I am not naturally organized. A MOLE allows (practically forces) me to group, categorize, and label things. My MOLE, Edmodo, is divided into the separate grades and classes I teach, and in the individual classes I can place my documents, Powerpoints, videos, and assignments into neat, separate folders illustrated by little yellow folder icons. This really beats my previous filing system called the Immense Pile On Desk System (IPODS). I wasn’t trying to be cool.  I just wanted something I could hang my class on, like one might hang a suit of clothes. However, the result of having a MOLE is that I seem more modern and tech-savvy. Did I mention that I was disorganized? My MOLE allows me to keep the dialogue going with my students even after they’ve school left for the day.  An added benefit is that I can fix something I misspoke or add something I left out. I can put "endnotes" onto my lectures. This relates to my first reason. With a MOLE I don’t have to rely on some data or dates long since effaced from my whiteboard. 

Dates and times are recorded automatically by the MOLE software.  I also have a digital record of students’ comments and what they said or didn’t say.zkin backpack review Most MOLES are “cloud-based”. solo 425 backpack sprayer partsThe more of my coursework on the MOLE, the more mobile I can be. sakun backpackI am able to bring home less paperwork and fewer files, and I require less copying onto a thumbdrive, because my Powerpoints, documents, etc., are all on the cloud.edmodo backpack tutorial A MOLE suits my sense of aesthetics. wyldstyle backpack

Because it is not a backpack or briefcase stuffed with papers and books, it always appears tidy. Edmodo, which is designed to look much like Facebook, has an unalterable theme—but it’s hard to argue with basic white trimmed with blue.  opbergzakken backpackMy MOLE desktop, unlike my wooden desktop, seldom needs tidying. I say “almost” only because my own work demands that my students also have paper assignments and face-to-face interaction. But my own fully-online grad studies have demonstrated clearly that today all necessary educational sources and resources are basically already in place.  A good MOLE is able to handle documents, slides, videos (even videos of the teacher lecturing)—any communications medium—and also has capability for student forums, the giving and submitting of assignments, the administering of quizzes and tests, etc. My own MOLE, Edmodo, recently introduced quizzing;

it already had a gradebook. Personally, I am no great fan of kids sitting in front of computer screens. I’d rather have them outside climbing trees or riding bikes.  But part of my reticence is because of the Internet’s dangers.  A well-chosen MOLE, however, can be a safe environment for a young student. My MOLE, Edmodo, despite being a free service, has NO advertizing, and I have yet to see a child approached via the MOLE by anyone outside the class. Once a class is set up, it is a closed system.  In several MOLES, like Edmodo and Schoology, students cannot even send messages to one another; all communication (except private messages between teacher and student) is done openly, on the “wall”. My MOLE looks, feels, and works very much like Facebook, so the learning curve is not great. My students didn’t see Edmodo as something very different or confusing. And if there’s anything to be said for positive association, what child or teenager has anything negative to say about Facebook?

Using a MOLE does in one sense add to my workload, but it’s a good addition.  Almost everyone likes email, Facebook, etc., because it appeals to that universal desire to receive a letter in the mail. Students who never speak to me, and barely look at me, in the classroom, do speak to me on Edmodo. I am getting to know my students better because of my MOLE. I like the interface, and I like tweaking it to make it more interesting or useful. Perhaps it appeals to some sort of love of toys or gadgets. In any case, when I’m using my MOLE I hardly feel that I’m working. Now that’s pretty neat.Please see the Frequently Used Links page on this site for a variety of websites and online resources you use often. These include StudentVUE, Student Gmail, libraries, BYOD information, and much more.Skip to Main Content Boyertown Area Senior High ) to: Teachers Students Parents Admin Teachers: Teachers can create/join groups. Groups are private, closed environments that you can only access if you are given a group code.

Teachers should lock the group code after everyone in the class has joined, which prevents those who don’t belong from joining. Teachers can post notes, alerts, assignments, quizzes, and polls. They can attach any type of file as long as it’s under 100 MB. Teachers have a Library with unlimited storage capacity (individual files have to be under 100MB) Teachers can edit/delete any student post. They can also put the entire class or individual students on read-only, moderate student posts, and remove students from the group. Teachers can access student usernames and change passwords. They can also access parent codes. Teachers can set up email/text notifications so they can monitor what’s going on in the group, even if they are not logged into Edmodo Teachers can send messages to parents. Teachers can join Edmodo communities that are open to any teacher on Edmodo – great way to connect with others and share ideas, content, etc. Students: Students can only join groups – the cannot create groups.

Students only show as first name/last initial (Grace T.) when the post to the group. Only the teacher and administrator has access to the full name, username, etc. Students can only post to the whole group or directly to the teacher. They cannot post directly to each other. Students can only post notes – they cannot post alerts, quizzes, assignments, and polls. Students cannot see assignments, quizzes, grades for other students. Students have a backpack with unlimited storage capacity (individual files must be under 100 MB)Parents: Parents need a parent code to create an account. This code connects them to their child(ren). They do not join the class group and cannot see what other students in the class are posting. They can only access information that pertains to their child(ren). Parent accounts are read only (although we may be adding back ability to send direct messages to teacher) Parents have access to the class calendar, message that the teacher sends to all parents, direct messages between the teacher and their child, grades, assignments, etc.