Edmodo: Where Learning Happens

Edmodo is emerging as one of the frontiers when it comes to Content Management Systems (CMS) for education. Teachers and learners call it as the Facebook for school. Its features are similar to the said social network site. 

Edmodo Welcome Screen

Nic Borg and Jeff O'Hara designed this 21st Century learning tool with the goal of closing the gap between how students live their lives and how they learn in school. Although, most schools block social networks to avoid distraction while learning, these two IT experts clung to the  idea of harnessing the power of a safe and secured social networking to connect teachers and learners anytime and anywhere. It is also designed to support the K-12 curriculum that is why it is very timely that all Filipino teachers should also learn and practice this tool.

What are the features of Edmodo that we can maximize to connect ourselves with the learners and to other people and resources? While visiting their site, I immediately checked their about section and learned that there are four key features of Edmodo that would really convince us to use it. These features are as follows:

1. Engage - Edmodo is designed to engage students and take an active role in their own learning. Interactions between the teachers and learners can be extended through online discussions, polls and surveys. Giving feedback to the learners' output is also possible. There are even badges that students can collect after a remarkable performance and behavior. 
2. Connect - Teachers will act as the center of powerful networks of students, fellow teachers, administrators and even parents. The moment that you signed up for an account in Edmodo, you will be asked to create groups for each of your class. Each group will have a group code that you can distribute to your students. The students will use the group code to sign up for an account and become part of your group. Emails are optional in signing up for a student account.
3. Measure - Edmodo has its very effective way of measuring the progress of our students. The teachers can create online quizzes with automatic scoring and grading system. You can also pulse the student reactions to the quizzes, assignments and discussions. Cool badges for great performance and nice behaviors are easily available. You can even create and share your own badges. 
4. Personalize - To amplify an effective learning plan, there are many applications that can be integrated as supplemental to normal online class instructions. The teachers can access both free and premium applications in Edmodo Store. 

I would say that Edmodo is a very promising learning tool. There is no doubt that both teachers and learners will benefit from this. It is just that teachers should have the right attitude towards technology used to improve education. But probably many are still skeptic about Edmodo and even other ICT tools integrated in teaching and learning. However, like many progressive countries, we need to revolutionize our education and emerge with best practices integrating technology to produce graduates that are competent enough to face this fast-changing world. 

It just needs your little time and effort to learn this very powerful ICT tool. 

So sign up for a FREE ACCOUNT (yup, it's true ... the best things in life are FREE!) 

Here's the link: http://www.edmodo.com