The Impact of Using Edmodo as a Blended Learning Platform

In The Students’ Active Participation in The New Normal.

Frya Lora H. Javier

Teacher III – Nueva Ecija High School
Fryalora.javier@deped.gov.ph

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the impact of using Edmodo as a blended learning
platform on the student’s active participation in the new normal. The study also explored students’
attitudes towards using Edmodo in computer system servicing in Technology Livelihood
Education in Information Communication Technology. The sample of the study consisted of 36
Grade 9 ICT students. The data of the study were collected via two research instruments: an
unstructured interview and a five-point Likert scale questionnaire. These instruments were
validated by ten teachers from Nueva Ecija High School. Moreover, the reliability of the test and
the questionnaire was achieved by validating the same members. In addition, the findings of the
study revealed that there were statistically significant differences between the student’s active
participation using Edmodo in their CSS class which indicated the effectiveness of utilizing
Edmodo in teaching grammar to ICT-CSS subjects. Furthermore, the results of the study showed
that students had positive attitudes toward using Edmodo CSS activities. Besides, students
preferred using Edmodo in their blended learning asynchronous activities because of immediate
feedback, saving time and effort, easy access, enhancing student-teacher interaction, and the
freedom to access them even if the student was absent. Finally, the study recommended
conducting more studies on the effectiveness of using Edmodo in other learning areas.

Key Words: Edmodo; activities; experimental; questionnaire; blended learning.

1. INTRODUCTION importance of CSS in the curriculum and its emphasis on

real-life scenarios must be highlighted. CSS skills come in
performance. My experience in teaching CSS caught my
Having knowledge of computer technology means that you
attention and inspired me to come up with this study. Given
understand how computer hardware and software work and
the great challenges facing countries at the greatest risk of not
can be used to maximize work. This knowledge can give you
meeting the students face-to-face during this time of the
the upper hand when you must deal with new programs, such
pandemic, students and teachers will possibly have a hard
as updated content management systems or new features in
time solving and executing troubleshooting exercises. And so
technology and this is how Computer System Servicing or
I thought of a platform that can be used in teaching CSS and
CSS works. In my 10 years of teaching ICT subjects in
at the same time will be connected both with parents and
Nueva Ecija High School, the researcher witnessed that most
learners to assist in the learning process.
of the ICT classes are challenging due to a lack of modules
and or outdated learning materials. CSS also is a skill-based
Most of the time, students tend to lose their files, or their files
subject and should mandatorily require hands-on activities to
get corrupted for some other reason. That brought them to
understand troubleshooting very well. Nonetheless, the
redo most of the assigned tasks for them, with Edmodo’s

