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Staff Development for Technology

Grant Proposal for Edmodo

By Hannah Dyal

Gabrielle Guyton-EdmistonRhonda RobertsMelissa Shaw

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Abstract

Savannah-Chatham County Public School System has identified in their technology gap analysis

included in their 2012-2015 Technology Plan a deficiency related to the use of a learning

management system by students and teachers.  The analysis proposes that the use of Edmodo

would fill this technology gap and meets the need for centralized online instructional programs

and digital resources.  The objective of this grant proposal is to fund professional staff

development in order to enhance teachers’ skills in the use of Edmodo. Thirty teachers from a

system high school will participate in the training. The goal is to use professional development

training by the end of the 1st quarter of the 2014-2015 school year in order for teachers to be able

to use and implement Edmodo to enhance student learning, positively impact instructional

practice and aid in collaboration among teachers. By the end of the school year, all teachers will

be observed and evaluated by their technology coaches on their effective use of Edmodo in their

classrooms. The results, if positive, will be used to encourage professional development in the

use of Edmodo in other schools in the system.  

Demonstrated Need

The identified technology need is based on the 2012-2015 District Technology Plan for

Savannah-Chatham County Public School system in Savannah, Georgia. On page 52, it states:

The district needs to select and acquire a content/learning management system for use by

teachers and students. The use of an LMS will allow the district to centralize online instructional

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programs, events, and digital resources. Teachers use the LMS to assemble and deliver

standards-aligned lessons and content. Teachers will be able to create, manage, document, and

track assignments; create reports; monitor the progress of projects; and collect and share learning

resources. Using LMS software will allow students to monitor classroom activities and

assignments and utilize teacher-recommended online resources. As the use of portable electronic

devices increases, students will be able to access a variety of digital content anytime and from

any location. Although Moodle is a free learning management platform, expertise on the platform

is minimal within the district, and deployment has been slow. Edmodo is another learning

management platform provided to teachers for posting and receiving assignments, sharing

resources, and posting topics for discussions, which are the same services provided by Moodle.

Moving forward, it will be necessary to standardize on one platform in order to maximize the

limited resources and services available. Professional development is critical to the proper

implementation of a Learning Management System. Teachers and administrators must know how

to use the system properly and understand how it will assist them in managing and sharing online

tools and resources with students and other teachers.

It goes on to state on page 54, “Although the use of e-learning tools such as Moodle and Edmodo

has increased, the district has limited online and blended learning use. In order to implement a

blended learning solution, students and staff will need 24/7 access to digital content and online

approved resources.”  Therefore, our high school has chosen to train teachers using the online

tool Edmodo. Edmodo is a social learning site for teachers, students, and parents. It provides a

free and secure social learning space for a class to connect and collaborate. Teachers and

students can post messages, discuss topics, assign and grade class work, and share digital content

such as links, pictures, videos, documents and presentations. After surveying all teachers, three

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areas specific to student learning were identified as needs (see Appendix A). Teachers identified

the need for students to be able to access assignments online, to grade assignments and provide

instant feedback to students and to assist students in understanding how to navigate an online

course management system similar to what the student might encounter in a college setting. 60%

of the teachers identified their need for training on Edmodo due to an increase in missing

assignments, 43% of the need to help students understand how to work on an online system with

some similarities to college online systems, and 33% for grading assignments online and

providing instant feedback. Edmodo will allow teachers to post assignments for students to make

up at home with parental access and promote various ways for students to complete quizzes and

discussion questions online.

Goals and Objectives

Smart Goal 1

By the end of 1st quarter of the 2014-2015 school year, all teachers instructing in core subject

areas will receive professional development training on the usage and implementation of

Edmodo. The professional development will address the operation, application, and integration

of Edmodo. According to a recent journal article in Performance Improvement, “Drawing from a

constructivist understanding of effective learning, teachers are more likely to integrate

technology in their classrooms if time is devoted to identifying how the technology can be used

in a pedagogically sound manner.” (Ye et al., 2012) In addition the article states, “Professional

development training to increase technology integration must be relevant to the needs of

teachers. Relevance to teachers equates to student learning…” (Ye et al, 2012) Teachers will

have 5 hours of training over a course of 2 weeks. The training will take place once a week

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(Thursday) after school. Teachers will be required by the school to sign in and out daily after

each training and pass one training test per session.

