The+Cheerleaders+Wiki

Web 2.0 - just the beginning Why Participate in Web 2.0 Activity Created by team: Cheerleaders Members:Patti M., Rebecca, Sharon P and Sue C.

The statement from today that stands out in my mind is...Web 2.0 tools give kids time to think about what they want to say. Sue C

Team, any reflections from our Day 1 Face to Face?

So I don't know how I got this type left justified, but that's what I was trying to do. I hit the horizontal rule button on top - that's how I got the 3 lines above that I can't figure out how to get rid of and when I started it type my cursor was on the left. Any ideas?

Anyway - reflections from Day 1. I really hope that we have an opportunity to discuss how to use this Web 2.0 technology in the classroom with students. I do like the opportunity to jump in and use it, but I need curriculum ideas, too. It would be good if we could also point out some of the pitfalls/problems that could potentially occur so we'll be ready to head them off when we do some of these activities with students. Sharon (I guess I'm too used to writing emails - I sign my name - otherwise without going to the preview - how do you know who's saying/typing what?) I don't think I'm seeing a value in this "wiki thing" - why is this better or more useful than using a blog?

Quick note: the "left align" is in the 4th button from left - this is where you change font color, alignment, size, etc (I personally think adjusting the size is difficult when copying and pasting information. It is glitchy to get it uniform) Let's go color coded for now. I'm going to Michigan tonight now so if you don't like this idea, that is fine with me. For now, I'll be pink. Patty

Hmmm...so trivial but when I tried to change the color of my post it changed yours too, Patty! Am trying something different now... I think it worked! Sue

Talking value of wikis....that's what we will have to discover in the next two weeks. I too am concerned about the glitches as what happened when I had multiple wiki-ers adding info and then that info was lost as pages were reloaded or??? I want to hand over a tool that has all the kinks worked out so my teachers don't think this new tech is a waste of time. Sue

Sue, you bring up a good point, with multiple users changing pages at the same time. There might be some work around for this happening. I really wonder how 'wikipedia' does it? Mary W.  Ok, I guess I'll do green font. I like the idea of color coordinating. This way we don't have to check the history to see who's commenting. Plus it will give practice in changing font, etc. Thanks for sharing how we change justification, font, etc. This helps. Sharon - wow - my color and font just changed on it's own.

I use Wiki as a teacher tool. I have created a wiki that I do not share with anyone, but use as a free "website". I sometimes post student assignments. I would like to gradually have a page that students can edit for educational purposes. I've also used my wiki for posting video directives (although I am in the early stages of perfecting it) My wikispace is http://hillecomputer.wikispaces.com Let me know your thought Patty 

Patty, I visited your wiki and think that if I could get my teachers to create a useful wiki such as yours I would be THRILLED! You have to start small and work yourself up to the complicated stuff. Do you get comments from the kids? One use I made for a wiki occurred when our district go our first interactive whiteboards and I wanted the teachers to have a place to go for resources...just a beginning! Here's the link... I did add an image! http://tech70.wikispaces.com/Eno+Board Sue   It seems that the old phrase "the pen is mightier than the sword" should be changed to "the keypad/keyboard and Web 2.0 are mightier than the sword" based on world events in the past few weeks. It took hundreds of years for communication to move beyond a hand written message for one individual to mass communication via books, followed a few more hundred years by radio and TV. But now the pace has increased exponentially, and in our lifetimes we have seen a dramatic change in the way people communicate individually and en masse. As educators, our commission is to prepare our students to live productively and successfully in the world of the 21st century. Knowing and using the tools of Web 2.0 ourselves, as well as teaching our students to use them, would seem to be an important element in fulfilling that task.

The possibilities for using Web 2.0 in education seem almost limitless (and sometimes overwhelming), but it seems the key to all the possible uses is communication. Whether it is used to provide school information to parents and students, share ideas with other educators, or provide students with another way to interface with each other about the curriculum they are studying, Web 2.0 applications offer a variety of ways to keep the lines of communication and learning open in multiple directions.

As educators we will, however, have to find the proper balance between protecting our students (and our curriculum) and being open to the many possibilities offered by Web 2.0. We (and parents) will no longer have as much control over what our students are learning. This can be a good development, if students are more self-motivated and engaged in the learning process, and if we as educators have established protocols that will keep students on track toward meeting state standards. However, we must be savvy enough ourselves with Web 2.0 applications to protect our students' privacy and to teach them the pitfalls associated with different sites, not to mention developing the critical thinking skills required to discern the crediblity of information disseminated via the Internet, Web 2.0 or otherwise.

It's a brave new world out there, and as with any adventurer, educators also step into this world with a mixture of both excitement and anxiety. But we must step in or be left behind, both for our own growth and ability to communicate as well as for our students. (Rebecca)  Strategies for using wikis in the classroom - of course when I am looking at blogs, I see this info on wikis! [] More food for thought! Sue