WIKIS

I am new to the wiki-world.  I have been exposed to wikis through the use of Wikipedia, but before this class, I did not have any knowledge beyond this.  I slightly remember a journalism class in college asking us to contribute our own wikis online, but in all honesty, that was how far my knowledge extended.

After researching this a bit further and checking out the links posted on our technology website, I found that wikis can be a great addition to my teaching world -- specifically PBWorks.  From what I understand, this is another social networking tool that is slightly different than that of Twitter and Facebook.  I like the fact that Significant to wikis, the following options for classroom connections that I see myself using in my own classroom are as follows:

• Classroom Resources:  Through PBWorks, I can post power-point presentations that I used in class and upload it to this wiki-based website.  I can also link to Word Documents such as class schedules, roosters, and even parent volunteer information.  This is very helpful, for I found when experimenting with blogs (specifically Blogger), I had to save each page of a Word Document as a .jpeg and upload it page by page.  Parents could then click on each image and print.  I think PBWorks has made this process much smoother.
  
  
• Classroom Work:  Through the use of wikis, I can even upload student work.  As a Language Arts Educator, this is quite helpful, for I can give examples of previous novel projects.  I can also upload individual student work online, so that all group members can have access to this for group assignments.
                       
  
  
• Individual Student Webspace:  Specifically through PBWorks Classroom Community, I can even allow my students to have their own student pages.  I can think of countless ways for students to use this tool!  They can submit their homework, give examples of the work they are doing inside and outside of the classroom, as well as keep a digital portfolio of their student work.  I think keeping a portfolio of their work allows the students to see what they have completed throughout a specific unit, as well as allow parents to see the actual student work online.  I would certainly use this feature!
                         
  
• PODCASTS:  In discovering what other educators have created via PBWorks, I found a very intriguing wiki.  It was a webpage devoted to helping English speakers learn Spanish or Spanish speakers learn English translations.  This webpage had two different sound scenarios to share recorded conversations in both English and Spanish.  This made me realize that I could upload Podcasts through the use of wikis.  I could upload sound, images, and any digital stories to this website so that both my students, parents, and other teachers could have access to this.

I think that the wiki-community is a lost resource.  I had forgotten how great this technology tool would be for my classroom.  It is online web space that I can daily use to communicate my lessons, student work, and even digital podcasts.  Although I believe I could also use the wiki community to do some of the same things that Twitter and Facebook offer (such as communication to the parents or posts about classroom lessons and assignments), I believe Wikis take learning a step further.  I love the fact that I can implement all my digital learning podcasts to this website.  I also like that PBWorks has examples of how wikis are being used in the education community.  I could certainly link to other wikis on my page to broaden my student's learning and have them explore classroom themes more in depth.

I certainly look forward to exploring the Wiki-world further!