Wikis

     So this week I got to go in depth and research a topic that I was told growing up was not to be used as research.  High school told us that "Wiki was tricky" and anyone could post on it therefore it was not to be trusted.  That was the old way of thinking.  After looking at wikis and how they could be used in education I was impressed.  There are lots of things to do with Wikis and even trusted research that is out there.  I looked up a few topics I know  whole lot about and man.....that info was right on!  No lies or mistakes that I could find when reading the written word of Wiki!
     I have also enjoyed continuing reading on blogging and using it in schools.  It seems that the idea is still coming into acceptance in the schools.  It will, I am sure, take some time yet....but they will get there.  Teachers in our district are still struggling with a classroom webpage that they simply have to edit the text, everything else is all set up.  I guess it would be a long way to go to ask them to set up their own blogs.  But once they see just how successful it can be and easy....I am sure they will jump on board.
     Group work this week again in the Etherpad was a bit un-nerving.  I am still fearful that someone will screw with the groups work it would be lost.  I am also finding that the rainbow effect with this is frustrating for some people.  The lack of a spell check is also concerning for those who depend on it......I guess I am having to check my own spelling for now!

Blogs 2.0

Blogging seems to be a great new way of the future, all in part thanks to web 2.0.  It takes a lot for a person to understand all of the terms and means for all of the technology tools we have, especially when they are always evolving right under our noses when we are trying to learn.  It seems to be much like the metaphor I heard about education and it evolves.  "It is like trying to redesign and change the wings of an airplane mid-flight."  Quite a challenge when you think about it.
The readings this week have really helped to push me into understand terms and concepts in a very simple way.  For example, Web 1.0 vs Web 2.0.  The idea of read only vs Read/Write made it so clear.  Also defining what a blog is and what it is not.  I was concerned with the idea that my blog may not actually be a blog but a journal was a big frightening.  What did confuse me with the readings though was reading what a blog should do and contain, and then clicking through many links the author called blogs--and they did not meet his defintion.  Strange I thought.
Our group work this week seemed to be a bit unnerving as well.  We are working in a format that is open to anyone who knows how to get to the link.  This means that anyone is able to come through and completely destroy my work and it is only backed up on a recording of the key strokes.  Very unsettling, especially as one of my projects earlier in the programs was lost to a short trial version that I was unaware of.
I am taking a lot from exploring the various blogging sites.  My choice to review Posterous, 21classes, and EduBlog, is proving to be quiet educational.  I am finding that I like/dislike many features of all the sites.  Maybe if I were wise enough I would be able to create a blog that would do everything I wanted.  I am sure it is out there somewhere, but it will probably cost me an arm and a leg.  Not something I wish to spend my money on when I already struggle to keep up with my own school and class blogs!
**** side note--this truly is my first "blog" post in accordance with our reading as it includes links!