September 26, 2010

Wikis.......Absolutely!

The most amazing thing happened for me today, after watching Richard Buckland, I finally understood the valuable technology of a Wiki. I am so excited about my future using wikis, and can’t even imagine, where this technology will take us. I will be using wiki in my future teaching career and have some good idea’s now, of where to start.

Richard discussed how magical of a source a wiki can be, and I will take his good advice. Wikis can do so many things. One of the first things I learned about a wiki, it’s not a discussion board for your opinion’s, it’s a information recorder that is always available, anytime, anyplace. Notes can be recorded, added to and with convenience and ease. It’s important to have the wiki nature which is respect because all can edit your wiki’s. Others can correct your mistakes too and still, it can be a powerful web page. It is accessible from any, and all computers, so information is always there and all editing can be revised and seen throughout the wiki’s life.

I will do all my notes, assignments, and reflective diaries on wiki because of it’s revolutionary way for communication. I will be able to follow my class, knowing who’s participating and how the status of my class as a whole is. Through my reflective diaries, I will be able to tell if my class is understand clearly and if not or if an individual is stressed. I would learn my students in a clearer way. Wikis help open the door to affective learning because it’s much more collaborative and empowering. Students will be able to add to notes that become their own and participating in assignments and much, much more.

This magical source of feed back will not be demanded on my student’s. I believe a very valuable change is being created through this wonderful technology. The old way of education is simply lectures and each individual takes their own notes, then graded on what the student understood and didn’t. I will simply ask the students to add to my notes already prepared on wiki and allow them to fill in, what they deem important. Then, when test time, I will hand them their notes, for open book test. Education is best attained through inspiration and control simply doesn’t work. I will inspire my students and learn with them.