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backpack feature students can secure their files for
safekeeping. This is just one Edmodo can address along with
its UX-design friendly for the target respondent’s age. With a
platform like Edmodo, parents can now be updated every
time a learning task is completed by their child. Edmodo
generates an alarm to parents using a link in the email to
which any parent can get connected.
Students can now finally log in to a Facebook-like platform,
but the catch was instead of social media content they can
choose a wide array of interests that they can indulge in thru
feeds from a variety of areas like Science, Mathematics,
English, and Arts or whatever subject that suits and interest
them.
Utilizing Virtual Learning Environments as a supplementary
tool for motivating and empowering independent learning
and innovative teaching is becoming a crucial part of 21 st-
century education in the new normal amidst the pandemic.
Edmodo is one example of social learning site which is now
being used by professors and students in many institutions of
higher learning in the country. However, there is still limited
research in the Philippines about the impact of using Virtual
Learning Environments as supplementary tools for learning
specifically in connection with students’ active participation.
This research focuses on the impact of the use of Edmodo in
terms of the student’s active participation.
Edmodo in connection has been useful to the researcher since
2014. As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread and impact
school communities. Teachers, students, and parents can use
Edmodo to communicate and continue education—always for
free—even when in-person learning isn’t possible. Built by
teacher feedback and designed with parents in mind, the app
not only provides more visibility and actionable insight into a
child’s learning trajectory but also gives parents something
they can access on the go and on their schedule. Historically,
Edmodo provided parents the opportunity to be involved in
their child’s digital education with parent accounts, but we
realized we needed to do even more to bolster teacher-parent
and parent-student interaction. “I can easily communicate
with my student’s parents and know that they’re invested in
supporting their child’s learning efforts, which makes me feel
that I have an extended team I can work with to help my
students reach their goals,” says Lynn (Edmodo.com).
2. METHODS
Conceptual Framework
COLLABORATION
The Use of Edmodo as
Learning Management
LEARNING TASKS Students’ Active
System Participation
KNOWLEDGE AND
CONTENT INTEGRATION
Figure 1. The conceptual framework represents the flow of
the study in terms of using Edmodo as the LMS and its goal
to promote collaboration, manage learning tasks and
integrate online content to encourage active participation.
2.1 Type of Research
The descriptive type of research was utilized
employing techniques that include interviews and
observations to gather data. According to Mikozki (2002),
descriptive research involves collecting data to answer
questions concerning the status of the subject of the study.
Learners’ behavior will be closely observed using online
platforms and based on their experience. The research design
to be used in this study is the observational method to
determine the impact of using Edmodo as a blended learning
medium. The respondents in this study came from the Grade
9 CSS SP-ICT Larry Page section, consisting of 37 students
in Nueva Ecija National High School, the school year 2020-
2021.
2.2 Instruments
The engagement scale was established to obtain
data about the students' engagement towards using Edmodo
to enhance participation in CSS subjects. The scale was
administered to measure students’ engagement in using
Edmodo as a blended learning medium for their ICT subject.
The engagement scale aimed at measuring the effect of
Edmodo as a blended learning medium on developing
students' attitudes towards learning CSS in ICT.
A six-item questionnaire with a five-point Likert
Scale (Excellent-Good-Fair-Poor-Very Poor) was utilized in
the present study. This tool was divided into two main
domains. The first domain was about students' active
participation in using Edmodo in learning and using ICT. The
second domain was students' rating towards the visual design
of using Edmodo.
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The instructions were given to students by the researcher. resources, practice quizzes and
Clear and simple instructions were provided to get students to follow pages from credible
understand the items of the scale and facilitate responding. sources and wholesome
It is imperative that to draw genuine results for this environments with a positive
study, the two instruments to be used must be the observation response.
and interview methods. Collecting data must be aligned for 6. I can use the feeds from my 3.79 Good
how Edmodo can if not just supplemental yet, be the most personal interests and gets
applicable LMS during this time of the pandemic. Guide updates and feedback for topics
Questions will also be included as instruments and find educational content that
suits me.
2.3 Data Analysis The obtained overall mean of 4.05 suggests
In the analysis and interpretation of the data, the students’ attitudes toward the usability of Edmodo.
following statistical tools were used: (1) The mean weighted The findings indicated the means of the
average was used to arrive at a verbal description of each of participants’ attitudes towards using Edmodo in CSS and the
the items; (2) The data will be analyzed using an independent means of the survey. Therefore, this result indicated that
sample t-test. students had positive attitudes toward using Edmodo in terms
Furthermore, to analyze the results of the questionnaire, the of its usability. This finding is in line with the findings of the
researcher used Microsoft excel to calculate frequencies and following scholars: (Al-Kathiri, 2014; Enriquez, 2014;
percentages. Mokhtar and Dzakiria, 2015; Al-Said, 2015; Yagci, 2015;
Alshawi and Alhomoud, 2016; and Alzaben, 2016).

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Table 2 Means and Verbal Ratings of Students’ Responses
The analyses and interpretation of data relative to towards Using Edmodo in Blended Learning Platform
the survey form and unstructured interview were answered by Item Statements WM Verbal
the 36 respondents from the grade 9 ICT class about the Ratings
impact of using Edmodo as a blended learning platform in the 1. I think using Edmodo as a 4.39 Excellent
student’s active participation asynchronously. blended learning medium in
learning computer system
Table 1 Weighted Mean and Verbal Description of Edmodo servicing is useful.
Usability for the Learners in their CSS Class. 2. I think using Edmodo as a 4.55 Excellent
Item Statements Usability WM Verbal blended learning medium in
Ratings learning computer system
1. Edmodo is accessible and 4.33 Excellent
servicing is an enjoyable and
easy to use anytime and
anywhere. motivating experience.
2. Using Edmodo to do learning 4.06 Good 3. I think using Edmodo as a 4.55 Excellent
tasks is motivating and blended learning medium in
engaging. learning computer system
3. I can manage my files and 4.42 Excellent servicing promotes my
secure a backup on the backpack autonomous
feature of Edmodo learning.
4. I can now balance my study 3.67 Good 4. I prefer Edmodo CSS 4.64 Excellent
and digital footprint through the activities because I can access
planner linked in the calendar them at anytime and
tool from Edmodo that can anywhere.
remind me of the assigned task 5. I think using Edmodo as a 4.42 Excellent
and its due dates. blended learning medium in
5. I can search posts, and 4.03 Good learning ICT in CSS enhances

