Once using Edmodo, teachers can communicate with students individually or with the entire class. However, while students can communicate with teachers or the entire class, they cannot talk directly with each other.
“We cut out any issue with inappropriate chatter between students individually, and that provides an extra level of security,” Whalen said.
Using Edmodo’s gradebook feature, teachers can post and grade assignments. Students can only view their own grades. Edmodo also hosts a library where educators can post digital content. The library can be shared with any teacher on the Edmodo network, but students can only share content with those in their classroom.
Edmodo launched two years ago, but it has seen its enrollment numbers jump significantly this year.
For more on social networking in education, see:
Engaging Students through Online Collaboration
New web site combines project-based learning, social responsibility
Facebook ‘Groups’ could boost privacy, collaboration
Readers weigh in on Facebook in school, 21st-century skills
Teens sue Facebook over ‘like’ button
“The momentum we’re seeing has been incredible. We now have at least one Edmodo user in every country in the world,” said Whalen. The site reportedly hit 500,000 users in September and saw its 1 millionth user register in early December.
“Edmodo has really grown completely based on word-of-mouth from teachers,” Whalen said. “More and more, we are seeing school districts and a lot of states coming and expressing interest and finding a resource that can be globally rolled out for all of their teachers.”
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