Authentic Learning with technology

Herrington and Kervin’s 10 principlesCreated By Lauren Schelin and Alice

Winter

This is Edmodo…

1. Authentic Context• Edmodo is an example of how knowledge is used and shared in real world social and

professional online communities. It can act as a good introduction to how these

communities operate and how to use them.

• Some examples of online social communities are facebook, twitter and myspace. Some

Professional online communities that teachers can use include Proteacher,

The Teachers Corner, Teachnology and The Primary Teacher Resource Centre.

• Edmodo can be used by students at home and school therefore connecting home and

school life. It enables the learning done at school to continue being explored at home

at the student’s own pace. This can be in collaboration with other students, with the

assistance of the teacher or individually.

• for Teachers

• Edmodo can teach students online safety and how to behave as online citizens.

• Students are instructed to choose their own unique password for their account and are

taught the importance of keeping their password secure.

• No private information is required and students are taught why this is important.

• When the teacher creates a group the group is given a code which is only given to the

students. This keeps the group private and secure.

• Students are instructed on appropriate online behaviour in using Edmodo. Although if

there are any issues with cyber bullying or inappropriate online behaviour the teacher

has full management control and is able to see all student activity.

• for Teachers

2. Authentic Activities• Tasks reflect activities from real world online communities such as; facebook,

twitter, blogs, professional learning forums and polls.

• The teacher can create structured activities to reflect real word problems, such as

a class poll for students to voice their opinions on playground rules, and suggest

changes.

Students are given opportunities to communicate in online forums and answer questions from the teacher and other students similarly to real world social or public discussion forums.

Discussing views in an online forum format about learning content

Students can share information and comment on what other students have written.

Using knowledge learnt in class to answer polls on learning content and applying this knowledge to practical situations.

• for Teachers • The teacher can put Edmodo on the smartboard and model to students how it can be

used.

• Teachers could show this PowerPoint presentation to introduce students and teachers

to Emdodo and explain how they can use it.

• On Edmodo teachers can post links to what pervious students have completed through

Edmodo such as videos, photos and podcasts.

• Students can use Edmodo to ask questions of the teacher or peers for homework and

school activities

• Expert demonstration and informal chat with other teachers and the Edmodo support

team can help teachers learn how to use Edmodo in the classroom

3. Expert Performance

This YouTube Video could be used to explain how to use Edmodo

Teachers can post podcasts, images and YouTube clips as examples and

explanations to assist them in their learning.

• For example, as shown here the teacher could post a video from YouTube of how to

do long multiplication. This will help students when they are doing their homework

at home and will give them another explanation from an expert.

• A google image expert example is below.

• for Teachers

• Edmodo allows students to investigate multiple ideas, roles and perspectives. On

the homepage students view different people giving multiple points of view such

as teachers, other students, the librarian and teachers aides.

• Teachers can upload different media-external links, such as; podcasts, videos,

WebPages and presentations. These also offer different perspectives and expert

knowledge.

• One example of this would be links to historical sources from ww1 showing

different perspectives from different sides of the war, either linked to different

media sources or embedded into the Edmodo library.

4. Multiple Roles and Perspectives

Students are encouraged to have different opinions through answering polls.

• Bound et al. (1985, cited in Herrington & Kervin, 2007) states that “reflection is a social

process”. Edmodo enables students to reflect on classroom learning, school activities

and excursions in a social forum where discussion and collaboration is encouraged.

• Teachers can scaffold discussion where students predict, brainstorm, post prior

knowledge and consolidate learning at the end of an activity or unit. This could be

useful before going on an excursion as students could post their expectations for the

day online and then later reflect on their experiences and whether their expectations

were met.

• Book reviews could be posted on Edmodo which allows students to recommend books

to each other as well as the teachers.

5. Reflection

Reflect and

consolidate

learning in a

topic.

Students can share their opinions on the learning content and explain their reasoning.

6. Collaboration

• Students are able to work in groups to solve problems, discuss relevant classroom and social topics, collaborate on group assignments.

• During group work on Edmodo the teacher is able to view student progress and give feedback throughout the learning process.

• On individual homework tasks and projects students collaborate with each other by using Edmodo to ask questions, confirm instructions and help peers.

• Edmodo can also be a platform for teacher to teacher collaboration through the Edmodo communities forum. This enables teachers to share professional development knowledge and WebPages as well as make enquiries about the practical use of Edmodo in the classroom.

On Edmodo Communities teachers can collaborate on ways of using Edmodo, specialty subject areas and professional development.

7. Articulation• Edmodo uses technology as a form of communication between students, both

academic and social. Allowing them to developing their online vocabulary and practicing using the keyboard, screen, navigating a site and voicing opinions in different forums.

• Student can participate in discussions and debates.• In the classroom it is important for teachers to facilitate discussions about

appropriate online practices • Students gain experience, learning how to appropriately articulate themselves

online. They learn that posts remain public and permanent. • Teachers need to make clear rules of conduct while online. Similar to that of the

classroom. E.g. no swearing or bullying• Discussions following class work between students and questions for the teacher

enable reflection. There is also a place for teacher-parent communication, both formal and informal. Such as reminders, excursion information and student progress reporting.

• Edmodo allows the sharing of more than words, but also; pictures, videos, podcasts, stories, presentations, blogs, wikis and webpages

8. Coaching and Scaffolding• When introducing new online technologies it is the role of the teacher to coach

and scaffolding,• One advantage of Edmodo is that the teacher can constantly view student

progress- support learning and make suggestions, scaffold their learning through posts and links and responses to student answers.

• Teachers can use Edmodo to provide applicable and appropriate resources, guide where students go online through links and embedding media

• On Edmodo teachers can offer classroom reminders (assignments, resources for class, equipment, excursions, notes about upcoming activities within school)

• When students work on group assignment online. The teacher can view their discussions and progress and comment with suggestions and ideas

• When students post assignments online, the teacher can provide feedback on the student’s work and send it back. This can be done as a step by step process e.g. ideas, draft, final, edited

9. Integrated Authentic AssessmentForms of Assessment• Frequency of use; the teacher can view how much students use Edmodo and what they

do online• When students post assignments online, the teacher can provide feedback on the

student’s work and send it back. This can be done as a step by step process e.g. ideas, draft, final, edited

• There is a Quiz function on Edmodo. Teachers can use this to assess students; during a unit, once a week, at the end of a unit or before the start of a unit.

• Edmodo allows teachers to give Instant feedback to individual students• Students can ask questions as they progress, at any time (teacher response

throughout learning)• Students can post group work/individual assignment progress online each week

for progress assessment • Edmodo can be used as an outlet for students to perform self assessment and

self evaluation of their own speech or assignment. E.g. what could you have improved? What was your biggest strength?

• Peer assessment, e.g. edit each other’s writing tasks, students response to other students’ speeches

10. Professional Learning

• Teacher forums in communities, allows communication with other teachers from Australia and internationally. Including support and professional development for using Edmodo, specific subject area communities and sharing ideas for the use of technology within the classroom and at home.

• Teachers can post links to good educational websites, to share with other teachers.

• Relates to day to day teaching, teachers share how they use Edmodo in the classroom, linking to all forms of learning and multiple subjects

• Teachers post links to articles, blogs, and webpages that discuss technology and education. E.g. This link to an educational technology blog, posted by a teacher on Edmodo communities.