I
have actually set up a wikispace prior to this assignment and have quite
enjoyed it. I wish I had more time to
actually use it, though. I had to use it
to be a part of a debate on whether or not smartphones should be allowed in the
classroom. It allowed everyone in our
group to participate and contribute our thoughts without having to actually set
up a meeting time. We were also able to
see what every person contributed and when.
It helps tremendously with the accountability factor when working in a
group for a project.
In
my job, I can see a wikispace being used in order to use our time more
efficiently. Whereas I can meet in a
group for a meeting, it would seem like better use of our time to create a
wikispace and contribute as we find the time, not extra time beyond school
hours. I am likely to have a few minutes
during my day (lunch, prep, while students are working on projects, etc.) and
prioritize my time better. It also,
therefore, serves as a note taker so we don’t have to remember what everyone
said. Creating a wikispace also allows
me to collaborate and get ideas from teachers outside my school and state! This is exciting to be able to discuss with
other teachers what they are doing, what works well, and what doesn’t work for
them. We can share our knowledge and
experience to help other teachers be a success.
In
my personal life, I had a great idea on how to use a wikispace. Every year my immediate family take a family
vacation somewhere up north (Silver Lake, Lake Ann) and we are all emailing
each other and copying each other in the emails and replying to everyone. Instead, if we all have access to the same
wikispace, we can all share our ideas in one place to everyone. We can then all add new ideas and things as
they come up. When we are searching for
a place to stay, that is the most difficult thing to agree upon and I see a
wikispace as a way to communicate more effectively and efficiently.
I
used a wikispace last trimester for the first time as an extra credit assignment
in my Career class. This stuff is all
very new to them and many students are overwhelmed with technology, so I gave
this as an extra credit test grade if they used it. I actually had about half of the class create
a wikispace for their final project. During
the whole trimester, my Career students worked on different documents (resume,
letters of recommendation, references) to put into a Career Portfolio. I gave them the option of either printing them
out in hard copies and arranging them neatly in a 3-ring binder or creating a
wikispace with a folder titled “Career Portfolio” and upload all of their
documents. What a great way to store
their information. And, can you imagine
if they go to an interview and give their potential employer the address to
their wikispace which includes their resume?!
They would impress the socks off them!
As
life goes on, I am sure I will find many more ways to better use my wikispace
but as for now, life is so completely overwhelming that I just do not have the
time to devote to it. However, I am so
glad that I actually know how to do it and that is the first step.
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