Not to want to let DD use edmodo

[tigerfrog]

DD's primary school have started to use an Internet site called edmodo. It is a site that is basically a closed facebook as far as I can see. The children log in to the site using a code so it is safe and secure. The teacher posts messages, links, games etc on their board. The children can complete the games, write messages to esch other etc. I understand that it is safe in the respect that only the class and teacher can see what is posted.
My issues with it are probably minor but it is making me feel uncomfortable. DD is seven i think she is too young. Is it one step towards the evil that is facebook? I want her to play when she comes home! In my opinion she already has far too much homework. I want her to play with her sister, read a book, relax not have any more screen time.
Has anyone else had experience of this site? How do I handle the situation? I do not want her to use it but if everyone else in the class is I am making life difficult for her which I do not want to do. Thank you for any advice.

My dd uses it. They are a year group who have tablet devices. The teacher uploads their homework, they download it, do it and then upload it back. The teacher can see if they have downloaded and done it or not.

But my dd is in high school. I wouldn't be happy at 7 for them to do it like this without my supervision but it would stop the "I've lost my homework" nonsense which used to happen here.

No words of advice for you I'm afraid, but I totally agree.

Is it definitely compulsory?

My DCs' school use moodle and various similar things, but they have never said we have to use it (just stapled the login info into their reading diaries) so we haven't. They've never said anything.

Yabu. These things have been around for ages, pre Facebook as far as I can remember.

My eldest DC was using an intranet system when he was at primary school where the teacher posted homework, messages or games for them. He's now in his twenties.

These types of set up are now prominent in most schools.

I can't see the issue, it cuts down on paper and is very convenient.

We use this in high school. The pupils can't message each other, just the entire group which includes the teacher. This cuts down on any silly use.

We use it in my secondary school. I think it is fab! Very user-friendly compared to all the other clunky VLE systems we have tried.

Although it looks similar to FB, the pupils can't use it in the same way - no chat or messaging.

I understand why you are concerned, but I don't think that this particular site will be a slippery slope. Unfortunately they will find out about social media far too soon.

I think it's better to experience the online world at a young age in the safety of this heavily monitored and very safe environment, than to secretly set up fb accounts as pretend and get into all sorts of trouble.