Group 1 ICT Tools

Blogger and Wikispace

A PMI has been constructed to show the benefits and dangers of Blogs and Wikis in schools.

A blog is “a public web site where users post informal journals of their thoughts, comments, and philosophies, updated frequently and normally reflecting the views of the blog's creator” (World Wide Learn, 2011, p. 1).  It is also known as “the core of what has come to be called personal publishing” (Downes, 2004, p.17).

Positives:

Ø  Encourages students to be independent learners by encouraging a participant-centred approach to learning.

Ø  Blogs assist students’ to improve their writing competencies.

Ø  Allows collaboration to take place.  Encourages varying perspectives on certain issues or topic.

Ø  Enables everyone to participate including external people.

Ø  Excellent way to share knowledge in an organisation.

Ø  Useful tool in the classroom for facilitating learning or administration purposes.  Learning managers can use Blogs as a form of one-way communication.  Blogs can be used instead of sending letters or emails to every individual.

Ø  Allows students to post comments and views on classroom discussions.  It also provides students who feel less confident to express their thoughts online rather than verbally in front of the class. 

Minuses:

Ø  May contain bias or inaccurate information.

Ø  Some tend to guard knowledge from others (keep it to themselves – fear of losing individual power).

Ø  Easy to start and hard to maintain as writing coherently is difficult and time-consuming for some.

Ø  Security risks can be potentially high when using any online space or software.  Risk can significantly increase if software and security protection is not up-to-date.

Ø  Some students may become discouraged by the number of people viewing their posts.  This may result in cyber bullying which is a major issue that should be monitored.

Interesting:

Ø  Tools (ie. YouTube, websites, movies) can be embedded within Blogs.  May be a useful way for students to present assessment.  The comment feature within the Blog could be a useful tool to use for student or teacher feedback.

“Wikis can be used for a large variety of tasks, from personal note-taking to collaborating online, creating an internal knowledge base, assembling an online community, and managing a traditional website” (Matias, 2003, p. 1).

Follow this link to view my wiki: https://brookemanaginge-learning.wikispaces.com/

Positives:

Ø  Anyone is able to edit the wiki.

Ø  Wiki software enables creators to keep track of previously edited information.

Ø  No predetermined structure – flexible for all users.

Ø  Wikis enhances group learning.

Minuses:

Ø  Confidentially – anyone can edit documents that have been uploaded to the wiki.

Ø  Wikis are open to potential vandalism and SPAM.

Ø  Require an internet connection to access the wiki.

Interesting:

Ø  Wikis are now used as collaborative software replacing intranet systems within some schools. 

Ø   ‘Wiki’ is a Hawaiian word for quick or fast.

References

CQUniversity. (2011). Digital technologies 1. Retrieved from CQUniversity e-courses, FAHE11001 Managing E-Learning, http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/file.php/17114/Week_3.pdf

Downes, S. (2004). Educational blogging. Retrieved from http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Review/EDUCAUSEReviewMagazineVolume39/EducationalBlogging/157920 

Heng, C.  (2008). Pros and cons for using an online blog software. Retrieved from http://www.thesitewizard.com/general/blogging-pros-and-cons.shtml

Matias, N. (2003). What is a wiki? Retrieved from http://www.sitepoint.com/what-is-a-wiki/

McGovern, G. (2004). Blogs and blogging: advantages and disadvantages. Retrieved from http://www.gerrymcgovern.com/nt/2004/nt_2004_08_23_blogging.htm

My Secure Cyberspace. (2011). Blog guidelines for the classroom. Retrieved from http://www.mysecurecyberspace.com/articles/classroom/blog-guidelines-for-the-classroom.html

Wiki. (2011). Wiki. Retrieved December 4, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

World Wide Learn. (2011). E-learning glossary. Retrieved from http://www.worldwidelearn.com/elearning-essentials/elearning-glossary.htm#b