Get Trained to Use Edmodo in 40 minutes!

It looks like my principal is going to require teachers to either regularly use a website or use Edmodo in their classes. As a teacher who knows a good deal about both resources, I am promoting that teachers use Edmodo. I particularly enjoy how easy it is for teacher post messages, assignments, videos, quizzes, polls for students. Additionally, Edmodo allows teachers to participate in professional learning groups. I particularly enjoy receiving tips for iCivics.org.

Edmodo keeps it simple for teachers. As I have learned in my seven years as a teacher, an easier to use technology tool will actually be used by teachers compared to fancy, high learning curve tools. Because Edmodo looks similar to Facebook and requires little user maintenance/organization, I believe more teachers would prefer the Internet learning tool.

I do still use my website, though I don't plan to erase it quite yet. I have many resources that my students and students from all over the world use. Nevertheless, if you are just beginning the process of using technology in your classroom, Edmodo is a great place to start!

If you are seriously considering using Edmodo in the upcoming school year, I highly recommend you set aside 40 minutes and watch this presentation about Edmodo and how it can be used in your classroom!

Supalogo is "Super Cool"!

First off, excuse the dry teacher humor, but I really enjoy Supalogo for creating logos and titles for worksheets and websites. It is super simple to use. Type in a word or words and change the various settings to create your own logo. The only downside is that there is a limit on words you can turn into a logo. Nevertheless, if you are like me and enjoy making your own classroom signs, you will enjoy using Supalogo all year round!


Here is an example of something I created to use on my website:

FutureMe.org...Send an email to yourself in the Future!

I recently came across Futureme.org. This wonderful website allows people to send an email to themselves in the future. As we close out the year, a teacher could have their students write letters to themselves about summer goals or perhaps have students predict who might be president after the November elections. I am contemplating using the website at the beginning of next year for students to write an email that would be delivered either the day before or after they take their AP US Government and Politics exam.

The website is relatively easy to navigate. I highly recommend you check it out!

Screenshot of the website

Edmodo Update...

So far I have had only positive experiences with Edmodo. I am in the process of having my current AP US Government and Politics class use Edmodo...they are my guinea pigs! So far, they have all expressed positive comments. The first words many said when they saw the website was "This looks like Facebook". Through their comments and assistance, we have figure out how to link their Google Docs account and turn in assignments. I particularly like how Edmodo allows my students and me to link our Google Docs accounts in order to share materials.

I posted a message on the AP US GoPo list serv last week asking for feedback from current Edmodo users and the results were overwhelmingly positive. I can see why many teachers like how one can administer and monitor student discussions. I like how I can post written questions, images, videos and request students to respond through their comments. I plan on experimenting with the quiz and poll features this week.

Overall, I am excited with Edmodo and look forward to rolling it out next year with ALL of my classes. I would like to pass on the following Edmodo resources to help you rollout Edmodo in your school or classroom. All of these resources come directly from Edmodo:

- General Rollout Resources
- Training Resources

Edmodo

What is Edmodo? (from Edmodo.com) 

"Edmodo provides teachers and students a secure place to connect and collaborate, share content and educational applications, and access homework, grades, class discussions and notifications. Our goal is to help educators harness the power of social media to customize the classroom for each and every learner."

This video above gives an overview of Edmodo...

I like to use the last few weeks of the school year to experiment with potentially new assignments and technology items in order to get ready for the next school year. A colleague at another high school told me he uses Edmodo with his students and they love it. He sold me by saying how Edmodo has a free App for Iphone and Android and how the website is geared towards students who primarily access the internet via mobile device.  Edmodo also allows a user to connect their Google Docs to their account. 


The interface looks eerily similar to Facebook...something I think is great for students since they are already accustomed to social media websites. I am excited to see how Edmodo works in the coming weeks. A teacher can do polls, create TIMED quizzes, and allow students to submit assignments through EDMODO. The teacher can also allow students to post discussion questions, though this feature can be managed by the teacher. A teacher can post videos, links, and create class calendars...As you can see, there are many wonderful resources. 


Over the next few weeks I will share my experiences...So far, I am impressed!

Edutopia & What's Your Learning Style?

One of my favorite education websites is Edutopia. The website allows for teachers to collaborate on a wide range of education issues. As the image below notes, I found this cool survey that analyzes a person's learning style. As the year winds down and I start to reflect, I am considering having my students do this survey in the beginning of the year.

Another great (and free) feature is their section of Classroom Guides. These guides provide information on many topics facing novices and experienced professionals. For instance, they have guides on classroom management, creating a Facebook group for parents, brain based learning strategies, and many more topics. I plan on perusing these items in the coming months.

There are countless more resources for teachers at Edutopia. I hope these two I listed above help you!

Quoted in the Washington Post

Michael Allison Chandler just published a story in the Washington Post analyzing how free materials are affecting the textbook industry. It's a great article showing different perspectives behind the changes currently happening between schools and textbook companies.

As my quote states, it can be overwhelming for a teacher having so many wonderful resources at one's fingertips. Nevertheless, I am not complaining :) I would rather have more resources than less.

In previous posts, I have written about the free FlatWorld Knowldge Ebooks (and ancillaries), as well as Hippocampus.org's FREE online classes in various subjects. I use Hippocampus' site to help my students review content for the AP exam. My students like how you can view/listen to a multimedia presentation and/or read information. Both of these websites make up a big backbone of my AP US Government and Politics class.

Happy Reading!