Educational Technology Guy: ClassDojo - free classroom behavior system

ClassDojo is a free online system that helps teachers promote positive behavior in their classroom by letting them track and share student progress and positive behaviors and areas of concern. It's easy to use and many teachers who use it have seen positive outcomes from using it with their students.

The only issue was that it was online, so teachers had to go to their computers to update things. Today, they have announced the launch of an iOS app to help teachers be able to use their tool while moving around the room, and even access it when not in the classroom.

The full press release is below:

ClassDojo Launches First Smartphone App Empowering Teachers to Build Positive Behavior in the ClassroomWorld’s fastest growing education startup makes it easier than ever for teachers and students to build positive learning behaviors with new iOS app available for free download
SAN FRANCISCO – September 10, 2012 - Today ClassDojo, the digital character building and behavior management service for teachers, is launching the first-ever mobile app designed to help teachers build specific positive behaviors and character strengths in the classroom. The iOS app designed for iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices is an extension of the ClassDojo platform that leverages innovative and easy-to-adopt tools for teachers to create a comprehensive learning environment and reinforce character strengths – the same strengths that have been shown to be the best predictors of future success, happiness and health.

The ClassDojo iOS app will make it easier than ever for teachers to monitor and track behaviors in real time. The free app allows teachers to register for an account on an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, set up and view all of their classes, and assign personalized avatars to each of their students. Teachers can then walk around the classroom and reinforce positive behavior by awarding students with feedback in real-time. These feedback points are instantly displayed in the classroom with audio-visual cues allowing students to see how they are progressing individually and as a class.

ClassDojo for iOS also has a number of handy settings for teachers, including randomly selecting a student to call on, assigning points to one or multiple students, choosing the student display order, and synchronizing the student list for the day based on attendance. ClassDojo automatically compiles all the data collected from each class into analytics reports, allowing teachers to monitor progress, track trends and share information with parents. In addition, students can reflect on their own behavior and track their progress.

“Real-time feedback like this, especially when used to provide consistent, positive reinforcement, has the power to influence future behavior,” says Sam Chaudhary, co-founder of ClassDojo. “This instant feedback loop helps students build the kinds of positive behaviors that promote learning. In the process, we’re taking on a frustrating pain point for teachers and turning it into a positive experience that benefits all”.

The free service also operates on the Web, allowing teachers to alternatively use a laptop, desktop computer, or any smartphone or tablet via Web browser. To date, over 3.5 million teachers and students have used the service and over 50 million feedback points have been awarded. The platform has seen incredible viral growth with 20 thousand new teachers adopting the platform each month, as teachers spread ClassDojo by word-of-mouth and through social media channels.

Co-founders Sam Chaudhary and Liam Don, seed-funded by the education technology incubator ImagineK12, created the service after interviewing hundreds of teachers who reported behavior as their biggest problem in the classroom; forty percent of U.S. teachers said they spend more than half of their time managing behavior rather than teaching. Teachers also reported they were unhappy that behavior management had become about discipline, obedience and punishment, rather than positive reinforcement and encouragement.

ClassDojo’s mission is to bridge this gap and address the “other half” of education that goes beyond building good test scores to building character strengths essential for lifetime success like creativity, leadership and perseverance. The service has been embraced by teachers around the world, as well as high-profile technology and innovation investors like Ron Conway of SV Angel, Jeff Clavier of SoftTech, and Paul Graham, co-founder of Y-Combinator, who see ClassDojo filling a critical need that has been completely unaddressed by education technology.