Doing the wiki

I find the Wiki concept personally interesting, because I can use it in production of several initiatives I would like to explore.  In education–I can see when others have, and where I might involve students in ongoing projects in collaboration of the production of procedural manuals that showcase the students own ideas of how to explain and present the material.

In this, I have a central interest.  Students want to do well, and too many don’t , even if it’s only one who needs help, understanding or becoming familiaris a chore.  Math students tend to struggle alone.  But math can be done in a group better than alone, where stronger students assist weaker students.  I believe an ongoing project might help slower/non-recognition students make head way toward success.

Schools, in general, could use this same collaborative system in teaching many subjects, if we are in agreement that several students together can accomplish more.  From Powerpoint presentations to calendars and narratives, students  (together) can build and understand that they are accomplishing one goal, and when they do it together the experience is much more than a lecture.

Schools should require that student make some minimum number of contributions so that material content is observed, because what they are exposed to, they understand.

Material blocked is opportunity lost.  There are several wiki sites dedicated to educator needs that detail this action, but I wouldn’t want to say -I’m an expert on why some of the technology is blocked when it has so much potential.  But there are some real dangers out there and we have to attempt to provide some protection for students–and ourselves.  Granted, we never want to block the use of anything that contribute to the overall achievement, but there are thorns in every rose bed.  The immediacy and efficiency of communication is why social networking is so popular with young people –so if we can keep as much openess going–then we won’t lose their exuberance and spontaneous ideas.  If protection is the goal, then there is much to do to produce a safe environment.  Our text suggests that there are acceptable alternatives that still mimic free, open source solutions.  These need to be encorporated and see if ideas continue to flow.

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