I have some experience using these tools, personally and professionally at my former job (working as an educator/technology curriculum developer at the new york hall of science). I have learned (by trial and error, mostly) how they work, what they’re good for, how to optimize these affordances in designing for their use, and maintaining them. MY challenges for next year is 1) how to apply them in a more formal education environment – as a computer teacher in a k-12 school, 2) how to design curricula that incorporates these tools, AND core computer skills/concepts AND aligns with key learning goals of other subject teachers. 3) how best to support my new teacher colleagues at the school and encourage them to integrate more digital tools in their work.
In my experience, wikis and great for content that benefits from the input of many: together we know more than any one of us knows. My favorite blogs have a definite point of view, be it political, artistic, sylistic, etc. and benefits from a single author — although lively conversations and synergies exist between bloggers whose P’s of V compliment or conflict (respectfully). Also blogs are great for showing development over time.
Using blogs and wikis with students and adults its helpful to populate each with some “seed” content. no one wants to be the first one to a party, and no one wants to walk into an empty restaurant and sit down and order dinner. Especially with kids/adults who are new to the medium, “seed” content or even pre-arranged “planted” questioners or commenters help build a sense of social presence that can keep the participants actively engaged in the writing (on blog or wiki) until a critical mass of posts/comments/pages exists and there is ACTUAL social presence, a kind of “fake it till you make it” rule of web2.0 content.
Ideas:
1- Add as many RSS feeds as i can find of quality sharing by tech integrators and teachers about effective and creative use of digital tools in k-12 learning. share aggregated stream with colleagues, post “best practices” with lesson plans and technology tips/primers to a wiki and also “push” out pertinent examples via email (or even paper) to those colleagues who “opt in.”
2- I already have a blog that i half heartedly started and never really had a focus. blogs with no point/point of view are innane and old fashioned (ca 2003). Think about using that blog to tell story of my firat year as a computer teacher, and share back with the community (of RSS feeders, mentioned above) i’ll be taking inspiration from.
3- I will be facilitating a once-a week, after school robotics club. i may create a wiki to act as a repository for what we learn together, with pictures, video and challenges that the boys can think about and try to solve between club meetings, and to keep parents/guardians in the loop.
…and more as i work with my supervisor to revamp the computer curriculum.
