Edmodo Group Discussion Tips

Sources: Colleen Lee (Pinetree Secondary) help.edmodo.com/training-resources/

What is Edmodo?
Free social learning network for teachers, students, schools and districts Provides an engaging platform for blended learning and safe, productive social networking Safe and easy way to:
Connect Exchange ideas Share content Access homework, grades and school notices.

Create Your Account

Teacher Landing Page

Post assignments, reminders, polls, or discussion questions

Create Groups for Classes

Encourage collaboration and participation in classroom discussions

My Landing Page

Create a Group
1. Select Create on groups menu 2. Complete group info 3. Distribute code to group members

Student Sign-up
Student must have group code to register

Students are NOT required to give email address

However Ask them to use their sd43 mail account

Student view

Students receive notifications for new grades, new assignments, alerts or replies

Students can only join groups, they cannot create them

Students can only send messages to the entire group or directly to the teacher

Student Access After Registering

Access via any computer using Edmodo.com Access using their smart phone with a free app App found by searching App Store (iPhone/Android) for Edmodo

Managing Your Groups

Whos in? Whos not in? Are they allowed to post to the group or read only?

Manage Groups
On the LEFT side of your home page click on the group you want to manage

On the RIGHT side of your home page you will see a list of the members of that group. Click on the Manage

Click on a Student to
Delete them from the group Set them to Read Only (they cant post)

Starting the Discussion- Topic

Ensure all students are in the group Establish the discussion topic
EG. Its a good idea for high school kids to have part-time jobs

Ensure Access
Confirm Accessibility: You will need to use a computer/device that allows you to receive updates/alerts and input in Japanese. This discussion can be done using:
School computers Home computer Smart phone with Edmodo App

Establish the Discussion Timeframe

DATES: WEEK OF FEB 27-MAR 1 Discussion Start The teacher will start the discussion on Monday Feb. 27 at 7:45am by entering the topic to be discussed.

Set the Rules

You will reply to the whole group when you contribute to the thread. Reference to a person using @name eg. @Julie This is a regular/polite discussion using proper English (no texting abbreviations) Your language use should reflect studied concepts School District 43 Code of Conduct applies

Clarify the Marking Rubric

Threaded Discussion Rubric* Score Quality of Discussion

5 POINTS - Excellent
Insightful and reflective discussion contributions; Elaboration of various ideas throughout the discussion; expands upon ideas presented in discussion; Multiple contributions to the discussion; language reflects concepts studied.

3 POINTS - Acceptable
Elaboration and contribution to one or two ideas within the discussion; Participated in both halves of the discussion to the minimum amount; language mostly reflects concepts studied

1 POINT - Marginal
Simple insight or contribution to the topic; Only participated in Part 1 of the discussion

Rubric Source: Rizopoulos and McCarthy

http://web2integration.pbworks.com/f/USING+ONLINE+THREADED+DISCUSSIONS+BEST+PRACTICES+FOR+THE+DIGITAL+LEARNER.pdf

Establish Participation Deadlines

MARKING AND PARTICIPATION DEADLINES Part 1: By Tuesday Feb 28 12:45pm (you must do this to be eligible for part 2): - at least one contribution giving your initial point of view - At least one response to anothers post referring to them by name @ sign eg. @Julie Part 2: From Tues. Feb 28 12:45 pm until Friday Mar 2 at 7:45am -at least 5 other contributed comments in total directly supporting/ elaborating upon your point and at least 2 of these must directly refer to anothers post.

Let the Discussion Begin

Monitor Part 1 Participation

At the end of deadline 1
Visually scan names checking for your participation criteria to be met. All entries are date stamped if you have a time limit Setting to read only those who dont meet criteria (they cant post at this point)

At the end of Deadline 2

Close the discussion with a post to the group Print out the discussion thread if youd like

Marking the Discussion

Marking as per the initial Rubric Quickly scan for student names to review posts I used a class list and checked each time I saw/read a post from a student to ensure that they met their 5.

Small Group Option

You can have students placed into smaller subgroups (make sure youre in it too!) They can still discuss the same topic or they may be discussing different ones. Small Groups option is under Manage (right side of screen above group members)

Manage Groups

Other Uses for Edmodo

I use Edmodo for my IDS classes
Perfect for small group management Allows me to maintain my separate library of handouts etc Integrates with my email so I dont have to log into two systems to receive email from kids Perfect for discussion related topics

My Japanese IDS Home Page