Making changes to the wiki
Nelson, Michael
Hey Leigh,
Be bold, and don’t ask for forgiveness… J (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Be_bold ). I want to learn from you and others, see where you have different ideas etc.
Look forward to seeing the changes! And don’t worry about offending me (here’s no-one else to offend yet!). Do discuss the changes/add comments etc., and I guess the same goes both way, be ready for me to make changes too!
I’ve been using the 4 step http://blendedlearning.wikispaces.org/Getting+Started+with+Blogging+in+Education lately with a bunch of teachers, and it’s been going really well… it was great getting teachers to find out about blogging themselves rather than telling them what it is! I was going to start some facilitator comments this week so we can see/share each others techniques/ideas for presenting a workshop.
-Michael
From:
Blended...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:Blended...@googlegroups.com]
On Behalf Of Leigh Blackall
Sent: Tuesday, 31 May 2005 09:23
To: Blended...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Blended Learning] Re:
Blended Learning Wiki Getting Famous
I think a list of things that need to be done might help. I have been very tempted to get in there and remix a bit, but don't know where would be OK and where would offend original authors... I remember you mentioning that you wanted more graphics... and I'm about to start putting screengrabs into the "everything you need..." and was thinking to use the wikispaces for the screencasts generally (depending who they print out). So I'll be in there a bit today, forgive me if I do something you don't like...
On 5/30/05, Michael Nelson <mic...@absoludity.net> wrote:
Definitely! It would be unreal to help students to join the global
conversation in whatever area they're interested in. I haven't had the joy yet
myself :-( But then i'm not writing about anything lately... just reading!
Can't stop reading!
http://www.absoludity.net/blog/time-to-write-time-to-learn/
I've started commenting on other blogs trying to let people know about blendedlearning.wikispaces.org
. I keep coming across other resources that are either owned or hard to
contribute to - think our wiki could provide such a great opportunity... but at
a loss as to how to 'invite' others (not explicitly, but rather to make sure
that blendedlearning invites participation/contribution instead of looking like
some control freak wanting benefit from everyone else's ideas ;-) Any ideas?
-Michael
On Mon, 2005-05-30 at 08:37 +1000, Leigh Blackall wrote:
I noticed it on the front page of
wikispaces. I thought it had something to do with when you said wikispaces was
supporting blended learning. Its the first time my blog has been mentioned on
someone elses blog outside the country. Feels good and a great motivator. I'm
sure the same would be felt by students if their blog was mentioned outside as
well. I guess it depends who by. But worth noting as a motivational element
made posible through blogging.
On 5/26/05, Michael Nelson < mic...@absoludity.net>
wrote:
That one sounds like more of a wrap for
you Leigh :-)
it's also on the front page of
Wikispaces... http://www.wikispaces.org/
(and i didn't put it there ;-))
-M
On Thu, 2005-05-26 at 06:52 +0000, leighb...@gmail.com
wrote:
http://jade.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/cdb/2005/05/25/comment-serendipity/
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Leigh Blackall
Nelson, Michael
Yep, I’ve been tracking them too. Only one person added something after the workshop L. But (as I’m sure is also the case in your groups!) people do talk about definite plans to set up another one for class, and I’m hoping to have another workshop with the same groups to help them continue. Are you certain that people haven’t created a second blog to use with their class or something?
Maybe it’s an unrealistic expectation on our part that people will come away and change their work arrangements to start blogging. What I mean is, it would take a serious time-allocation (at least 1hr/week probably) to get into blogging right? Not that you’d ever prescribe that, but in my experience that would be the minimum I’d need (as a new blogger) to be able to read a few blogs and write a post on mine (say for a class) if I saw the potential benefit. We need to show the value in it – the immediate and potential benefits, but that’s hard in 2 hours, esp. when we want people to come away with:
- Their own blog
- Feeling confident to post on their own blog
- Feeling confident with the whole process of logging in/dashboard etc,
And some people in the workshops aren’t used to normal (non-web-based) email, so that’s an incredible amount to learn (too much in some circumstances).
One thing I was reading the other night (which I’d delicious’d it) was talking about the need to get people reading blogs first, instead of them… getting people to appreciate the value before creating their own, easy as it is.
And I reckon people take other things away from the workshops too:
- Improved google skills
- awareness of Wikipedia
- awareness of google groups
- Awareness of how easy it is for them to create their own website when they need to/have time to.
Do you think? Any ideas?
Leigh Blackall
I think, as long as we keep promoting the use, backing it up with good and USABLE resources fro self educating, then we have done all that can be done. It will be others that take the credit for our early adoption in staff development initiatives.
Yep, I've been tracking them too. Only one person added something after the workshop L . But (as I'm sure is also the case in your groups!) people do talk about definite plans to set up another one for class, and I'm hoping to have another workshop with the same groups to help them continue. Are you certain that people haven't created a second blog to use with their class or something?
Nelson, Michael
Maybe if the first workshop that people attend just got them setting up a specific blog, like a professional development journal. They could use it to blog about their own professional area (a great way of documenting technical currency at the same time), linking to news items and articles that they are reading. We could get them started in the two hours and it can be continued after the workshop without extra thought/planning etc. I know it sounds boring (a “professional development journal”), but I reckon it could be interesting and exciting if people were relating their work/learning/experiences on their blog?!
Maybe this would be a way to encourage ongoing blogging… and emphasize that when they are feeling comfortable with their own blogs, then consider using/promoting them in the classroom.
Whatdya think?
Michael Nelson
Facilitator, Information Technology
Blue Mountains College of TAFE
ph: (+612) 4753 2117