Edmodo

How I Used EdmodoI decided to use Edmodo in my second grade class because Ning was blocked and Edmodo is a little more private than Twitter. When I went to use Edmodo on my classroom computers, I found that I had to download Explorer 8. Since I only have three computers in my classroom I decided to check out the mobile laptop cart. The downside was the technology facilitator had to download Explorer 8 and several of the computers would not accept it. In order to get ready for my lesson, I set all of my students up with usernames and passwords. I did not use any last names in order to protect privacy. I decided for our first lesson using Edmodo I would help them choose their avitar and their assignment was to write at least one sentence about the Revolutionary War. In Social Studies we have been learning about the Constitution and the events that lead up to the Constitution. This was all in connection with Constitution Day on September 17. I decided to have two students per computer. The students were very excited. Some a little too excited. They had a hard time trying not to press the keys for their partners. The other downside to the laptops is the students were not use to that type of mouse. That is where most of our problems came from. Once we finally choose our avitars they were able to type their sentence and send it to the class. They really seemed to enjoy reading each others responses and were complimenting each other out loud. Since most of our time was used explaining and setting the laptops up everyone didn't get a chance to type a response. I think next time I would like to try and schedule extra time in the computer lab, so everyone has their own computer. The only problem is I would have to download Explorer 8 on all of them. I would like to use this as a center during guided reading time where I post a question and the students can answer it on Edmodo. The other problem is the students were so excited they wanted to go home and try it out. They asked if they could send messages to each other. I told them right now it is for only assignments.