ETEC 524 Reflection #3 - Wiki Week!

This week, you explored the concept of wikis and created a wiki for a specific purpose. What purpose did you have in mind when developing your wiki and have you started to implement your ideas yet?

I based the creation of my Wiki as an online tool for my students to not only see upcoming assignments and events, but also to create an interactive bulletin board for science projects and reflections. I am driven to promote technology into my lessons; however, I struggle between the amount of time I have in class to provide the topic and lesson and the lack of time given to deal with troubleshooting multiple technology issues. I realize that formatting on my part and time spent training with new technology tools is key to maintaining good classroom management. I have been intrigued with creating my classroom Wiki, and I am very pleased to have this technology tool as a work in progress. I have set a classroom goal to have my Wiki up and running for the interactive portion by the first of May, this year, in hopes of using my most advanced class as test subjects, mainly due to the fact they all have internet access in their home environment. At the end of every year in science, the students create a cell project, both plant and animal.  I plan to incorporate this project completely online with my test subjects and use the Wiki for their initial project proposal, discussion questions and feedback, and posting of the final design project and grades.  I am also the lead of our science department and there has been discussion at meetings to promote and create an all-grade level science fair by the end of the year. I am considering creating a Wiki for my department and administration to organize this event.
The world of Wiki's is open to so many ideas and creative avenues-I love it! 

What advantages do you see in utilizing wikis? What disadvantages do you see? Think back to the digital natives reading. How do wikis have the potential for engaging them?
The advantages of using a Wiki are tremendous. The options of effective organizing, planning, development and creation of any idea is limitless. The fact that this tool is based solely on the internet allows any individual with access the opportunity to participate and provide their expertise on their own time.  The disadvantages I see, relies on the creator and the editor to maintain a positive online environment and the carefulness of all members to not wipe out data submitted by other group members.

After thinking back to the Digital Natives article, I can see the potential a Wiki would have on engaging the right student.  It is simple, yet challenging enough to allow for creation and feedback while presenting the atmosphere in a virtual classroom. The only challenge I see for my digital native students is their digital immigrant parents/providers.  At the sixth grade level, student rely on their parents for assistance and feedback.  I can see where questions will be raised more on the provider level if the students experience any set back due to confusion of the Wiki or even the project presented.

In exploring the eLearning Tools Wiki, what other web 2.0 technologies did you uncover that you want to explore further?

• Animation:  I would really like to create a Voki or some type of animation into my lessons. I read over Animoto for enhancing lessons with video presentations and I really liked the information given.  
• Concept Mapping:  I know we have had experience with concept mapping in this class; however, I am convinced that my students would be more inclined to learn content vocabulary and develop holistic concepts if one of the Web 2.0 technologies was utilized.  
• Vlogging:  If I have the opportunity to start blogging within the classroom, incorporating the Vlogging would be a great concept to advance the technology within the technology. 

Whew-there are so many Web 2.0 to chose from!