Critical Analysis
As a potential Educational Venture Analyst, I found Edmodo to be the perfect example of a company that focuses on enhancing the teaching and learning process by providing solutions to realistic issues in the classroom. Attempting to engage students and encourage participation, Edmodo includes many elements of fun in learning such team-based gamification, award badges and quizzes. Often descried as “Facebook for schools”, Edmodo also promotes the importance of social interactions in learning and the development of digital citizenship skills, acknowledging it is crucial that students learn in a safe and secure environment. Essentially, social media has increasingly played an apparent role in our lives. Instead of cutting students off, it is more pressing to have a platform that helps empower students regulate their social media use.
Edmodo is also thriving under a team of diverse expertise that could provide crucial support to the company. By having both founders, Nic Borg and Jeff O’Hara, who initiated the idea from the challenge faced at previous workplace and Crystal Hunter who has diverse experience in finances, Edmodo is geared for success.
Further, it is vital to note that the new CEO- Susan Kim, who went on board in 2019 is no stranger to rebuilding. Prior to Edmodo, Kim stepped in twice as CEO for two other companies. The first one being Plum District which she steered the company from struggling financially towards profitability and an eventual acquisition. The second company was EatWith, a community dining marketplace, where she stabilized and sold.
With the aforementioned, this venture's ability to become a thriving business across the globe was evident from its strategic planning. In addition to the continual growth and Netdragon’s acquisition of Edmodo in 2018, Edmodo advocates to continue on its focus to be a platform that emphasizes on solving classroom issues and cultivating networks of the classroom community. Even while trying to raise profits for the company, Edmodo stays true to the commitment of keeping the core learning management system free.
Finally, it is remarkable that Edmodo not only survived but thrived during the extraordinary times of Covid-19 owing to its soaring popularity. With regard to these points, I think the founders of Edmodo have initiated a good venture.
Edmodo is also thriving under a team of diverse expertise that could provide crucial support to the company. By having both founders, Nic Borg and Jeff O’Hara, who initiated the idea from the challenge faced at previous workplace and Crystal Hunter who has diverse experience in finances, Edmodo is geared for success.
Further, it is vital to note that the new CEO- Susan Kim, who went on board in 2019 is no stranger to rebuilding. Prior to Edmodo, Kim stepped in twice as CEO for two other companies. The first one being Plum District which she steered the company from struggling financially towards profitability and an eventual acquisition. The second company was EatWith, a community dining marketplace, where she stabilized and sold.
With the aforementioned, this venture's ability to become a thriving business across the globe was evident from its strategic planning. In addition to the continual growth and Netdragon’s acquisition of Edmodo in 2018, Edmodo advocates to continue on its focus to be a platform that emphasizes on solving classroom issues and cultivating networks of the classroom community. Even while trying to raise profits for the company, Edmodo stays true to the commitment of keeping the core learning management system free.
Finally, it is remarkable that Edmodo not only survived but thrived during the extraordinary times of Covid-19 owing to its soaring popularity. With regard to these points, I think the founders of Edmodo have initiated a good venture.
Similar to many teachers, I appreciate that Edmodo is free and versatile. I have also enjoyed using Edmodo to support students for in-person, blended and fully online learning classrooms. Through this assignment, I am driven to view Edmodo through a different lens. I am challenged to shift my attention from educational gains to financial gains.
It is refreshing to learn that initiation of Edmodo was due to founders’ frustration with the needs to configure network to block access to social networking sites in schools. In contrast with some others who may not tap into the source of frustration, Nic Borg and Jeff O’Hara recognized and turned the supposedly stumbling block into opportunity- and one of the best business ideas, Edmodo, is born. I believe that Edmodo could promise a good return on investment. In addition to establishing itself as a platform that is freely accessible and secure for the use in the classroom community, Edmodo offers a premium plan that incorporate advanced features and applications and professional development tools. These initiatives will lead Edmodo towards sustainably supporting the platform in the long run. |