reflectiononCMS

I found this week’s task, which required us to explore free course management systems (CMS) like Edmodo and compare it with other CMS very interesting and eye-opening, owing to the fact that I currently am not engaged in teaching. For this post I would present my comparison of Edmodo and google classroom, that I had explored last week.

As a future teacher when I am looking at any CMS, I look for certain basic features that will enable me to effectively deliver the content of my subject. Those features include the mode of assignment delivery, assignment collection, communication with students, set reminders to students, the ease with which different technology would be embedded in the system and grading rubric.

Google classroom is a part of google Apps for education suite and was for the first time used in 2014. One important feature that I learned about google classroom is that it can be accessed from multiple platform and does not require the framework of google classroom. Students can join the course by entering the class code and have learned that that this code do not expire. Google classroom works well with most of the google apps like google drive, google docs, sheets slides and drawing. Students can post their comments in the class stream or write comments to an assignment. Another feature that I explored in google classroom is that students can email each other; as a student I find this feature very useful.  Grading and providing feedback to student is in a click of button.

Edmodo on the other hand is there in the market since 2008 and was developed to use the idea of social networking in enhancing education. It is of course free course management system and is different from google classroom. Teacher can easily create and account and sign up using any email account. Joining Edmodo class is similar to google classroom, where a code is generated that can be shared with student to gain access. The class code expires in 30 days and new codes are required to be generated, which makes it less user friendly than google classroom. Similar to student class code, parents code is also created in Edmodo that enables parents to see their child’s progress, parents can also communicate with other parents. I personally like this feature, as it allows parents to actively participate in their child’s education. Edmodo also has all the basic features like that of google classroom like grade book, assignment area and ability to support various technologies. Another features that I liked in Edmodo is the spotlight, using this feature or the tool enables teachers to share various material which could be self-created or other resources with students. Another feature that I liked about Edmodo is the teacher’s community, which enables teacher’s also to grow professionally and be up to date, by understanding what is going on in their subject. The communication feature of Edmodo allows student to post in the group’s stream as well as send personalized message to teacher, enabling one on one clarification. The feature that is not present in Edmodo compared to google classroom, is that students cannot email each other.  

I feel the necessity to write here that both the system support designing lessons according to the TPACK framework, where the content, activities and tools could be well utilized.

In any interface design as the course management system, the ease with which user can use it changes the perceived affordance about it. Since I have not used any of the CMS in the real time, I do not know how much I can do justice is writing about affordance of this system.

The most importance affordance of CMS is that it increases the classroom time and provides more room to develop student-centered education. To talk about the teaching that I intend to do is The idea is to integrate biology curriculum with social issues so that students can make connection between classroom and real world, thus preparing biology majors to take social responsibility in the future. This would require student to explore more than that can be taught in the class, for example looking at various documentaries and CMS forms the best mode for this. An important affordance of CMS is that it offers teacher the ability to teach using various media.

Online discussion also is another affordance of CMS. This feature allows every student to express their opinion which is of course not an option is face-to-face class. The ease with which students can use this system allows students to explore more and motivate them to be connected with the subject even outside the classroom.

 I would like to end the post with the thought that CMS are great tool for the teacher to enhance the pedagogy.