Edmodo,

PLEASE!!?
By: Mustapha Cabbell

The safest and easiest way for

educators to connect and
collaborate with students,
parents, and each other
(Edmodo, n.d.).

Benefit 1: Social
platform for students
ISTE Standard Addressed:

2. Communication and collaboration Students use digital media and

environments to communicate and work
collaboratively, including at a distance,
to support individual learning and
contribute to the learning of others.

a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with

peers, experts, or others employing a
variety of digital environments and
media

b. Communicate information and ideas

effectively to multiple audiences using a
variety of media and formats

c. Develop cultural understanding and

global awareness by engaging with
learners of other cultures
(ISTE Standards for Students, n.d.)

(Powered With Technology: Using Social

Media in the Classroom, Part Four: Edmodo,
n.d.).

Says:
The chat features of Edmodo allow students to
broaden both the type and amount of their
communication offering them opportunities to
increase their confidence and motivation. Edmodo
can also help a student overcome isolation, providing
a shy student with information that facilitates faceto-face encounters with other students or with the
teacher (Al-Kathiri, 2015).
- Since this is an educational social network and students can
chat among their friends, it is a less threatening atmosphere
with instant responses.

Benefit 2: Academic discussion

for students outside the
classroom
ISTE Standard Addressed:

5. Digital citizenship - Students

understand human, cultural, and
societal issues related to technology
and practice legal and ethical behavior.

Learn anywhere!!
.well, just about anywhere!

a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and

responsible use of information and
technology

b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using

technology that supports collaboration,
learning, and productivity

c. Demonstrate personal responsibility for

lifelong learning

d. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship

(Edmodo as a PLN, 2014).

(ISTE Standards for Students, n.d.)

Says:
The teachers contributions online such as answering questions or
clarifying were in turn, less frequent, as the students were encouraged to
engage in such interactions. (Thibaut, 2015).
- Students answer each others questions. What better way to learn?
Research on knowledge development have found that individuals gain
understanding of concepts when explaining it to others (Al-Kathiri, 2015).
- If students understand concepts well enough to explain it to others, then
students are proficient with the material.
Research on knowledge development have found that individuals gain
understanding of concepts when explaining it to others
(Al-Kathiri, 2015).
- Teachers have constantly been told that students learn 90% of what they
teach. On Edmodo, students are continuously teaching their peers.

Benefit 3: Teachers can

post assignments for
students
ISTE Standard Addressed:

3. Research and information

fluency -Students apply digital
tools to gather, evaluate, and use
information.

a. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate,

synthesize, and ethically use
information from a variety of
sources and media

b. Evaluate and select information

sources and digital tools based on
the appropriateness of specific tasks

c. Process data and report results

(ISTE Standards for Students, n.d.)

(Edmodo: A social network that works in the

classroom #mace2010, 2010)

Research
Says:

As a Course Management System, Edmodo facilitates uploading,

storing and sharing of learning resources in the form of courses,
assessments, documents and manuals that complement students inclass learning. It also serves as a document repository allowing students
to gain access to relevant classroom materials 24/7 and making EFL
instruction a continuous process that is not limited to the seating
capacity of the classroom (Al-Kathiri, 2015).
- Assignments can be uploaded on Edmodo so that they are readily
available and accessible for students. Students can present work on
Edmodo and receive lots of feedback.

Benefit 4: Development of
English and reading skills
ISTE Standard Addressed:

2. Communication and collaboration Students use digital media and

environments to communicate and work
collaboratively, including at a distance, to
support individual learning and contribute
to the learning of others.

a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with

peers, experts, or others employing a
variety of digital environments and media

b. Communicate information and ideas

effectively to multiple audiences using a
variety of media and formats

c. Develop cultural understanding and

global awareness by engaging with
learners of other cultures

d. Contribute to project teams to produce

original works or solve problems
(ISTE Standards for Students, n.d.)

(GM English Learning, n.d.)

Research
Says:

Edmodo can facilitate the development of English language skills. It is

found to be helpful in acquiring new English vocabulary (100%),
sharing writing with teacher and peers (95%), improving spelling and
grammar (85%), enjoying reading experiences (85.7%), and developing
listening skills (76 %) (Al-Kathiri, 2015).
- Students really dislike writing, especially using pencil and paper.
However, they constantly text and use social media. Since it is an
academic program, rules are set to use appropriate standards of
English. Therefore, English or grammar skills are practiced and
observed.

