Case Studies

 Case Study 1: ClassDojo

Overview:

ClassDojo is a communication tool used in K-12 education to foster engagement between teachers, students, and parents. It allows teachers to share updates, classroom activities, announcements, and student progress through a user-friendly interface. The platform is designed to support social-emotional learning (SEL), offering features for students to track their behavior, achievements, and growth.

 

User Engagement:

Students: Students engage with ClassDojo primarily by receiving feedback on their behavior and activities through a points-based system. They can showcase their achievements through their digital portfolios, allowing them to take ownership of their learning and reflect on their progress.

Teachers: Teachers use ClassDojo to communicate classroom expectations, share lesson updates, and track student behavior. Teachers can also engage students by assigning “Dojo points” for positive actions like cooperation, participation, and good behavior.

Parents: Parents receive notifications about their child’s progress and can communicate directly with teachers through messages, ensuring a transparent connection between home and school. This involvement allows parents to stay informed and engage with their child’s learning journey. It allows parents to manage multiple child’s profiles through one parent profile.

Influence on Communication:

ClassDojo shapes communication by making it more real-time and transparent. It fosters a culture of positive reinforcement and creates a space for ongoing feedback. In the classroom, communication becomes more personalized, with teachers directly acknowledging students' efforts and behaviors. For parents, it encourages frequent interaction with teachers and a better understanding of their child’s school life. However, the format of communication, primarily through instant notifications and messages, may reduce the depth of conversations in some cases, as it encourages brief exchanges rather than more comprehensive discussions.

Information Consumption:

ClassDojo changes the way students, teachers, and parents consume information by providing visual and instant updates. For students, information is presented through visual rewards (e.g., points or badges), making it engaging and motivating. Teachers share updates, photos, and videos, transforming traditional forms of communication like paper notes or emails into real-time multimedia content. Parents are kept in the loop with up-to-date reports about their child’s behavior and progress. However, ClassDojo may not be ideal for deep content delivery or academic resources, as it focuses more on behavioral management and communication. It includes videos and activities for users to learn social-emotional lessons such as empathy and mindfulness but this seems to be only available on the paid version of the app. The paid version also includes read receipts to increase acknowledgement of information being read.

Impact on Learning:

Positive Effects: ClassDojo supports a growth mindset by recognizing and celebrating students' small successes, which can improve motivation and self-esteem. The platform also facilitates collaborative learning by creating a space for students, teachers, and parents to interact.

Negative Effects: Over-reliance on points and rewards could lead to extrinsic motivation rather than fostering intrinsic motivation for learning. Additionally, the constant notifications might be distracting for both students and teachers.

Privacy and Safety:

ClassDojo has robust privacy policies that comply with educational regulations such as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act). It is designed to be safe for children, offering teacher-controlled access to ensure that students' information is protected. However, parents and educators need to be aware of potential risks with sharing photos and videos, ensuring that students' identities and personal data remain secure.

Required Literacies:

Digital Literacy:All users (students, teachers, and parents) need to have basic digital literacy skills, such as navigating the app, managing notifications, and using the communication features effectively.

Media Literacy: Teachers and students should be able to understand and interpret multimedia content shared through the platform, including photos and videos, in ways that enhance learning.

Privacy Literacy: It’s important for all users to understand how to protect personal information, especially considering the young age of students. Educators and parents need to model safe practices for using the platform.

 

Reflecting on the Implications:

ClassDojo supports the educational goal of fostering communication, engagement, and SEL in a classroom setting. Teachers can use the platform to maintain a positive classroom environment while keeping parents actively involved in their child’s progress. For educators, it offers a way to reinforce positive behaviors and encourage student reflection. Parents can support their child’s learning by regularly checking the platform and staying in touch with the teacher. However, educators should be cautious about overemphasizing points and rewards, ensuring that intrinsic motivation and deeper learning remain the focus.

Case Study 2: Remind

Overview:

Remind is a communication tool designed to connect teachers, students, and parents through text messages, notifications, and reminders. It enables real-time messaging, allowing teachers to send important updates, assignments, and reminders to students and their families. The platform works on various devices, making it accessible for different users.

User Engagement:

Students: Students engage with Remind by receiving reminders about assignments, upcoming tests, and class activities. They can also communicate directly with teachers to clarify questions or discuss assignments.

Teachers: Teachers use Remind to distribute assignments, send reminders, and encourage communication with students and parents. The platform allows for one-on-one messaging with students and can also be used for group discussions or school-wide announcements. Teachers can have multiple classes on remind and send them separate information, assignments, and announcements. 

Parents: Parents receive important notifications about their child’s progress, assignments, and school events. They can communicate directly with teachers to address concerns or ask questions about their child’s learning.

Influence on Communication:

Remind influences communication by offering a more immediate and informal way to interact. It changes the communication format, shifting from traditional methods (like emails or printed notices) to text-based, often short, direct exchanges. This encourages quick responses but may limit more in-depth conversations. It also bridges the gap between school and home, enabling parents to stay updated and involved in their child’s education in real time.

Information Consumption:

The platform allows users to access concise, targeted information quickly. Students and parents receive short reminders, messages, and updates, which helps them stay on track without being overwhelmed by excessive information. However, this format may not be ideal for delivering complex educational content. Teachers must find a balance between sending brief updates and ensuring that essential information is fully communicated.

Impact on Learning:

Positive Effects: Remind helps keep students organized and on track, reducing the chances of missed assignments or forgotten tests. The platform supports continuous engagement, as students and parents can communicate with teachers at any time.

Negative Effects: Overuse of notifications could lead to message fatigue, where students or parents may ignore important updates. Additionally, the platform’s brevity could sometimes lead to a lack of deeper understanding, particularly in complex subjects that require more detailed explanations.

 

Privacy and Safety:

Remind prioritizes privacy and safety by ensuring that all communications are secure. It does not share users’ phone numbers, and only the teacher can send public messages, ensuring a controlled and safe environment for students. The platform also complies with COPPA, safeguarding students' personal information. Teachers must remain aware of the platform’s features and remind parents to keep sensitive information private.

Required Literacies:

Digital Literacy: All users need basic digital literacy to use the app effectively, especially in managing notifications and interacting with the platform’s features.

Communication Literacy: Students, teachers, and parents must understand how to communicate effectively through text messages, making sure that messages are clear and respectful.

Time Management Literacy: Students need time management skills to keep track of assignments and reminders sent via Remind. Teachers should encourage students to use the platform to stay organized and plan their tasks.

Reflecting on the Implications:

Remind supports educational goals by enhancing communication and organization, making it easier for teachers to manage class activities and keep parents informed. The platform also offers valuable support for students, helping them manage their responsibilities and stay engaged with their learning. For parents, it provides a simple way to stay involved without needing to visit the school regularly. However, educators should be mindful of the balance between providing timely updates and ensuring that students remain focused on the actual content of their learning.

Reference:

Google. (n.d.). Remind: School communication - apps on Google Play. Google. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.remind101&hl=en_US 

Google. (n.d.-a). Classdojo - apps on Google Play. Google. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.classdojo.android&hl=en_US