Thing 12 Learning Management

Edmodo 

Lesson and Note with Link

Schoology

Both Edmodo and Schoology would be useful tools in the classroom. I prefer to use Edmodo because I have been using it for the past 3 years. I began using it with my 2nd grade class a couple years ago. The following year I was teaching 3rd grade so I used it then too. Now I am teaching 1st grade so it hasn't been used this year.

 I found Edmodo very easy to use and so did my students. My students liked posting comments on Edmodo and I see that is also a feature on Schoology. Teachers are able to monitor post and set up restrictions on both apps.  When it comes to ease of use I am not sure that Schoology would be as easy to use for the lower grades it seems to have too many features. In early elementary students don't need a lot of extra thing to distract them. I like the simplicity of Edmodo.

 Both apps offer ways to connect with other teachers and communities. I have several that I use on Edmodo.  Edmodo added apps a couple years ago and my students enjoyed watching Flat Stanley as he traveled the globe. Flat Stanley was an app that we could download and use. Schoology also offers apps to add to your page so the two are similar in that area.  

Schoology seems to be set up more toward middle school or high school and would be helpful to teachers. In Edmodo I was able to create assignments and even attach links for my students to use. The same is true in Schoology. My students took Social Studies and Science quizzes on the ipad using Edmodo and this made grading easy for me. I enjoy not having to correct papers. Once you have set up your quizzes they are there to use year after year. Having another resource in the classroom is a plus.

Thing 11 Productivity

TinyScan

Evernote

Using storage in the cloud gives easy access to work you may need when not in class. Using apps like Evernote and TinyScan teachers are able to quickly take note or upload documents to file and save them as needed. The plus side is less clutter and stacks of papers on the desk. The negative side may be that teachers don't back up files and risk losing documents they have saved. Digitizing and annotating add a dimension to the document that teachers can use in lesson planning and explaining. I have used Evernote in the past but haven't used it lately. I know there are lots of features to it and it takes time to learn and become familiar with them. Both apps would be helpful in the classroom.

Thing 10 Collaboration

Collaboration
In my first grade classroom I created a lesson for writing. I had the students write about what they wanted to do on spring break. When they went to get on and edit it wouldn't work. It had been a while since I used this program so I sent Brad my link. He let me know I was in view only and told me how to change it so the kids could edit. Well I changed it and boy was I surprised when my room became a buzz of excitement. Each student on the document could see the other and the typing was all over the place. I had to have them stop and then I organized it so they could do it one at a time. I made sure to explain that they didn't go up and change or delete any other comments. This was a little tricky for first grade but we made it work. You have to explain the process of what to do and what not to do so it will run smoothly.


While I had Google Drive open I went ahead and used Google Forms to make a quick quiz on adjectives for my students to take while the other ones where writing. I had forgotten the ease of using it for this type of assignment. Because I have first grade I think on a lower level and actually I shouldn't. My student were able to complete the quiz and submit with no problem. I will use it for more things like this now and in the future.


I am going to set up a story starter and using one computer have each child go over and add to the story until it is complete. This is another way to get Google Drive into my classroom and give my students the opportunity to stretch their mind and incorporate the SAMR method.