edmodo – a beneficial digital tool for English
language teachers
Sree Lakshmi Ammanamanchi,
Lecturer,English Language Centre,
Al Musanna College of Technology,
Al Muladah,Sultanate of Oman.
sreelu1610@gmail.com
Abstract
The paper aims at investigating the usefulness of
m-learning in teaching English. It is focused on Edmodo, a web platform which
enables sharing information, participating in the discussions, passing the
tests, and monitoring the progress. It contains information about the
usefulness of this application, its advantages, and the principles of work. The
paper explains why it is beneficial for the community. It also examines
possible limitations and relevant issues that can occur.
Web
technologies are known to become an indispensable
constituent of learning the process. Teachers, children, and parents use a wide
range of applications to develop a diverse learning environment and improve
participation, feedback, and interactivity. One of the newest applications
which are currently used in learning foreign languages is Edmodo. It is a
network platform which enables students and teachers to share educational
applications and content, connect and collaborate with each other, and access
notifications, grades, homework, and class discussions[1].
Although Edmodo has several limitations and raises some relevant issues, it is
still regarded as a useful tool in learning English.
Usefulness
Edmodo
offers a wide array of advantages to its users. Kumelashvili (2016) states that
it is the greatest challenge for a teacher to meet the varied needs of learners
in a classroom. Edmodo seems to solve this problem by allowing tutors to post homework
online, thus helping to differentiate it. Differentiation of the tasks helps
students to study effectively whereas the teachers can monitor their progress
through testing, quizzes, and polls. Edmodo poll is a tool which is used by the
teachers to examine what skills should be developed – reading, writing,
listening, or speaking[2].
This knowledge allows planning homework assignments regarding students` needs.
Edmodo
strengthens a sense of community in learners, making them feel respected and
significant. Students make a connection between their interests, curriculum,
and life experiences, thus understanding better the purpose of each task and
the overall objective of the course. This knowledge appears to increase the
effectiveness of learning process. With the help of Edmodo, the teachers create
a motivating environment in which supportive adults push learners slightly
beyond so that they can learn without the assistance. Kumelashvili (2016) has
discovered that the use of this application stimulates students to reduce the
time between the tasks given[3].
Edmodo also allows to leave commentaries and share opinions and experiences
about the tasks and resources.
Edmodo
does not only facilitate the differentiation of the tasks but also allows to
attach a variety of file types, including Word doc, MP3, PPT, gif, PDF, Excel,
jpeg, and others. The users can share web site links and embed flash objects
such as Google forms, games, YouTube videos, etc. Games can help to learn new
vocabulary items or grammar rules. Giang and Minh (2014) state that it is
possible to make tests and games in Microsoft Office Word or similar software,
including Cross-Word. The materials are then uploaded to the home page. As soon
as the task is uploaded, the students receive notifications and are required to
complete it within the given amount of time[4].
If they manage to do the assignment, they will be automatically marked.
However, if the students fail, they will get a warning.
The
video also conveys useful information about foreign language and helps to train
listening. Each file can be supported with useful links to assignment or note
(online dictionaries, forums, etc.). Testing materials are also convenient as
this platform enables teachers to create quizzes, analyze the results, and
estimate whether the learning goals have been accomplished. The analysis allows
a tutor to make appropriate changes in the program, types of activities, etc[5].
Evidently, Edmodo makes the learning environment more flexible and adaptive to
students` needs.
Student
activity in Edmodo can be monitored. It means that teachers can examine how
much time is spent on the learning process, how many times a student visits the
platform, what they are interested in, and what commentaries or question they
post[6].
Tutors can monitor the level of learners` productivity and determine what types
of activity are the most engaging and efficient. Edmodo presupposes “quiet
discussion,” meaning that the students can communication only in written form.
The avoidance of verbal discussion is a good way to give a voice to all the
learners, including the quietest and shy participants. Students feel less
nervous and express their thoughts in a clear, comprehensible form.
