Case
Class Dojo

To assist with classroom management, I started using an app named Class Dojo. The app assists with documenting both students positive and negative behaviors. The design of the app allows the students and parents to get connected via email or app, and they are able to view their behavior daily. I assign a responsible student to manage the program during class by utilizing my iPad to make the proper behavior notations. Do you think it is fair to allow students who have been proven to be responsible the opportunity to make such documentation with teacher supervision?

Posted on: 11/01/15 | Views: 1774
Solution #1
Top Solution
I would consider the teacher-student confidentiality rule in this situation. I believe that students should not be making behavior notations for other students and that it should be solely the teacher's task. It is important to keep that confidentiality because it could cause some issues in the future. Also, students may not think it is fair that that one student gets to be in charge. Other students may also feel uncomfortable with another student knowing about their positive and negative behaviors. That student may then report to their parents and there is a chance that they may complain to administration.

I completely agree with your comment!!

I really liked your response.

I agree with the other commenters. Even if the student helper has proven themselves to be trustworthy, it is unethical for any knowledge about other students' behaviors or grades to be passed along to them.

I agree with your post completely.

I definitely agree. I would not allow another student to make notations of classmates behavior.

I completely agree

I agree, allowing other students to track their classmates can be tricky.

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Solution #2
I love Class Dojo! In my opinion, I feel it would be best if solely the teacher handled Class Dojo. I foresee possible problems that could arise from the students using the app, such as behavior issues or bullying. My advice is to create a paper version containing a spreadsheet of the categories available on the app. Throughout the day, you can mark behavior occurrences on the hard copy and find a time later in the day to update the app.

That is a clever solution!

This is a great solution!

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Solution #3
I do not think a student should be allowed to manage the Class Dojo. While it is a helpful resource, they would be able to see all of the students behavior assessment. This is personal and should be kept between the teacher and individual students. Also, if you are picking only the "responsible" students to see the class dojo, the students who are not responsible will be singled out.
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Solution #4
I feel this is unfair to the other students in the classroom. Just like with grades, I feel that students behavioral assessments should only be shared with the parties involved. I do not feel it is appropriate for one student to be able to see all of the other students behavioral assessments.
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Solution #5
No! I think that the Teacher alone should be responsible for keeping track of the students and not their peers. As a parent I want my child's Teacher in charge. I think that it would seem unfair to the other students and if they are not chosen to do this then they feel like they are not good enough to do so. Keeping track of the students is the Teachers responsibility and you don't want the other students to pick on the student who you put in charge if he or she has to mark them for bad behavior.
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Solution #6
I personally think it is unfair to other students. For those students who do not get to handle the program, will think it is you as a teacher playing favorites. It would be better to have a cup with all your students names in and have whose ever name you pull out do the job. This way the students cannot say that you have favorites.
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Solution #7
I do love the use of classroom dojo, however, i do not think that this should be used by the students. I think that the teacher should have complete control over this aspect of the classroom. I think that the students will still enjoy the classroom dojo regardless of them using it or not.
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Solution #8
I believe that keeping up with behaviors around the classroom and giving out points per student is the teacher's responsibility. However, I have had a teacher who has allowed students' to give points out using class dojo. I do not think that this ethically acceptable.
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Solution #9
I don't necessarily think allowing a responsible student to make the notations is wise. I think this opens you up to other issues with parents, even if the student is making correct notations, parents may find issue that this is happening and claim the student is purposefully marking things wrong or is simply not correct.

I agree. Even if a student is correctly marking the behavior, parents and other students may feel targeted if the student receives a negative note. It is better if the teacher is in charge of the app.

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Solution #10
Yes, definitely. Class Dojo also works on the board so student can be responsible for adding or taking away their own points (this can take up time so only do when you are rewarding or warning a few students). I have had the student of the week formally document the total points for each day. I always double checked them after but it's good to give students jobs that are important.
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Solution #11
While the student you have chosen to reward and deduct Dojo points maybe responsible, that student could dislike a student and deduct points from that student out of spite. They could also favor another student and give them Dojo points because they are friends or they want to be their friend. It can also cause issues between students if the student you have chosen to give points goes telling other students about the points they have or who has the most points.
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Solution #12
I think this is a way for the students to show they can achieve responsibly and can be trusted, as a reward, with the technology.

