners benefit from an engaging and interesting learning process, which could potentially lead to better learning outcomes.

Reference

McGrath, J., Karabas, G., & Willis. J. (2011). From TPACK concept to TPACK practice: An analysis of the suitability and usefulness of the concept as a guide in the real world of teacher development. International Journal of Technology in Teaching and Learning, 7(1), 1-23.