TWO EMERGIING TECHNOLOGIES "BLOGGNIG AND EDMODO"

For my major assignment I have chosen cloud computing and Personal Learning Environments. However, the more research I do and the more I am on the computer looking for different technologies, I keep coming back to this “blogging” thing.  A teacher in Alexandria, Virginia has captured the spotlight with his American History blog. Although blogging is not new or emerging, I am finding out tons of positive things that will help educate.

 Using blogs in the classroom has many advantages and yes some disadvantages.  First, I’d like get the disadvantages out of the way.  From reading this post on the National Education Association, Those of us who are located in economically disadvantage (ed) areas may find it harder to acquire the technology to use blogs or any other computer assisted program. For example where I am located we are over 80 percent “ed” students and ours is a small school district with very limited resources.  This is probably the only real disadvantage I think with time will be slowly overcome.  As a side note, we are putting together a limited cloud computing capability, very limited.

Now to what I see as a revolutionary way of teaching students of all age levels.  A quote in the post states, “The best thing a teacher told me when I was learning to teach was that you need to teach the kids how they learn and not how you learn” (Graham, 2013).  This blog provides students the capability getting information from around world without getting out there seats.  Some of the advantages are teacher to teacher collaboration, student to student exchange of information, one on one capability (making another blog just for that student or smaller number of students), and inexpensive and time and space saving ability (no textbooks to store or maintain) (Graham, 2013).

 http://neatoday.org/2013/05/24/virginia-teachers-blogs-get-national-following/

 The next technology that is making a movement is “EDMODO”

Since “Facebook” is blocked by many if not all school districts, there is an alternative.  Enter Edmodo, a free, easy alternative designed for teachers.  This application multiple uses that include but not limited to assignment, quiz, and polling applications and students can submit their homework or other assignments through the site (Chandband, 2012). Submitting assignments via “edmodo” will save teachers the mountain of paperwork that will accumulate on their desk (like I have right now before finals).  It only takes a minute for teachers to sign up on Edmodo, and after they invite their students onto the site, teachers can post questions or comments, similar to a Facebook status update, and students can reply (Chandband, 2012). This is the good part, it is free.  This application can teach responsible use of social media thus encouraging students to read.  Again this allows some form of collaboration between teachers thus exchanging ideas and teaching strategies that will only enhance student learning and success.

http://www.nea.org/tools/53459.htm


I may not like facebook but I am quickly finding alternatives that are student centered and user friendly.