"Shared" Field Trip Using Edmodo!

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While on Twitter one evening I mentioned to a fellow fourth grade teacher that my class was traveling to Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, MA  to learn more about the Pilgrims and Wampanoags. 

She tweeted back:  “Jealous!” 

As she is located in Indiana it made me sad to think that she and her class would never, in all likelihood, get to experience this amazing ‘living’ museum, and that’s when my “Shared Field Trip” using Edmodo was born!  

As I’m a new Edmodo user I have been looking for ways to seamlessly incorporate it into my daily lessons.  Being able to connect and collaborate on projects with classrooms around the globe makes this a valuable real world tool.  Knowing that many of my Twitter PLN also use Edmodo made me think that this would be an effective way to share our trip.

How it worked:

·      Created an Edmodo Group and Tweeted the “request to join” URL a day or two before the trip

·      Students/Classes joined the Plimoth Plantation Field Trip Group

·      Links to set prior knowledge were shared to the Group

·      Groups brainstormed and asked questions about Pilgrims/Wampanoags

·      2 iPads were utilized on the field trip to retrieve/respond to the groups’ inquiries

·      Further responses were made upon our return to our classroom.

Helpful Hints:

Screen Shot of Edmodo Page

·      Group code or “request to join” URL Code should be sent out well in advance (a week or more)

·      Questions should be made known before leaving for the trip

·      Upload Video & audio links from the trip

·      Decide ahead if it “shared field trip” will be in ‘real time’

·      Check for Wifi connections before arrival

·      Try to use more than one device

Benefits:

·      Motivating for students

·      Makes trip even more interactive

·      Gives students greater purpose

·      Many students/groups benefit from shared knowledge

·      Connecting and Collaborating Globally

Truly my students were more motivated knowing their counterparts in the Group wanted information.  It became important for them to inquire for the ‘group’ as they realized this was a way to help the students in the far away classes.   Each one of my students wanted to be able to respond and be a part of the learning.   I heard from the other teachers in the group that their students were just as excited to receive answers from us, thereby extending the learning for all.  

In May we will be going to the Museum of Fine Arts and I know Edmodo will be right there with us! 

Resources:

Edmodo

Ideas for Using Edmodo

The First Thanksgiving

Cybraryman: Thanksgiving Page