Adobe Connect (Virtual Classroom)

What is Adobe Connect?

I am sure you have heard about Adobe System before and have one of the software in your computer, right?  Adobe System has a long list of software and one of them is Adobe Connect. Adobe Connect is a web conferencing software that is used to share information and presentation through online meetings or online seminars (webinars). This software is usually used by government and corporations as a solution to have a secured online events and collaborations. The best part is, it can also be used for learning purpose as you can carry out online classes with your students at anytime from everywhere! Adobe Connect enable the teaching and learning process to take place like the real life classroom because students can response through screen sharing. Other than that, audio and video conferencing can also be carried out via Adobe Connect and it can be recorded. 

Adobe Connect in ELT:

Advantages:

1) Adobe Connect enable teaching and learning process to take place from any distance, at anytime. This would be a great tool if the you want to have extra or replacement classes with you students while you are away. 

2) Adobe Connect includes notes, chat, and whiteboard that allows students to respond to the lesson that you are teaching. Screen sharing feature also helps you to display the lesson clearly. 

3) Sharing information could also be done through Adobe Connect because it enables you to share files and documents such as worksheets and etc with your students. 

4) Apart from all of the above, you could also have audio or video conferencing in your online classroom. This is a useful feature that offered by Adobe Connect that is perfect for the learners with multiple intelligence. For example, idea sharing through audio or video presentation could be used for students who unable to express themselves via writing (chat or whiteboard).  

Disadvantages:

1) This useful learning tool is that, it is not free and you have to buy it.  However, in my opinion it is totally worth it to buy because online learning experience would be more interesting and exiting with Adobe Connect. 

2) Idea sharing through whiteboard as well as audio response could only be done by one student at a time. 

Edmodo

What is Edmodo? 

Edmodo is a social network which is almost similar to Facebook. The only difference is that, it created for learning purposes that aimed for teachers and students. It allows teachers and students to have a secure online place to connect and collaborate, share content and educational applications, and access homework, grades, class discussion and notifications. The goal for this tool is to help educators especially teachers capture the advantages of social networking to make the classroom more accessible and flexible for learners. The most important thing is that, it  is free!

How it works?

So, how to set up and operate Edmodo? It is very easy! If you can create an account for your Facebook, than you should have no problem setting up your Edmodo account. You only need to use your email or any preferred username and password and sign up as a teacher! You also will be asked to create a group to enable you to connect with your students.

Once you succeeded, you will be provided a code. This code need to be given to your students for them to sign up and join the group you have created as a teacher. 

Signing up as a students will undergo the same process and your students have to insert the code given to enable them to join your group. 

And finally you are ready to connect with your students online! 

Edmodo in ELT:

Advantanges:

1) Through Edmodo, you are able to have an online classroom with your students. The things that you have no time to do in the actual classroom can be carried out via Edmodo. For example discussions and giving feedback.

2) Edmodo enable you as a teacher to post grades or report about each of your students' performances in the classroom and they can keep track of their own results. Besides, this tool also provide a code for parents' access and parents can also view their children's progress in the school. 

3) This tool will also help to make your classroom more accessible for the students. You can post all the notes and worksheets that you used in your lessons. This definitely will be helpful for your students especially for those who are absence during the lessons because they are not well.  

Disadvantages:

1) Students with no access to the internet might feel discouraged because they are unable to keep their own progress online like their friends.

2) Students might be too lazy to check their Edmodo account everyday.

In conclusion, Edmodo may have a few downside but its benefits in teaching language could not be dismissed. Edmodo may be able to create a new dimension that make a classroom more flexible and accessible for the students. Both of the teachers and students may interact and communicate with each other at any place anytime they feel the need to. This in turn, may help in students development and progress as well as helping both parties create a better teacher-student relationship.