Jamie Burrows

 Incorporating Edmodo into the Classroom

            This professional development series will allow all teaching staff to experience the capabilities of the educational tool Edmodo.  All staff, whether they are being introduced to Edmodo, or have been using the tool for some time, will have the opportunity to grow their current skills set with the program.

Audience

            The Edmodo professional development series will be delivered to staff at Millville Senior High School.  The training will target all teaching staff currently working in the building.  Educators in the building range from less than one year of teaching experience to over 30 years of experience.  The technology range of the staff is vast as well.  There are staff members that exhibit high levels of comfort with new technology as well as others that typically have difficulty navigating new technology.   

Skills Covered

            The Edmodo series will cover a variety of capabilities of the program.  The staff attending will be exposed to the following:

• Setting up an Edmodo Account

• Downloading the Edmodo App

• Setting up Classes

• Creating Small Groups

• Posting in Edmodo

• Responding / Replying to Posts

• Moderating Posts / Deleting Posts

• Creating an Assignment

• Creating a Quiz

• Creating a Poll

• Creating a Snapshot

• Managing Edmodo Folders

Organization

            The professional development series will be held during the common planning periods at Millville Senior High School.  These sessions are held on a weekly basis for staff to complete mandatory training as well as expose the staff members to new tools to use in the classroom.  Staff members will be asked to create an Edmodo page to be shared with the PD coordinator.  All attendees will also join the PD coordinator’s page.  Members of the training will be assigned a weekly task for the duration of the PD series.  Each task will correlate with the information being presented that week.  Staff members will be responsible for completing the task.  Upon completion of the assignment, the PD coordinator will provide feedback to each staff member.  The PD coordinator will also reach out to all staff members on a regular basis using the PD Edmodo page that all members joined.  This page will be used for the coordinator to post helpful tips, videos, projects, assignment ideas, ask questions, and also be available for staff members to reach the instructor or other staff members.  This page will be used as a place for staff members to come with questions or ideas and feel safe and comfortable with other members of the group.

Delivery

First Common Planning Session – Organizational / Information Distribution

            All staff members will attend the first session.  All staff members will complete the pre-survey and determine their current Edmodo comfort status.  At that point staff will have the option to attend the weekly sessions being hosted during common planning, or complete the video training series on their own.

Common Planning Sessions

            Beginner Edmodo users will attend all common planning sessions on the specified dates.  These sessions will be an instructional hands on session for staff members to use Edmodo and navigate the program with guidance.  Staff members will follow along with prepared PowerPoint presentations and complete the set tasks individually within the group training setting.  Staff members will have opportunities for individual assistance if needed as the instructors monitors the group.    

Electronic Training

            Self-guided training videos will be available on the teacher resource page for staff members whom have prior experience with Edmodo.  These video tutorials will be available for all staff to use, but specifically for staff members prepared to gain higher level knowledge of Edmodo.  The videos will focus on specific skills and will be titled accordingly.  Staff members that are considered intermediate or expert Edmodo users can navigate the list of videos and choose which videos they would like to watch according to the skills that they would like to gain more knowledge in.  There will be tasks posted weekly on the PD coordinators class that each staff member will be responsible to complete.  If staff members find themselves having difficulty with the video training series they may choose to attend any or all of the common planning sessions.