Edmodo Advantages

·         Edmodo is free to use and contains no advertising.

·         It provides a secure learning environment provided by built-in privacy controls.

·         Teachers can post messages for their students and students can post to the group.

·         Teachers can post classroom assignments, encourage discussions, and track student

progress online.

·         Teachers can also grade assignments online providing convenient feedback.

·         It enables teachers to network with other teachers to share ideas and resources.

·         Users can connect via mobile smart phones and be updated with the latest post.

·         Edmodo has a calendar feature which helps track assignments and events.

·         Students can take quizzes and upload assignments at home or at school.

·         It promotes differentiated instruction.

Smart Goal 2

According to an article in the Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, “Observing and

documenting teacher behaviors in the thick of classroom practice, whether done by teachers as

participant researchers or in collaboration with research partners, suggests the most direct route

to evaluating effects of both formally supported and personally initiated professional

development.” (Pierson & Borthwick, 2010) Using observation as a method of assessment, by

the end of the 2014-2015 school year, all teachers will be observed by technology coaches to

show implementation of Edmodo. Teachers will also be required to show the usage of Edmodo

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in their daily lesson plans. They will type a mini report on various ways Edmodo was used and

how it helped with their instruction. A pre and post assessment will be taken during the 1 st

Quarter (Pre) and 4th Quarter (Post) to show growth. The advantage of this goal is to show other

schools how successful Edmodo could be if professional development training was given to all

teachers.

Plan of Operation

Pre-assessment for teachers will be completed prior to the first training day using Survey

Monkey.

Planned Activity 1 (Edmodo)

Day 1 (Professional Development Agenda)

3:45pm – Sign In/Refreshments/Discussion

4:00pm – Creating an Account (Module 1)

4:15pm – Updating Your Profile (Module 2)

4:30pm – Creating Groups and Subgroups (Module 3)

5:00pm – Questions/Comments/Concerns/Training Test 1

5:45pm – Sign Out

Day 2 (Professional Development Agenda)

3:45pm – Sign In/Refreshments/Discussion

4:00pm – Creating Alerts, Polls, and Assignments (Module 4)

4:45pm – Security and Safety on Edmodo (Module 5)

5:15pm – Adding Videos, Sharing Folders, Making Your Site public (Module 6)

6:00pm – Questions/Comments/Concerns/Training Test 2

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6:45pm – Sign Out

The planned activities for the professional development will be held in a computer lab. The

technology coach will model all steps over the projector with all teachers for each required

module. The teachers are required to complete each module with the coach. These activities are

directly aligned with smart goals 1 and 2 because in order for them to implement this new

technology in their classroom, they must receive proper training. At the end of training, teachers

will have a three to four day window to complete a post-training survey using Survey Monkey.

Planned Activity 2 (Evidence)

At the end of the school year technology coaches will require teachers to show implementation

of Edmodo by collecting evidence in weekly lesson plans, performing observations, and

collecting mini reports from all teachers. The coaches will also interview students during the

observations.  Other evidence is outlined in the Evaluation Plan. Teachers and students will also

take a post assessment to see how much Edmodo was actually used in their classrooms. These

assessments will be given in a window of three to four days using Survey Monkey.

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Activity/Strategy Timeline Goal/Objective

Teacher Pretest Due before November 7,

2013

Complete using Survey MonkeyObjective: Assessment

Module 1(Creating an Account)

November 7, 2013

Smart Goal 1: Teachers will understand the operation of Edmodo, be able to apply the technology to their instructional practice and will be able to integrate Edmodo effectively into their classrooms.

Effective Professional Development Indicator:These modules help teachers develop the skills necessary to enhance student learning, impact instructional practice and collaborate with students and teachers. Teachers will also understand the relevance of the technology related to everyday practice.

Objective: By the end of 1st quarter of the 2014-2015 school year, all teachers instructing in core subject areas will receive professional development training on the usage and implementation of Edmodo.

Module 2(Updating a Profile)

November 7, 2013

Module 3(Creating Groups and

Subgroups)

November 7, 2013

Module 4(Creating Alerts, Polls, and

Assignments)

November 14, 2013

Module 5(Security and Safety on

Edmodo)

November 14, 2013

Module 6(Adding Videos, Sharing

Folders, Making Your Site Public)

November 14, 2013

Post-Training Questionnaire

November 14-17, 2013

Complete using Survey MonkeyObjective: Assessment

Observations April 2014 Smart Goal 2: Teachers will be observed using Edmodo in the classroom and will be required to submit lesson plans and mini reports.

