Delaney Bartlett

Teaching and Learning 445

Ch.3 Assignment

1. Which websites or apps did you explore? Please explore at least 2.

I chose to explore Class Dojo and Edublogs.

2. Which site/app did you choose? How would you use this site/app in the classroom?

I would use Class Dojo in my classroom to communicate with parents through an online
platform. This way I can share work, learning targets, upcoming activities and assignments,
upcoming school events, etc. with the parents in my classroom through a digital forum that
allows them to be in a virtual classroom with me.

I would use Edublog in my classroom to give students a sense of independence when writing
about a topic or subject, but still have a given criteria that they would need to follow. For
example, if the students were learning about ecosystems. I could have them research one
animal from a given ecosystem and have them write 4-5 facts on their Edublog. This way the
student is responsible for their own learning, but still has given criteria they must follow.

3. Please list 2 objectives you hope to accomplish using this site/app.

An objective I would hope to accomplish using Class Dojo would be increased

parent/teacher communication. This way parents could be involved in my classroom and
have an accurate representation of what their students are learning, but don’t have to
physically come to the classroom to understand it.

An objective I would hope to accomplish through using Edublog would be student

responsibility. If the students have a weekly blog assignment that they must complete, they
would be trained and educated how to use the blogging website, and then be held responsible
for completing their weekly blog on the given topic. This way the students are responsible
for keeping their blog updated and relevant to the given topic we are learning about, but have
some creative freedom to express themselves and their opinions.

4. List the 3 communication patterns that are used in the classroom, found in the chapter. How
would you use this site/app to help with at least 2 of these patterns?

Patterns: one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many

 One-to-many pattern can be used via Class Dojo to communicate class information to
parents. This way the teacher can share information with a variety of individuals by
posting in their Class Dojo.
  Many-to-many pattern can be used via Edublog, as students can share their blogs with
each other and communicate their thoughts and opinions through their blogs.

5. Does this site/app help with communication from teacher to parent, or teacher to student or
both? Please explain.

Class Dojo can be used for teacher to parent communication. The teacher can post things via
Class Dojo for the parents to see such as photos, assignments, art work, etc. For example, a
teacher could post a class activity about math and encourage parents to ask their students
about it to further their comprehension and understanding of the topic. Edublog can also be a
good source of teacher and student communication, as the student can express their thoughts
and opinions of a given topic or even assignment if necessary. This way students can
communicate with the teacher via Edublog and it can be used as an efficient communication
source in the classroom.

6. a. What is the difference between asynchronous versus synchronous communication?

Asynchronous communication is communication that does not occur at the same time. This
allows learners to develop their response over time and consider different perspectives when
communicating. Synchronous communication takes place during real time, such as a phone
call or face to face talk.

b. Does this site/app use one or the other or both?

Both websites use asynchronous communication, as they both are a source of online
communication that does not take place during real time.

7. a. What content area would you consider using this site/app in?

I would consider Edublog to fall under reading/language arts, as it involves a significant

amount of reading and writing comprehension in order to blog.

I would consider Class Dojo to fall under a variety of content areas, as just about any content
can be posted on the website.

b. How would you implement this site/app in the classroom to teach the content area
you've described?

For Edublog, I could have students potentially write an alternative ending to a book that we
read in class on their blog. This way it gets students thinking about the content we went over,
but also gives them a creative and individual way of expressing their comprehension.

8. a. Describe scaffolding,
 Scaffolding is essentially building instruction and concepts on top of each other. This idea in
education is essentially how teachers develop their instruction plans and build their students
understanding of knowledge.

b. Please explain how you would use this concept, in the classroom, to provide the most
helpful information for your students?

I would use this concept in my classroom to build knowledge and build conceptual
learning targets over time. I would hope that this concept would cause progression for my
students over time. For example, I would teach my students a lesson on ecosystems and what
animals would live in those ecosystems, then I could build upon that knowledge by teaching
them about each individual and their life cycles and what they eat. This way I am building
knowledge over time on a continual concept that provides my students with a deeper
understanding.

9. Does this site/app provide a place to load student homework or accomplishments?

Class Dojo provides a place to load student homework and accomplishments. This way
parents can see what their student is learning without the student having to take it home and
risk it getting lost or misplaced over time. The teacher can even individually send the parents
a direct piece of work from a student.

10. Is this site/app user-friendly? Please explain.

I would say that both are user-friendly. Especially because they are also designed for
students to use them. Edublog has a variety of fun themes for students, and easy to se
tutorials for students to follow. Class Dojo is easy to use via mobile as well. Parents are able
to easily access it on their phone while at work or home to see what their student is up to in
the classroom.

11. What safeguards would you put in place to protect your students from harmful online
information and cyberbullying?

For Edublog, I would only allow my students to share their profiles with me and potentially
other students in our class. I would also check their profiles consistently to ensure that they
are using the proper language, behavior, and safety precautions. I would warn them of the
risk issues associated with blogging online, and teach them internet safety precautions that
they should always follow to avoid risk situations.