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 student-teacher interaction. User Interface (UI) 4.21 Excellent
6. I think using Edmodo as a 4.15 Good User Experience (UX) 4.18 Good
blended learning medium in From the given unstructured interview and FGD led
learning CSS encourages by the researcher/teacher along with the participants, some of
cooperative learning among the students shared their experiences after utilizing Edmodo,
groups. one of them stated that
7. I prefer Edmodo in CSS 4.42 Excellent “compared to the other applications, Edmodo was
activities because I can get easier to use, it is more organized to the point that
immediate feedback on my even if you were a beginner there’s no need to
answers. worry, second, my parent can monitor my
8. I think using Edmodo as a 4.12 Good performance directly to their account. Third, I can
blended learning medium in keep my files in the backpack and easily access
learning CSS saves time and them from time to time lastly, in every class there is
effort. a folder where the teachers can compile the lessons
9. I prefer Edmodo in CSS 4.21 Excellent and can be opened by a student like me.”
activities because it is easy to
access them. Another student discuss that Edmodo was better to use
10. I prefer Edmodo CSS 4.09 Good because they can back files and they were notified every time
activities because I can access there were new posts and updates from the teacher. To sum it
them even if I was absent all up, participants agreed upon the accessibility and easier-
from school. to-use app on their mobile phones. This result is supported by
The results of the study indicated that the Grade 9 the results of Alshawi and Alhomoud (2016) and Al-Said
participants appreciated receiving immediate feedback on (2015).
their answers. This finding is consistent with those of Shams- And from the features to improve their experience
Abadi, Ahmadi, and Mehrdad’s study (2015). In addition, the from Edmodo, one of the students mentioned “improved UI
findings of the current study revealed that students believed to make it more engaging to use.”, “for me, if Edmodo can
that Edmodo CSS activities that were sent by the teacher put a real-time meeting like meet and zoom it will be so
were enjoyable, useful, and motivating. These findings are in perfect, it will be easier for the teachers to have class and not
congruent with those of Wolfer (2012) and Fardoun et al. need to switch to other applications”.
(2012). Moreover, the results of the present study revealed
that students were motivated to access and excited to answer
activities at any time and anywhere even if they were absent. 4. CONCLUSIONS
This finding is compatible with the results of Alshawi and Most of the students gave excellent and good
Alhomoud’ study (2016). Similarly, the results of the current feedback on their experiences in the utilization of Edmodo in
study show that students felt that Edmodo created a terms of usability experience and as a blended learning
convenient atmosphere for teacher-student interaction may it medium in teaching-learning ICT CSS in the new normal.
be real-time or asynchronous. This may be because Grade 9 ICT students gave positive feedback on the
participants were able to communicate privately with their overall experience of the utilization of Edmodo and
teacher through Edmodo outside the classroom. Finally, the suggested features to improve on the app to give them its full
present showed that using Edmodo saved time and effort. potential in their CSS class.
This result agrees with the findings of Alzaben’s study The use of Edmodo enhances students’ active
(2016). participation in ICT CSS classes.

Table 3 Weighted mean and verbal ratings of Edmodo’s

Visual Design 5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Item’s choices WM Verbal
Ratings The researcher extends her heartfelt gratitude to the

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following Mr. Lorenzo P. Joaquin, school head; and Mrs.
Annie E. Macapagal, department head, whose inspiration and
words of encouragement motivated her to finish the study;
Her loving parents, siblings, and friends for their
emotional support; and,
The Lord Almighty for his ceaseless blessings.
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