Effective Professional Development Indicator: These tasks help teachers apply what they have learned and allow the teachers to see the relevance of the skills learned to classroom instruction.

Objective: Using observation as a method of assessment, by the end of the 2014-2015 school year, all teachers will be observed by technology coaches to show implementation of Edmodo and will be required to submit lesson plans and mini reports.

Mini Reports April 2014

Lesson Plans Collection April 2014

Teacher/Student Post Tests May 1-4, 2014

Complete using Survey MonkeyObjective: Assessment

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Evaluation Plan

Smart Goal 1

The first goal is that all teachers instructing in core subject areas will be trained in using Edmodo

by the end of the 1st quarter of the 2014-2015 school year. Evaluation of this goal will be

threefold. First, teacher completion will be determined using the sign in sheets. Second, teacher

learning will be assessed through training session post-tests. Finally, teachers will fill out a Post

Training Questionnaire (see Appendix B) to determine teacher reactions to the training.

Smart Goal 2

The second goal is that all teachers will be observed by technology coaches to show

implementation of Edmodo by the end of the 2014-2015 school year. There are several steps to

the evaluation of this goal. Part of the evaluation will be through collection and writing of

information by teachers. They will all participate in a Pre- and Post- Assessment for Teachers

(see Appendix B). Teachers will keep a record of their use of Edmodo through their lesson plans.

They will also complete a mini report describing how they used Edmodo in their instruction.

Another way to evaluate this goal is through teacher observations by technology coaches.

Technology coaches will make scheduled and unscheduled observations of teachers using

Edmodo in the classroom.  Observations made during these visits will be used to evaluate the

smart goal as well as possible future Edmodo trainings. The technology coaches will use an

evaluation instrument during observations (see Appendix B).

A final form of evaluation will be through gathering information from the students themselves.

They will complete a Student Questionnaire (see Appendix B) three times during the school

year.  The first will be prior to teacher training, the second a month after teacher training, and the

third at the end of the school year.  This will evaluate increased usage of Edmodo in the

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classroom.  Also, randomly selected students will answer questions from the technology coaches

during classroom observations.

Budget

In order to properly implement this new technology, we are requesting a total budget of

$6,500.00. Since Edmodo is a free web tool, there is no cost for the actual program. However,

our group of thirty teachers will receive a $100.00 stipend for their five hours of training and an

additional $100.00 for implementation. Additionally, the technology coach will receive a

$500.00 stipend for overseeing and planning these activities.

Item/Service Cost

Teacher Stipend (Additional Pay) $100 x 30 teachers = $3,000.00

Teacher Stipend (Implementation) $100.00 x 30 teachers = $3,000.00

Technology Coach Stipend $500.00

Total Cost $6,500

References

Kallestinova, E. How to write a winning abstract for grant applications [PDF document]Retrieved from Yale University Graduate School Writing Center: http://www.yale.edu/grants/funding_info/pdf/Abstracts.pdf

Pierson, M., & Borthwick, A. (2010). Framing the Assessment of Educational Technology Professional Development in a Culture of Learning. Journal Of Digital Learning In Teacher Education, 26(4), 126-131.

Savannah-Chatham County School District Technology Plan retrieved from http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDQQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Finternet.savannah.chatham.k12.ga.us%2FDocuments%2FPDF%2FTechPlan2012-2015.pdf&ei=dU5sUv-

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BCsbgyQHJ3oGwAg&usg=AFQjCNF5lVAyBy76VshA0NTTfW5hiN2cdg&sig2=8CM6zF8Sv4jHE7Lm-8Qy_A&bvm=bv.55123115,d.aWc

Ye, L., Walker, A., Recker, M., Leary, H., Robertshaw, M., & Sellers, L. (2012). Designing for Problem-Based Learning: A Comparative Study of Technology Professional Development. Online Submission, Performance Improvement.

