The Gold Star Goes Digital

Even the gold star is getting digitized these days. A new classroom management tool called ClassDojo is adding features to the digital classroom experience, making it easy for teachers to record student achievements and classroom behavior and email reports home.

ClassDojo allows teachers to record, track, and report student behavior in class on an interactive whiteboard or projector using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. With just the click of a mouse or the tap of a finger, the customizable system enables teachers to give immediate feedback on a student’s classroom participation without having to interrupt instruction. Some teachers are even using ClassDojo to more fully engage their students during the day by making use of the system for tasks as simple as taking attendance.

Because teachers report spending up to half of their class time managing behavior, any tool that helps streamline that process and frees up minutes for instruction is bound to win favor. The creators of ClassDojo suggest that the visible “positive reinforcement helps students develop a sense of purpose in the classroom, enhancing intrinsic motivation over time.” Classroom reports delivered with a mouse click also make it easier for a teacher to involve mom or dad in a child’s development.

At September’s Education Nation Summit, ClassDojo’s creators were awarded top prize as part of the innovation challenge. You may be seeing ClassDojo or similar classroom management tools soon. Though we’re already missing those gold stars.