I used Edmodo to create a social network for my Child Development class. We use the Baby Think It Over and it has really been a process for me to make it productive and purposeful, while also keeping everything organized. Unfortunately, I've nailed down a pretty good system, but the flaw is that students don't have access to my binders/calendar and they usually don't do a great job of keeping track of when their weekend with the baby is coming up. By using Edmodo, I'll be able to give them the ability to prepare for the project, discuss the project, learn from each other, post about their experience with the baby, and keep a group calendar. One of the added benefits is that this will also encourage interaction between my four different Child Development classes! :) When something goes really well or really badly in one class, the other three classes will have the opportunity to see and learn about it from the posts.
I have already posted an introduction, two assignments, and one note with directions for the calendar. The first assignment is intended to get the students thinking about and discussing the purpose of the project - they must read an article in my library and then post a response to it. Following the due date, I'm going to add an assignment for students to respond to several classmates' posts (again, it can be someone in their own or a different class!). The second assignment is a quiz that students will take after watching a video I've posted in my library. I'm hoping the video and the quiz might generate questions that students have about the experience and by posting it here, students from all four classes will benefit (and I'll only answer those questions once). All of this might also help students who have the baby at home if it's not going well - they can refer to the edmodo and figure out what's wrong.
You can find edmodo at http://www.edmodo.com/home and I all you need to see any group is a code. I have shared the code for my Child Development group on our class discussion board and would be happy to email that code to anyone who would like to join/check it out.
This is just the beginning and I definitely see the capabilities of this tool to be used in more ways in Child Development (and I've created a group for my Life Skills classes, though I haven't done anything with it yet). Additionally, I advise a club and have been able to begin using Edmodo with them to get organized.
So far, this project will help me meet these standards:
11.4.9.B: Evaluate health and safety hazards relating to children at each stage of child development.
11.4.12.B: Analyze current issues in health and safety affecting children at each stage of child development.
11.4.12.C: Analyze practices that optimize child development (e.g., stimulation, safe environment, nurturing caregivers, reading to children).
11.4.12.D: Analyze plans and methods to blend work and family responsibilities to meet the needs of children.
(A view of my profile page on Edmodo)
(A view of my Child Development group on Edmodo)
(A view of my calendar on Edmodo)
(A view of my Baby Think It Over library on Edmodo)
I used Edmodo to create a social network for my Child Development class. We use the Baby Think It Over and it has really been a process for me to make it productive and purposeful, while also keeping everything organized. Unfortunately, I've nailed down a pretty good system, but the flaw is that students don't have access to my binders/calendar and they usually don't do a great job of keeping track of when their weekend with the baby is coming up. By using Edmodo, I'll be able to give them the ability to prepare for the project, discuss the project, learn from each other, post about their experience with the baby, and keep a group calendar. One of the added benefits is that this will also encourage interaction between my four different Child Development classes! :) When something goes really well or really badly in one class, the other three classes will have the opportunity to see and learn about it from the posts.
I have already posted an introduction, two assignments, and one note with directions for the calendar. The first assignment is intended to get the students thinking about and discussing the purpose of the project - they must read an article in my library and then post a response to it. Following the due date, I'm going to add an assignment for students to respond to several classmates' posts (again, it can be someone in their own or a different class!). The second assignment is a quiz that students will take after watching a video I've posted in my library. I'm hoping the video and the quiz might generate questions that students have about the experience and by posting it here, students from all four classes will benefit (and I'll only answer those questions once). All of this might also help students who have the baby at home if it's not going well - they can refer to the edmodo and figure out what's wrong.
You can find edmodo at http://www.edmodo.com/home and I all you need to see any group is a code. I have shared the code for my Child Development group on our class discussion board and would be happy to email that code to anyone who would like to join/check it out.
This is just the beginning and I definitely see the capabilities of this tool to be used in more ways in Child Development (and I've created a group for my Life Skills classes, though I haven't done anything with it yet). Additionally, I advise a club and have been able to begin using Edmodo with them to get organized.
So far, this project will help me meet these standards:
11.4.9.B: Evaluate health and safety hazards relating to children at each stage of child development.
11.4.12.B: Analyze current issues in health and safety affecting children at each stage of child development.
11.4.12.C: Analyze practices that optimize child development (e.g., stimulation, safe environment, nurturing caregivers, reading to children).
11.4.12.D: Analyze plans and methods to blend work and family responsibilities to meet the needs of children.
(A view of my Child Development group on Edmodo)
(A view of my calendar on Edmodo)
(A view of my Baby Think It Over library on Edmodo)