I loe class dojo! used it in my internship. Very helpful

I disagree and would never have another student mark behavior.

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Solution #13
I think it should be the teacher's responsibility to do this. Other students should not be handling or reporting their classmates behavior. That is confidnetial information which should be shared only between the teacher and students' parent or guardian.
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Solution #14
Give equal chances to all students or choice at random
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Solution #15
I do not believe that students should be responsible for any documentation regarding other students. Behavior or otherwise. I understand why one would wish to give on task and responsible students a reward for good behavior, but at the same time that award should be appropriate.
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Solution #16
I don't think another student should be making observations like that. I think that it should be the teachers responsibility. If additional support is needed while using class dojo delegate a different task to save time to a responsible student.
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Solution #17
ClassDojo should be operated by the teacher only. The teacher can either take a mental note of the behaviors and update it later or keep a tab open on their computer with Dojo on it and update it when necessary. I do not believe that the other students should be involved when it comes to the students added or deducted points.
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Solution #18
Personally, I do not think this is a good decision. I've seen plenty of teachers allow such students to do important tasks only the teacher should be responsible of, and they have been 50/50 successful. One class the teacher allowed a "responsible" student to write down who had their homework and who didn't, but this student would just put down that everyone had their homework. They were trying to make everyone int he class happy, but this only hurts students and prevents them from properly learning. I would not trust this responsibility to a student, it's both unfair to the student themselves and the whole class. They could make influenced decisions. Keep it simple and bullet proof, do it yourself or have a teacher/classroom assistant take care of such tasks.
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Solution #19
I do not think it is appropriate for a student to be making behavior decisions on their peers. This would not be a great action as it could open up possibilities for this specific student to be picked on by his peers and for the other students to identify this student for being "teachers pet".
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Solution #20
I do not think this would be appropriate. The student is not in charge of giving grades, and I think that demeans confidentiality and gives that student an unfair advantage in the classroom with favoritism.
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Solution #21
Class Dojo is a great tool. I would think it would be best that the teacher controls class dojo at all times. Students can misuse this and it can create unfair opportunities in the classroom.
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Solution #22
Class Dojo is a great tool to use in your classroom, I believe the system you set up is the best way to motivate other students to try and be the student manager
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Solution #23
I think that having students see other students information is never a good idea.
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Solution #24
I have used classroom dojo before and I feel like a better thing to do instead of having a student use the Ipad is taking pictures on dojo and sending them to the parents when the student is doing something exceptional. i
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Solution #25
I would not have students make the documentation even with supervision because the system is in place as a reward. The students need to receive the reward from you, not someone else or even themselves.
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Solution #26
I personally don't think having another child make the notations is appropriate. The students not able to do the notations could see this as favoring even if it is not happening. Or if the responsible students give points to one of their classmates. I feel like it is the teacher's responsibility to make notes on positive or negative behaviors.
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Solution #27
Personally, I do not. Only because I feel that dojo (which is an awesome program) is more effective if the teacher takes away and gives points. It can also embarrass the students who get points taken away if they are shy. Maybe allow the students to add or take away their own points instead?
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Solution #28
I feel it's ok for the student has earned or lost points to give or take their own points but not other students doing it. It's the judgement of the teacher to decide this.
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Solution #29
I would honestly keep track myself, since there's some confidentiality and favoritism issues there. Its easy to follow on your phone or a tablet, so students don't need to document anything.
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Solution #30
Love class Dojo! We used it with Kindergarteners and when the did something to earn a point (positive or negative), they were responsible for doing it themselves. It was always up on a computer and they knew the seriousness of not changing it when they weren't asked. If there was a student who did abuse it he/she wasn't allowed to touch it and the teacher did it for them. When he/she demonstrated positive behaviors, they were rewarded with giving themselves a point.
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Solution #31
I think that the supervision of classroom dojo should be reserved for only the teacher. Not only would it be unfair for only a handful of students to be allowed to assist with monitoring, but that is a HUGE confidentiality issue. Information like that should be kept from students and shared only with teachers and faculty.
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Solution #32
