To be reluctant to set up a ClassDojo account?

[rockshandy]

They are trialling this app in DD2's class and we have been asked to set up an account. I really don't know much about it and I am looking into it now. But there is just something about it that unsettles me that I can't quite put my finger on.

Has anyone any experience of using this app?

[PurpleDaisies]

I’m a teacher and I really like it. The kids are really keen to earn points. It’s immediate and it’s really visual. They can earn points in lots of ways, so it celebrates things other than just academic achievement.

What makes you uneasy about it? Most classes will have some sort of behaviour incentive.

[DakotaFanny]

I think it is a great tool and highly motivating. As a parent, you get regular feedback (I don’t know any details about this though) and the kids love it. I would sign up.

[Gingaaarghpussy]

Its really good. You can have a nosy at how many points your child has and for what reason.

[claralaraloo]

Like what? You can;t be bothered by it much if you don't even know why you are bothered,

[Glittertwins]

Nothing untoward about it. DS's class have it and it's certainly worked in turning his behaviour around for the better

[dryshampooer]

Class Dojo is used by both my DD's teachers. Really useful feature is quick messaging between teacher and parents. Sometimes to whole class (e.g. Don't forget swim kit tomorrow) or sometimes 1-2-1 messages. I find it useful when I need to check something quickly with the teacher, e.g. when is a piece of homework due. I wouldn't use it to exchange messages on anything confidential, but for quick messages when I dont want to bother the teacher with a call or an email it's great.

[Valerrie]

I'm a teacher and it's brilliant. Why would it be unsettling?

[BG2015]

My school uses Class Dojo as a reward/ behaviour incentive.

It’s only used within school though. It has the option that parents can see how many points their child is earning and what for and even share photo’s of good examples of work. Parents get emails from school.

We haven’t linked the parents into it. My class (Y1) love it and the child with the most points at the end of the week gets a prize.

[RavenWings]

Class Dojo is excellent as a school reward system. As a teacher I keep it as a school thing and don't allow parents to create accounts (I'd have to give them link details to our class account), as I don't like the teacher messenger system or the site encouraging you to post pictures and messages.

[Snafflebrain]

My DCs school has been using dojo app this year. It’s very good and nice to get updates on their day and achievements. Although now when I ask my Ds what has he done at school today he tells me to check the app instead of “can’t remember” .
We can also use it to direct message DCs teachers which is a useful function when you might not see the relevant teacher at pick up time.
Although I do feel sorry for the teachers - all lot of dojo updates are done late at night or middle of the weekend.

[Tanith]

I'm a parent whose child's school is using it and I hate it!

Maybe the teacher doesn't have time to use it properly, but it seems to me to be a complete waste of his time and not really informative - quite frankly, I don't need to be told so much detail.

I'm all for awards and rewards, but do parents really need to be informed of every single point? I would much rather trust her teacher and let him spend his time working for the children, not keeping helicopter parents up to date.
Nice to have if the schools had enough staff and time to do it, but currently they don't.

[frasier]

What is it?

[rockshandy]

I just don't know why everything has to be turned into an app. What is wrong with a colourful rocket chart on the wall? Parents evenings/homework/class notes all run smoothly as they are. The school already send out texts all day long and I like their Facebook page so get updates that way and we have a weekly note that we can just download from the website.

I already feel very well connected to my child's education, so why do I need to go through another sign up procedure and data mining expedition so that my child's teacher can communicate with me?

It has been suggested that they could use it to inform me if there was an incident/accident involving my child but tbh if that was the case I would want to speak to the human dealing with my child.

I don't know. Its all just a bit overkill.

[Eolian]

I like it. I don't see what could possibly be unsettling about it tbh!

[frasier]

Google is my friend. Seems it is a "Tapestry" or "Orbit" type of app for tracking progress.

[Bluelonerose]

I've signed up to it but I don't understand it.
All it's doing is showing me all the class work and reminding me not to forget ds2 pe kit every Thursday despite the fact they have to have a pe kit kept in school.

Tbf the primary school are used to me not getting anything the do with computers so normally send me a text asking me ti come to the office then they explain it all to me

[ElphabaTheGreen]

Our school uses ClassDojo. It's basically like a house points system. DS1 loves it - finds it very motivating - but I'm indifferent because I don't think the teacher has time to use all the features. I can see he occasionally gets DoJos, but there's no detail as to what for (it only says 'Class Dojo' or 'Individual Dojo') and our school won't let us message teachers through the app which I can kind of understand - I'm sure some parents would abuse this feature terribly. It just strikes me as yet another thing the poor teachers have to keep on top of.

So, I guess I'm kind of in the camp of stickers on a wall, but I suppose it's a bit more environmentally friendly.

[rockshandy]

I think expecting teachers to reply to instant messages from parents is a joke, and I would be looking for another job. I'd either have to do it whilst teaching (not good) or while on my breaks (worse) or, as mentioned by a PP, outside of school hours (not happening). It's a step too far for me. I'm not at the beck and call of parents.

I totally agree with this too. DD's teacher has 30 4/5 year olds. She is the best teacher in the school (older DC had her previously) and I absolutely trust her ability to teach my child. I cannot believe that she has the time to comfortably fit this into her day. Messages from up to 30 parents, updating points, posting pictures.

It will fuel nightmare parents and Lord knows they need no encouragement as it is.

[spanieleyes]

For schools it is easier and cheaper ( i.e free!) than textround, messages can be sent to the whole school, individual classes or specific pupils at the touch of a button. We use it widely, as a reward system ( children earn dojo points they can turn into small prizes) to let parents know what the children are doing in class, to send messages about school and class events and occasionally to communicate with individual parents. Parents are aware that teachers will not respond immediately to messages, if they have anything that important, they ring the office. But we have a number of parents we never see ( as the children come to school by taxi) so it can be quicker/easier than trying to phone.

[RavenWings]

You don't have to sign up though OP. It's an option. Tbh I imagine the class teacher will probably be happier if you don't - it's no skin off their nose!

I don't like the expectation of immediate contact it can give, or the pictures etc - waste of time that I could spend teaching, imo. It's just a glorified sticker chart to me, but the kids do like it and engage really well with the little monster they have.

[Valerrie]

The main purpose of Class Dojo is the in-class points system, which I've found extremely effective, even with the most difficult of classes. The teacher messaging system doesn't have to be used and teachers don't have to give out the details.

I've never had a parent abuse the system. In fact, it was rare that I'd get personal messages on there as most preferred to speak to me in person. It was very handy for working parents who couldn't see me though.

I can't think of one negative experience I've had with using it.

[CauliflowerBalti]

It’s one of the many platforms my son’s school uses and that’s one of my gripes with it - ParentPay for newsletters and school trips/dinners, dojo for updates, a web platform I can’t remember the name of for booking parents evening and food at discos... Feels like ParentPay could/should have extended into this kind of arena, since they already do more than payments.

My son’s school is supposed to give House points for academic achievements and Dojos for softer achievements - effort, helpfulness etc. They also have a weird way of earning a badge for their collar. Their incentive system is confusing, disjointed and the kids can’t put their efforts to earn one big thing. Assuming you even believe that external motivation is better than intrinsic - which I don’t. So I don’t pay any attention to the dojos earned, and he doesn’t seem to earn many anyway.

But it’s a GREAT way for school to stay in touch. They send photos, reminders, you can text all his teachers... for that alone, it IS worth it. I feel connected to his teachers and I do like the photos.