Reflections on Wikis and Blogs

Reflection on Wikis

By:  Heidi Hopp

What I learned

            Prior to taking this class, I knew that wikis existed and people from everyday walks of life could create and use them.  But beyond that, my knowledge about them was slim.  According to Solomon & Schrum (2010), “Wikis are web pages that students can use to write, edit, and add elements, such as images and video, to create collaborative projects” (p. 135).  I set a wiki up for the Introduction to Educational Leadership class that we took with Dr. Cramer.  I wasn’t aware of the endless possibilities that existed for wikis. 

            I learned that wikis provide a tremendous opportunity for classmates to work together in a collaborative effort.  Students may work together to research and create a project, editing each other’s work.  They are held accountable and are often motivated to help and learn from each other to get the best project put together that they can.  Parents can access the wikis to stay informed about news, events, and learning happening at school.  Teachers can use them to post lesson plans and notes from meetings.  Administrators can use them to create and share agendas for meetings and take notes during the meetings. 

            I also learned that content on wikis is saved and can be retrieved.  Teachers can monitor who is contributing and how much they are contributing.  This is a really nice feature for teachers to use to help monitor that the amount of work being completed is equally distributed and is being completed.  Edits and revisions are able to be seen immediately or after the page has been refreshed.  I learned that only one person can save revisions at a time (Solomon & Schrum, 2010).  I think it is neat that people from across the world can collaborate with each other and work together for a common cause 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

            When looking for K-12 wiki examples, I noticed that there was a wide variety of wikis available.  I really liked some of the home pages general education teachers had created.  Since e-mails are less effective when trying to coordinate classroom events and parties, I think wikis provide an opportunity for all involved to see who is doing what and who is bringing what.  Some were content or grade specific and some seemed to be limited with the information that was posted and shared.  It was interesting to see all of the ways people have constructed wikis.

Future Use of Wikis

            I started out by creating a wiki for my parents and classroom by going to http://www.wikispaces.com and setting up a wiki account.  Since I teach first grade, setting up a wiki and posting assignments and projects for my students did not seem to be age appropriate.  So, I decided to create a wiki to share information about what is happening in our school and classroom.  The address of the wiki is http://www.mrshopp.wikispaces.com.   On the wiki so far you will find my name, reading and math practice websites, and the district home page.  I plan to add my contact information, upcoming dates/events, and classroom news. 

            Just today at our late start meeting, our first grade team was meeting and trying to fill in a template with our team’s goal for the school year.  I suggested to them that we create a wiki so that everyone can see what is going on.  We can add and delete information as needed.  We ended up creating a wiki space right on the spot.  I think that my group was impressed and liked what the wiki had to offer.  We are only in the beginning stages, but we are on the right track and will be able to share information with each other instantly.

            I also plan to contact our principal to see how she would feel about creating a wiki to post and share information about our staff meetings.  It would give staff a chance to see the agenda ahead of time and add staff concerns to the meeting agenda before the meeting even starts.  This is just the beginning…the possibilities truly are endless.  An ancient African proverb states, “It takes a village to raise a child.”  I think we can also say, “It takes a wiki to collaborate with others.”  Think about how much we use technology every single day.  Many of us would be lost without the ability to communicate and collaborate with others using various forms of technology.

Reflection on Blogs

By:  Heidi Hopp

What I learned

            Before reading about blogs, I knew that people could create blogs and write about topics that are of interest or importance to them, much like a personal writing journal that one used to do with paper and pen.  I also knew that blogging was becoming more and more common and was spreading rapidly.  According to Solomon & Schrum (2010), a blog is a “website developed and maintained by an individual using easy to use online software or a hosting platform with space for writing” (p. 17).   Blogs are published immediately and people can read the posts and comment on them.  I did not know that blog entries show up on the blog in reverse order.  One of the big things that people need to be aware of is that when you blog, you need to be careful that what is posted is appropriate for anyone to see. 

            I also learned that blogging is not only a social activity, but one that can be used in educational settings.  Students can research, blog, read other blogs, and learn from other blogs people post.  Blogging not only provides opportunities for higher level critical thinking skills, but also for developing communication skills with others.  Blogs are often written in a brief format, which encourages students to write about main ideas and to stick to them.  Students read each others’ blogs and this helps strengthen human relationships, as well as helping others learn. 

           

Future Use of Blogs

            I created my “blog spot” for our class by going to http://www.blogger.com.  The URL for my blog is http://hopph.blogspot.com.  I have done a test post and have updated my profile with a photo.  I have invited others to follow my blog.  At this point in time, I am not certain that I will be having students directly use the blog since I work with such a young age.  However, I was considering using a blog space for parents and other educators to share homework tips, how to provide the best help for their child at home, as well as things happening in our classroom.  Another possibility that exists is that I could write about my career as a first grade teacher in a more reflective format.  How did my career start?  Where am I now?  Where do I hope to be?  This is something new for me.  I am not used to writing publicly about my work in first grade.  It would provide an opportunity for me to build a network of colleagues with other first grade teachers.

            A colleague in our district has been sending us blogs regularly that feature a new technology strategy to try out in our own classrooms.  I will be reading and possibly posting to her blogs about how the ideas worked or didn’t work for me.  Being reflective and sharing our experiences are ways to improve our teaching craft.

Reference

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2010). Web 2.0:  How-to for educators. Washington, D.C.:

            ISTE.