I do think it is fair to allow students who have been proven to be responsible the opportunity to make these documentations with teacher supervision. Giving students a little taste of real responsibility is a great way to get them ready for the real world.
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Solution #33
I definitely think the teacher should be the one managing the program. There is no need for students to see other student's behavior. That could end in so many bad situations. That should be solely between the teacher, parent, and student. No one else.
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Solution #34
I would be very careful allowing students to manage this app during class, even though they are responsible student. My recommendation would be to allow a teacher's aid to monitor the behavior if not yourself.
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Solution #35
I do believe that it is fair to allow a responsible student to do this task. I also feel that allowing a trouble student to complete this task every once and a while will give the student a moment of pride and the student will surprise you by changing their behavior and taking on the role appropriately.
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Solution #36
I think that it would really depend on the age and maturity level of the student. If you feel that the student is able to input the information correctly and confidentially, then there should not be a problem. If it were my class however, I would put the information in myself.
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Solution #37
I think that it would really depend on the age and maturity level of the student. If you feel that the student is able to input the information correctly and confidentially, then there should not be a problem. If it were my class however, I would put the information in myself.
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Solution #38
I do not think that students should be allowed control over this application even with teacher supervision. The app allows for rewarding and deducting points which requires careful supervision of student actions and consideration of student's individual behavioral goals. I think putting other children in charge of awarding points will naturally led to conversation of if students believe other children should or should not be awarded points.
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Solution #39
As a student, I was always ask to do things of this sort. However, it was in a different education system and country. There are so many compromised situations in which many good teachers get in because of thinking that it would not harm anybody (because there is not way someone will be harm by it) but for some reason, some people take it the wrong way and there is when problems happen.
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Solution #40
Class Dojo is a great way to document student behavior and communicate with parents. I believe that every teacher should use Class Dojo in order to handle the different behaviors that occur within the classroom. However, I believe that either the teacher or an instructional assistant should be the only person who manages the program. When the teacher gives a student the responsibility of recording other students' behavior, many problems can arise. The students should not be given an opportunity to document the their peers behavior, regardless of how responsible the student is. The students' documentation and communication between the teacher and parents should be confidential. It is great that you are giving your responsible students certain jobs, but this is one job that the only the teacher should have.
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Solution #41
No its the teachers job to monitor behavior. The students should not be responsible for marking thier peers behaviors. This could lead to teasing from the student marking the behaviors.
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Solution #42
I feel that no matter how responsible a student is they should never be left in charge of other students behavior. This give that child far to much power over another student. It should be the teachers job to monitor students behavior.
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Solution #43
I think that a better option would be for you, as the teacher, to handle such documentation. I do not think it is appropriate for students to decide whether or not their classmates are exhibiting positive or negative behavior. Instead, I would suggest that you let each student give themselves their own points. For example, if Student A conducts one of hte behaviors that merits a point, project the Dojo point page onto the screen and say something like, 'Student A, I love the way that you _______. Come give yourself one Dojo points for that." This way, you are consistently reinforcing and stating the rules and expectations while allowing students to take some responsibility for their own point system.
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Solution #44
I think it is fair. A lot of times, if we let students take opportunity to feel responsible, they do better. Studnts get happy when they feel we can trust them!!!!
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Solution #45
Yes, as long as they're supervised
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Solution #46
Yes, I think students who have proven to be responsible should be allowed to the app. This can be seen as a reward. Additionally, this can be used to motivate those students who may not have the best behavior and do not follow rules. These students will want to behavior better in order to use the iPad.
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Solution #47
I personally think it is unfair to other students. For those students who do not get to handle the program, will think it is you as a teacher playing favorites. It would be better to have a cup with all your students names in and have whose ever name you pull out do the job. This way the students cannot say that you have favorites.
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Solution #48
I do not think there is anything wrong with letting a responsible student handle the class dojo. I think you could use this as a reward for students to work towards.
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