525--Session 6-Wikis!!! The Ultimate Tool for Online Collaboration

Please make sure you have done the readings on the syllabus, before beginning this session. This week we have:

  Gayla, Tyler, and Tyron

facilitating.  Please make sure that you are sending me your reflections after your 'facilitation week' is finished, so that I can input your grades.  Also, if you haven't posted your Deliverable #1, then please do that ASAP.
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Let's start this week with a video to keep all of what we are learning in context.  It was created using Prezi.com.  A web-based, digital presentation tool that has a unique format.  Many find it a beneficial way to showcase the 'big picture' of a topic with the option of 'drilling down' level by level, so viewers of your presentation can see a direct correlation.  It is very different than a traditional, linear slideshow format.  It makes me a little dizzy, so I don't use it much, but it is very popular and many of you may already be familiar with it.  We'll practice a little with it this week.

Let's refocus on what it means to teach in the 21st Century classroom:

This session will find us broadening the scope of our view of wikis. We will begin by taking a look at the benefits of wikis, and other Web 2.0 tools, for students, teachers, and the entire educational community. We'll view some screencasts and videos that give us students' perspectives, as well as hear from teachers from across the K-12 spectrum. Each and every one will be focused upon how Web 2.0 tools have changed the way they teach and learn.

Let's get started...

525session6

Week 6 part II

By now most of you have reached a comfort level with the 'collaborative document' mindset.  You are also fairly familiar with  Google Docs and Google Drive. (after all we used it for our 'Facilitator Signup' form).  You've also realized that there are limitations and restrictions when using technology.  For example,  I'm a big fan of Google's products, but realize that when trying to access all of the GSuite of products using your URI account, the Administrators have put restrictions on things.  That is why a number of you have had to use your personal Google accounts for this course.  On the plus side, you'll retain copies of all of this material well after your URI account has been closed.

In case you need to explain or legitimize to anyone about the benefits to education in its most simplistic form, I've included 'Google Docs in Plain English'. It's fun to watch and really simple to understand.  All the frameworks and teaching theories behind the 'collaborative mindset' stem from the foundation of this video.  Welcome to G Docs in Plain English:

Now, take a break and go grab a coffee (or something stronger if you prefer).  This next video is a little more detailed about the 'rebuilt' Google Docs.  Definitely not as fun, but still educational and you can borrow it and save it to your own archives for later reference:

And lastly, we'll end by discussing the fluid definition of the word, "literacy" and try to pin it down in a 21st century classroom---a classroom where the walls have come down and the world is flat.

Here is a 10-minute video from the college student's perspective:

Now we will look at how 'literacy' is defined from a 21st century professor's perspective: (relax---it's only 7 minutes)

And now let's bring it closer to home and connect with URI's Summer Institute in Digital Literacy.  Mike RobbGreico will introduce you to a new tool called Vialogue that you can play with this week:

 After reading your comments, it has become clear that there are lots of different interpretations out there.

Good luck and I look forward to reading your comments, insights, and reflections on this week's content.  Also, if I missed placing a link to your blog in the margin, drop me a line and let me know.

Have fun!!

Dave