I consider this just a place-holder post of sorts. Since I am re purposing a blog from last Springs Young Adult Literature class, I felt I needed to get a little LIS 460 starter post rolling.
In other words, don't consider this wheedling entry to be anything relevant to the class beyond my initial impressions of all the software installations and account set ups. Even though many of these applications were new to me, they were at least very familiar. Haven't used Twitter, but Linda gave us a peek last semester, same goes for Skype. Should have started using Google Reader looooong ago. Looking forward to not only getting exposure to the completely new, but also gaining mastery of the already familiar. I really feel like the second life event towards the end of class will test my tech prowess -- kind of a grand finale of sorts.
Finally, I truly hope to create a tech innovation proposal that I will actually use in my new job. Maybe it's too simplisitic for this class, but a first-year goal for me will be to get classroom teachers to collaborate on a wiki. I am not sure if I should create one wiki for each grade, or just one Academy School wiki. Right now the district uses a webCT-type tool called First Class. It's just a bunch of list-serves relabeled as Conferences. Haven't used it yet, so I don't want to judge, but I already know that teachers would not be able to archive classroom units and related materials on First Class.
I was reading an article a few weeks ago about how Wikispaces was giving away free acounts in order to promote teachers using wikis. I dashed on over there and managed to squeak in. (can't figure out if 100,000 is a little or a lot to give away). Anyway, I plan to set up the type of wiki I think will encourage the staff at Academy School to give wikis a try. At the very least, it's a way for me to organize materials and information.
However, I do not want to overwhelm the staff and get some kind of reputation as a person who just throws confusing new technologies at them. They'll just see me coming and run the other way. Or worse, run to the Principal's office and complain about me.
I'm wondering if I should choose between a wiki and social bookmarks? I love the idea of setting up delicious pages for each class. As I'm noodling about on the web, I tag articles and sites I think would be useful for the teacher's curriculum. But again, I'm wondering if using both would be redundant. But then again, maybe being redundant is a the norm for this institution. After all, it is called Academy School.
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2 comments:
Interesting questions about the technology to use and for how and how much. Seems to me you did write and entry post for this class - more than a place-holder that's for sure.
I think the answer isn't one or the other in terms of what technology to use. Social bookmarks might be just right for a certain class or assignment. A wiki might be just right for a specific teacher. And, you might end up using the technologies in combination.
What if an offshoot of a wiki for a fourth grade classroom for example, was a social bookmarking tool that included a list of resources that supported the wiki topic.
Lots to ponder over the next few weeks.
I agree-what started out as a hi-hello-hurray-for-LIS460 did in fact become a post about my one of my primary concerns/interests for the class!
I just had a meeting with my school's two tech support folks. I think I'm in good hands. They did warn me however, that many teachers are reluctant to try new technologies, so set my expectations low.
I think I will take their advice, but nothing's going to stop me from building wikis for the library and class rooms.
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