This
application is free to use. The teachers have to register and create a domain
for their school. The site is beneficial as the administrators are empowered to
send links, alerts, notes, and polls to the school, class, teachers, and
parents. The events and reminders can be added to the calendar that can be
viewed by both students and educators[7].
Edmodo is an application which has been designed for Windows, IOS, and Android
and can be easily downloaded from Apple or Google store. It increases the
mobility of the learning process as students and teachers get an opportunity to
participate in activities, regardless of the location.
Finally,
Edmodo aims at involving the community in the learning process. For this
reason, it ensures that parents can become a part of educational process. It is
possible for them to create parent accounts and get access to assignments and
grades of their children. They are also allowed to communicate directly with
the teachers. The tutors also get an opportunity to inform the parents about
the forthcoming events, missed assignments, and students` progress. The online
platform has archives which allow reviewing the materials later if it is
necessary[8].
If an assignment is made successfully, the teacher can also delete it.
Limitations and Relevant Issues
Although
Edmodo offers multiple advantages to its users, there are still some
limitations that can prevent the learners from the successful performance. The
greatest obstacle that prevents teachers and students from full reliance on
Edmodo is associated with the quality of electronic devices. Edmodo has been
designed for mobile devices and PCs. Its core objective is to provide remote
control to the discussion section, materials, and assignments. If a student is
unable to download this application to their mobile device, the effectiveness
of Edmodo is being significantly decreased. The insufficient memory of
smartphone makes it impossible to download Edmodo and join educational process[9].
Limited access to learning materials makes it difficult to pass the test
successfully. The second limitation is associated with a battery charge of the
device. Low battery voltage may prevent a student from passing the quiz or
doing the assignment on time. Finally, the use of Edmodo requires the users to
have the Internet connection. Otherwise, they cannot access the information,
participate in the discussion or any relevant assignment[10].
It limits the working process, making it less convenient than face-to-face
interaction. The limitations raise several issues, concerning the effectiveness
of M-learning. To ensure adequate systematic learning, the schools, where
Edmodo is used, are expected to provide every learner with the updated tablets
or smartphones. Moreover, it is necessary to create the areas with
uninterrupted Internet connection so to enable students to join the classes
quickly. It will guarantee equality in learning, access to information, and
participation in quizzes or discussions.
In
closing, it is necessary to say that m-learning has recently become one of the
most progressive ways to learn English. It can be used both as a primary and as
a supportive tool for teachers. It enables them to share useful learning
materials with the students, monitors their interest in the subject and
progress in acquiring four skills which are reading, writing, listening, and
speaking. A teacher gets an opportunity to upload files of different formats
and encourage students to join discussions. Regardless of its limitations,
Edmodo increases the effectiveness of learning process.
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[1]Teresa Fernández-Ulloa, “Teaching with Social
Networks: Facebook, Twitter and,” California
State University, 2013: 46.
[2]KhatunaKumelashvili, “Teaching Foreign Language by
Using Technology – Virtual Classroom Edmodo,” Online Journal of Humanities 1, no. 1 (2016): 3.
[3]Ibid., 4.
[4]Casey Stroud, “Edmodo: A White Paper,” Connecting Technology & Curriculum,
2010.
[5] “The Edmodo Teacher Guide. The Social Learning
Network for the Classroom,” Edmodo,
2016.
[6]Gail Alleyne Bayne, “Asynchronous Communication Tools,”
Foundations of Distance Education,
2015.
[7]Tran Ngoc Giang and Nguyen van Minh, “Edmodo – a New
Effective Blended Learning Solution,” Leadership
and Management in Higher Education for Sustainable Development, 2014: 3
[8]Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center,
“Collaborative Learning with Edmodo: An Effective Language Teacher Training
Tool,” DLIFLC, 2011.
[9]Al-Said, Khaleel. “Students' Perceptions of Edmodo and
Mobile Learning and their Real Barriers towards Them.” The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology 14, no. 2
(2015):167-180.
[10]ErmanUzun, “Students’ Attitude Towards Edmodo as a
Supplementary Tool for Higher Education,” Mersin
University, 2015: 82.
