Return to NCETC 2006 Notesabout Wikis?
Wikis and other Web 2.0 technologies are why all students need a device capable of connecting to the web.What sort of device should it be? I think tablets are a big push but I do not see the relevance of being able to draw and type with an underpowered, heavy laptop. It is still text based in that users are inputting with a keypad or pen. We have started to use DAILE Moodle at Durham Academy this year in order to begin to create and interact with an interactive learning environment. I called it DAILE to push this idea forward as it stands for Durham Academy Interactive Learning Environment. I toyed with calling it DABLE replacing the Interactive with Blended since we are first and foremost a brick and mortar school. The school prides itself on the relationship between teacher and students.
With this in mind I have seen wikis being used in a Science class to create a wiki on a crime scene investigation for a Forensics he teaches. This was done by 5th grade students. Other teachers are working on bringing wikis into their classroom although it is the hardest thing to get their heads around given that it is editable by other users.
Mediawikis is a good place for students and teachers to learn how to use wikis if they do not have the tech support to get a server up and running. If a school was going to get a server for running wikis, I would strongly suggest that they look into setting up a Moodle server as it is feature rich with many modules. A very compelling reason is that the entire setup can be password secure with authentication done via Active Directory. Setting up our Moodle and offering training to teachers to create their courses.
Google docs has been used by students to work on a collaborative King James History Project. One student was a great writer of words and the other was a brillant editor but a poor writer. They remarked to each other that they made the perfect team. An added benefit was during the assignment one student was absent since he was sick. He was well enough to work on the web-based document from home. This was an awesome collaboration which lead to the two students teaching other students how to use it. I like the added benefit that those students who do not have Word at home, they can upload a Word file at school and edit it in Google docs.
I think we really need to all get on the web since Web 2.0 is done on the web.
Thanks David as you have once again lead us to the future. I have attended your sessions for the past 8 years or so and enjoy sharing the ride.
I must try posting my del.ici0.us.