Benefit 5: Online Assessments

teacher or student created
ISTE Standard Addressed:

4. Critical thinking, problem solving,

and decision making - Students use
critical thinking skills to plan and conduct
research, manage projects, solve
problems, and make informed decisions
using appropriate digital tools and
resources.

a. Identify and define authentic problems

and significant questions for investigation

b. Plan and manage activities to develop a

solution or complete a project

c. Collect and analyze data to identify

solutions and/or make informed decisions

d. Use multiple processes and diverse

perspectives to explore alternative
solutions
(More accurate assessments, n.d.)

(ISTE Standards for Students, n.d.)

Research
Says:

Edmodo is a free social learning platform where teachers can create

groups and subgroups to assign content, share schedules, create quizzes,
and conduct polls in just a few steps (Metzger, 2014).
- A section in Edmodo allows teachers to create quizzes. Can you think of
a better way for different reading groups to take a quiz?
Edmodo Snapshots allow teachers to create math or English Language
Arts quizzes from a test bank of over 1,000 questions aligned to Common
Core State Standards (CCSS). The Snapshots provide quick assessment
data to determine student progress, and links to free online resources to
reteach missed standards (Metzger, 2014).
- Snapshots is a great way for students to review for the standardized
testing. It can be done at school or at home.

Benefit 6:
Collaboration
ISTE Standard Addressed:

2. Communication and collaboration

-Students use digital media and
environments to communicate and
work collaboratively, including at a
distance, to support individual learning
and contribute to the learning of others.

a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with

peers, experts, or others employing a
variety of digital environments and
media

b. Communicate information and ideas

effectively to multiple audiences using
a variety of media and formats

c. Develop cultural understanding and

global awareness by engaging with
learners of other cultures

d. Contribute to project teams to produce

original works or solve problems
(ISTE Standards for Students, n.d.)

(Castle Rock Innovations, n.d.)

Research
Says:

Any content that a student posts instantly starts receiving comments,

reviews, opinions, and additional information on that topic either by the
teacher or by other students in Edmodo groups. By doing this, more
discussions can be formed, and more avenues can be created for
fostering independence and self-directed learning (Al-Kathiri, 2015).
- Students who normally do not speak out publicly collaborate with others
in a way with which they are comfortable. So often, the quiet students
have great ideas to add. In these discussions students are not stopped to
move on to the next subject matter.
Knowledge is no longer contained in places defined by geography and
can be shared (Al-Kathiri, 2015).
- Learning continues outside the classroom walls.

Benefit 7: Safe Learning

Environment

ISTE Standard Addressed:

5. Digital citizenship - Students

understand human, cultural, and
societal issues related to technology
and practice legal and ethical
behavior.

a. Advocate and practice safe, legal,

and responsible use of information
and technology

b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward

using technology that supports
collaboration, learning, and
productivity

c. Demonstrate personal responsibility

for lifelong learning

d. Exhibit leadership for digital

citizenship
(ISTE Standards for Students, n.d.)

(Edmodo: A social network that works in the

classroom #mace2010, 2010)

Research
Says:

It looks similar to Facebook, but is much more private and safe for a
learning environment because it allows only teachers to create and
manage accounts, and only their students, who receive a group code and
register in the group, can access and join the group (Al-Kathiri, 2015).
- Teachers form groups, and students must use a code in order to join.
The teacher is notified by email when students post.

References

Al-Said, K. M. (2015). Students perceptions of Edmodo and mobile learning and their real barriers towards
them. Turkish Online Journal Of Educational Technology - TOJET, 14(2), 167-180.
Al-Kathiri, F. (2015). Beyond the classroom walls: Edmodo in Saudi secondary school EFL instruction,
attitudes and challenges. English Language Teaching, 8(1), 189-204.
Castle Rock Innovations. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.castlellc.com/collaboration.aspx
Edmodo as a PLN. (2014). Retrieved from http://msrodrigues.global2.vic.edu.au/2014/06/22/edmodoas-a- pln/
Edmodo | Connect with students and parents in your paperless classroom. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://
www.edmodo.com/
Edmodo: A social network that works in the classroom #mace2010. (2010). Retrieved from http://
www.speedofcreativity.org/2010/03/05/edmodo-a-social-network-that-works-in-the-classroom- mace2010/
GM English Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.gotmesh.org/think-about-it/3-best-movies-to-helpyou- learn-the-english-language/
ISTE Standards for Students. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards/
standards-for-students.
More accurate assessments. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.passged.com/educators/ged-assessment.php
Powered With Technology: Using Social Media in the Classroom, Part Four: Edmodo. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.poweredwithtechnology.com/2014/10/using-social-media-in-classroom-part.html
Thibaut, P. (2015). Social network sites with learning purposes: Exploring new spaces for literacy and
learning in
the primary classroom. Australian Journal Of Language & Literacy, 38(2), 83-94.