Edmodo Online Learning Media

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2.3 Online Learning Media

According to Yucel 2006, Online learning Media has been widely used for less than ten years; however, it has changed the contents of many concepts in our lives as a modern communication tool. Many common concepts such as government, trade, democracy and learning have gained new meanings by taking the prefix “e”. E-learning or web-based education is one of the important concepts and opportunities provided by the Internet. The concept of distance learning actually emerged much before than the Internet; actually, it is said to be as old as education. Yucel 2006 argues that the distance learning models administered via letters, press, television and CDs have ended up with practical and successful results. As Internet is global, unlimited and open to public, the teaching applications planned for the Internet environment has a potential of moderating the nature of distance learning. It seems that it will be the only distance learning tool of the near future. E-learning, as a new version of distance learning, is applied via the Internet technologies and involves the educational activities, which do not require the presence of the teacher and learner at the same time and place.

2.3.1 Edmodo

In this study, Edmodo is an online learning media which is used to facilitate students’ critical thinking. According to Cauley 2015, Edmodo is an online educational website that takes the ideas of a social network and refines them and makes it appropriate for a classroom. By using Edmodo, students and 23 teachers can reach out to one another and connect by sharing ideas, problems, and helpful tips. A teacher can assign and grade work on Edmodo; students can get help from the entire class on Edmodo. It is a safe environment. There is no bullying or inappropriate content, because the teacher can see everything that is posted on Edmodo. Also, parents can join the class to bring a level of transparency that is difficult to achieve without technology. Therefore, by teachers and parents’ guidance, students can be more serious in doing all teaching-learning process using Edmodo. According to Sharon et al 2011, online learning is the result from the learning which is delivered by electronic using media based computer. The material can be accessed using network such as web, internet, intranet, CD, and DVD. They state that online learning media is not for the information access, but also help the students with the specific result achieve the goal. The use of online learning media in educational is very beneficial. The students can get the information easily. It is also expressed by Drachsler 2010 that the use of online learning media can control the students to study independently. By using online learning media, students are able to access from everywhere they want to get the information. According to Sharon et al 2011, there are so many beneficial aspects of online learning in educational field, they are: 1. The variety of media. Internet is the best tool in conveying the information to the students around the world. Internet site containing 24 media variation, including text, audio, graphic, animation, video, and software that can be downloaded. 2. Newest information. By the existence of online learning, students are able to access any information using internet quickly. 3. Navigation. The main benefit of internet is that the ability to move easily inside and between the document. The user can search various document in various location without moving from their computer. 4. Knowledge exchange. The students can exchange the information each other to the other people in order to complete the information they need. 5. Communication: By using internet, students in different area are able to share information or idea. They can “communicate each other in different time and respond it based on their pleasure. 6. Cheap: hardware, software, and internet service are nominal and always decreasing. According to David 2000, mind tools are computer based tools and learning environments that have been adapted or developed to function as intellectual partners with the learner in order to engage and facilitate critical thinking and higher order learning. He states that mind tools are cognitive amplification and reorganization tools. They amplify the learner’s thinking by transcending the limitation of the mind. He adds that mind tools are critical thinking devices. They do this by modeling-in their function-critical thinking skills. For example, students cannot construct semantic nets or experts system 25 knowledge bases without analyzing and therefore thinking critically about the content they are studying. Edmodo is one of a mind tool media based computer which can facilitate students to engage their critical thinking aspects. It is also expressed by David 2000 that mind tools are computer tools that are intended to engage and facilitate cognitive processing. Cognitive tools are both mental and computational devices that support, guide and extend the thinking process. Figure 2.1 Layout of Edmodo 26

2.4 Theoretical Framework