March is definitely going out like a Lion! What a snowy cold morning to begin the week. As I was driving to school today I was thinking about how I can explain to my teachers what the difference is between a blog and a wiki. Which should you use and when? Should you use both? I have included a link to a blog with a good description of each type of Web 2.0 tool.
As we begin to look at all of these new emerging technologies, you can be overwhelmed. Do I use Glogster or Nota? Do I have my students create a PhotoStory or use Animoto? Do I blog or wiki? Should I be using all of these at the same time? You can be overwhelmed by the number of choices that we now have in education. I find that I am learning more and more new technologies as I go to my CFF coach trainings. Some people can do it all, I find that I work better by picking out one or two new technologies and focusing on them.
My advice is don't jump on all the bandwagons at once! Think about what you want your students to accomplish. What do you want for the final product? Think about what you want to have for your students in your lesson. You don't need to blog and create a wiki if the technology doesn't suit your plans. Just because the technology is available doesn't mean you have to use everything. You need to make the technology a tool in your instruction. You don't use the technology to say you used it in a lesson when it might not be the best tool to complete the task at hand. If a blog suits your needs then blog. If a wiki better suits your needs then wiki! You aren't a bad teacher if you aren't doing both applications.
It is better to learn one application and master it than to spread yourself to thinly in your curriculum. You will get burnt out and wonder if any of this change is worth it!
3 comments:
thank you for sharing this blog! I agree taking your time seems to be the key when trying these new ideas. I hope I am moving in the correct direction but feel that the work I am doing is just a beginning place. I tried todo one simple thing that I thought my students could use on each. Next I will have to try them in the classroom to see if they work the way I hope they would. I think we have to then see what changes need to be made and continue. I am hoping to eventualy haveone site that will include all of the others that I have tried to make it all easier access?? I think that you have helped your teachers with your blogs. They are great topics. thanks JM
I think you are correct to choose one tool, learn how to use it rather than trying to master several different tools. There are so many new tools that come out that it can become overwhelming.
It is important to pick the tool that matches what you want accomplished. Trying to use the wrong tool can make the project disastrous. Nice posts on your blog
Lisa
This is such great advice. I think as teachers it is so easy to jump into all available technology that we can easily become overwhelmed. I do believe that we need to examine what we want the final product to be and then figure out which technology tool would best serve that product. This blog is a really great way to communicate with your teachers--you make a great CFF coach.
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