Appendix A

Needs Assessment Data:

Need for Edmodo(Top two reasons why they felt they needed training)

Reason 1 -- Teachers can grade assignments online and provide instant feedbackReason 2 -- Helps prepare students for college online classes (Exp. Uploading Assignments)Reason 3 -- Helps prepare students who missed work stay on track at home, ISS, or schoolReason 4 -- Helps alleviate paper usage by assigning quizzes, assignments, etc. on EdmodoReason 5- Enable teachers to network with other teachers to share ideas and resourcesReason 6 -- No Need for Edmodo

Reason 1

Reason 2

Reason 3

Reason 4

Reason 5

Reason 6

Teacher 1 x xTeacher 2 x xTeacher 3 xTeacher 4 x xTeacher 5 x xTeacher 6 x xTeacher 7 x xTeacher 8 x xTeacher 9 xTeacher 10 x xTeacher 11 x xTeacher 12 x xTeacher 13 x xTeacher 14 x xTeacher 15 x xTeacher 16 x xTeacher 17 x xTeacher 18 x xTeacher 19 x xTeacher 20 x xTeacher 21 x xTeacher 22 x xTeacher 23 x x

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Teacher 24 x xTeacher 25 x xTeacher 26 x xTeacher 27 x xTeacher 28 x xTeacher 29 x xTeacher 30 x xPercentages 33% 43% 60% 27% 30% 0%

Top Areas of Demonstrated Need:

% of Teachers Indicating Need for Professional Development

Indicated area

60% Submission of Assignments

43% Online Course Management Systems

33% Grading of Assignments and Immediate Feedback

Appendix B

Post Training Questionnaire

Did you learn from this training?                                1       2       3       4       5

Do you feel prepared to implement what you learned?                                1       2       3       4       5

Do you feel that your students will benefit from what you learned?                                1       2       3       4       5

What was the best thing you learned about using Edmodo? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are your lingering questions/concerns about using Edmodo?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Pre- and Post-Assessment for Teachers

What is your level of comfort in effectively using Edmodo in your classroom?                                1       2       3       4       5

Have you ever been trained in using Edmodo?  yes or no (circle one)

How effective do you think Edmodo is for increasing academic achievement?                                1       2       3       4       5

How effective do you feel Edmodo is for increasing student motivation?                                 1       2       3       4       5

How often do you use Edmodo in your classroom? (circle one)1-    never2-    a couple times a year3-    about once a month4-    about once a week5-    every day or almost every day

If you responded with a 2, 3, 4, or 5 for the previous question, please answer the following questions:

How proficient are you at creating groups and subgroups using Edmodo?                                1       2       3       4       5

How proficient are you at creating alerts using Edmodo?                                1       2       3       4       5

How proficient are you at creating polls using Edmodo?                                1       2       3       4       5

How proficient are you at creating assignments using Edmodo?                                1       2       3       4       5

How proficient are you at adding videos using Edmodo?                                1       2       3       4       5

How proficient are you at sharing folders using Edmodo?                                1       2       3       4       5

How comfortable are you that you are able to keep your students and their information safe and secure on Edmodo?                                1       2       3       4       5

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Technology Coach Evaluation Tool

Teacher: ______________________

Grade Level: ______________

Is this a scheduled observation or a drop in observation? ________________________

Location of Observation: classroom computer lab media center

Is the teacher using Edmodo? Yes or No

Are students using Edmodo? Yes or No

If students are not using Edmodo, reference the teacher’s lesson plans for times to return when Edmodo will be being used. Come back: __________________________________

If the students are using Edmodo, about how many students are using it? _____________

What are the students using Edmodo to accomplish? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are the students: unengaged partially engaged fully engaged

Level of evidence of Edmodo in the teacher’s lesson plans:no evidence minimal evidence some evidence much evidence

Ask a few students the following questions and write down your general observations based on their responses: How often do you use Edmodo? What do you usually use Edmodo for? Do you use Edmodo at home? Do you like using Edmodo? What are your favorite and least favorite things about Edmodo? What do you want to do more of using Edmodo? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Student Questionnaire

Grade Level: _________

Please circle one number for each question.

How often do you use Edmodo in school?1-    Never2-    A couple times a year3-    About once a month4-    About once a week5-    Every day or almost every day

How much do you enjoy using Edmodo?                        1       2       3       4       5      

How much do you feel that Edmodo has helped you improve your schoolwork?                       1       2       3       4       5      

How much do you want to continue using Edmodo?                        1       2       3       4       5