Wika wika wiki
In May and June of this year I took EADM 310 and EPYS 322 (Special Needs). I proposed to my instructors that I was getting into this tech stuff, and it would be a great experience to experiment with wiki’s. Was I ever right!
For anyone familiar with Ed Pysc 322, the project involves creating your own resource binder with various strategies, management techniques, and visual strategies for special needs students. Check it out here. Peers were handing 3 inch binders that they were claiming they would never look at again. Think of the trees! The resource I created will be useful in my teaching and act as a great starting point for when I do encounter a student with a special need that I want to research further. The prof was so interested in this method that she is going to suggest that the next class collaborates in creating a similar wiki rather than binders.
In the Ed Admin class, I chose the topic of educational cyber policy. I found all relevant information to be online and realized that the wiki was the best method to deliver the research I had in mind. Check it out here. This method allowed me not to link to direct references but also deliver video and related news on the subject that was at time less than a week old.
One of the key aspects that I missed out on in the process of creating these wiki’s was the collaboration, so I invite each of you to join my wiki spaces and contribute as you see fit.
This where I plug wikispaces.com. Easy to use, and ad free wiki space for educational use. How could you beat that? I should also add that without this video, this project would of been far more intimidating.
This blog by Vicki, does a good job of summarizing some of the points Will Richardson presents on wikis in his book Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms.
I can not wait to use wiki’s in my classroom. The ease of use is phenomenal and it connects students directly with their peers for collaboration and meaningful learning. If anybody has any suggestions, or questions on wiki’s please leave me a note.
Having some experience will be helpful….Certainly being able to see the collaboration in action is its real power.
Thanks for demonstrating to your instructors the power of effective technology.
The experience is extremely helpful Dean. I was hesitant to jump in, but once I did the simplicity of constructing the wiki combined with the support from wikispaces gave me confidence. I think that these projects have spurred me on more than anything, I have realized that these tools are not very hard to use and always come with easy to follow directions. The trick now is to learn to use the tools to their utmost potential.
It all started with RSS, by exploring RSS I was able to find many links on the topic. I don’t remember who wrote it, but RSS is the “glue” that holds a project like this together. I should add that I came across your wiki in the midst of all this and it also aided in the creation.
With regards to the profs, I think they both appreciated seeing something new and different (neither had had a project completed in this manner). However there is a definite disconnect between the technology use and the University, but that is possibly another blog post all together. Hopefully with more exposure to benefits of these tools, they will be further implemented in course work. I think it will take student pressure to make this shift.
Hi there Kyle! I absolutely love your Special Needs Wiki! What an innovative idea. I subscribed to both of the feeds.
This is a perfect example of how teachers and students with a technological background have the upper hand. I just love how I will be able to use your project as a future resource. I truly believe that a component of being a master teacher is sharing and collaborating!
I sure hope that when I take EPSY 322 next spring I am able to do what you have done. Amazing work!
Jane,
If you were to use Kyle’s wiki as a starting point for the class that really changes how we view learning.
I think the power of the wiki is being able to build on the past knowledge instead of recreating it.
Thanks for the feedback Jane. That is part of what is so great about utilizing these tools. If I had just made the binder or written the paper no one else would benefit from my learning or research, unless I passed a paper copy on, but really who does that. Now my work is out here for the world.
And as Dean suggests, please use my wiki as a starting point. Why reinvent the wheel? I also want to add that RSS is key to this Jane. Subscribe to what interests you, there is a lot out there beyond Ed Tech blogs. If you know you want to compile research on special needs, then find the feeds and subscribe. As interesting pieces come through your reader you can star them and save for future use in blogs or wikis.
Hi Kyle!
WOW!! I look at your wikis and I think I feel more overwhelmed. Like Jane said, your special needs wiki is a very innovative tool and excellent way to gather this information in one location. I too subscribed.
Right now I see all your work though and I feel like I have so much catching up to do - not so much in this class as in ‘technological learning’. I think i need to glue myself to the computer for a little while. I like to learn how to do something right the first time so like you said about your hesitation to jump in, I feel that because I see that it will require so much independent exploring and learning. Seeing how efficient you’ve become with these tools though is motivating!!
Gillian, thanks for this comment, it really means a lot to me. To hear that I am motivating my peers is very inspiring to me and drives me to keep trying new things. Don’t feel too overwhelmed, I am finding that a lot of this is just getting easier the more that I play around. It takes a little time.
Hi again Kyle. I loved your special needs wiki. I worked with special needs while I was T.A. for the school board so I have a some knowledge of some inflictions, but to have an overview like yours is exceptional. The videos bring a little more validity to the wiki. Wow I’ll be keeping this link in mind when I start teaching. Brian