Making Teaching Simpler...
Through Technology
Using Technoology in the Classroom
Using technology in the classroom should not make life harder, though there might be a little work ahead of time. It could be used in two different ways: teacher centered and student centered. Teacher centered would be focused on you and ways to improve your day to day tasks. Student centered would be ways to help kids practice or master new skills, or demonstrate content knowledge.
Student Introduction to ClassDojo
What is Class Dojo?
Class Dojo is a website for classroom management. It is also an app. Imagine turning your clipchart into a digital version that you could have with you ANYWHERE (walking down the hall, specials, or field trips). Class Dojo allows you to select the whole class for earned points; you could always unselect student names for kids who are not on task. Each day you take attendance so that kids who are absent aren't being punished/rewarded when they aren't in the classroom.
You can also invite other teachers to give and take points (specials). You can invite parents to see their child's behavior. (If they have the app then they receive notifications every time.) Students can log in and change their monster (yes, they love this). There is a built in timer and random student selector; both tools that I use constantly.
You can also invite other teachers to give and take points (specials). You can invite parents to see their child's behavior. (If they have the app then they receive notifications every time.) Students can log in and change their monster (yes, they love this). There is a built in timer and random student selector; both tools that I use constantly.
Homescreen
ClassDojo has added community support. A much easier way to get ideas from others who are using ClassDojo. This is also where the above video can be watched and share with your students.
Classroom
You can view your students and the total points that they have earned. But there is so much more hiding. You can gather data to see what kids were earning points for.
Earning Points
Behaviors can be customized by teacher. Students 'earn' positive and negative points. My students also enjoyed having a say in what they could earn points for.
Class Options
From the homescreen the teacher is able to share the class with other teachers (who can help the kids earn points), make changes to the class, and access the parent/ student login codes.
Tools
I used the timer in ClassDojo more than my other sites. It was too convienent. Also the 'award multiple students' became one of my favorite tools. It allows me to track student engagement very easily and much more frequently then the classroom clipchart.
Always Improving
Data collection just got easier!
- Reports: whole class, individual great for target/ goal setting.
- Attendance: Can now be more easily tracked.
- Messages: Whole class notes or individual. Teacher can also see who has read the messages.
- Audio: now you can include audio messages.
It's all FREE!
What do the kids have to say?
Before the 2013-2014 school year ended, I asked my kids what they thought of Class Dojo...
Teacher: So what do you think of Class Dojo? Is there anyone who didn't like it?
Student 1: (only one to raise his hand) I don't like that I could lose points when I don't finish work.
Teacher: (laughing in my head) Well, I guess we know what you need to do then, huh?
Student 1: laughs
Student 2: I like that I can see how many points I have.
Student 3, 4, 5: I like that I can earn rewards.
Teacher: So what do you think of Class Dojo? Is there anyone who didn't like it?
Student 1: (only one to raise his hand) I don't like that I could lose points when I don't finish work.
Teacher: (laughing in my head) Well, I guess we know what you need to do then, huh?
Student 1: laughs
Student 2: I like that I can see how many points I have.
Student 3, 4, 5: I like that I can earn rewards.
Reward System & Tracking?
Reward System
Depending on how you choose to use Class Dojo, you can set up different prizes and target numbers, similar to prizes you would have used with Mancy PRIDE tickets. Kids loved this! But how do you keep up with the prizes? I had the 'Ruler of the Dojo' distribute prizes using a checklist and easily accessible prizes. Here are other sample ideas of how teachers are setting up rewards using Class Dojo.
Behavior Tracking
I found that an awareness was created when I was using Class Dojo. Since I could see the kids total points... the kids who really 'high' on their points, I made sure that they were worthy. The kids who were 'low' I made sure that I was targeting them more, trying to create more positive. For the low kids, I used the points and created personal goals, separate from the class point total.
At the end of each day my kids had to record their Dojo Points on a calendar in their folder that went home each day. This was just another talking point for the kids and I when I checked their folder. Class Dojo can create some reports to help with talks during parent conferences, est, etc. Here are some examples of how other teachers are tracking student data with Class Dojo.
At the end of each day my kids had to record their Dojo Points on a calendar in their folder that went home each day. This was just another talking point for the kids and I when I checked their folder. Class Dojo can create some reports to help with talks during parent conferences, est, etc. Here are some examples of how other teachers are tracking student data with Class Dojo.
The Two Guys Show #31: Class Dojo (with creators from Class Dojo)
The Two Guys Show #31: Class Dojo