I have decided to reward myself with a new computer when I complete my District Intern program. I feel that I deserve it, since I had to put up with 3 years of night school (usually on weeknights after a full day of teaching). Needless to say, it will be a Mac. And yes, I will benefit from the education discount. (I was about to insert a large imaginary grin here, but could not find one big enough).
Speaking of education, I am excited about the potential that wikis offer to the classroom. Students these days go directly to Wikipedia for their first primer on any subject. Heck, that's what I do. Anyway, I am also concerned about the pitfalls. Wikis are already turning into a medium whereby information is not simply accessed, but commented on. If I want to learn about a historical figure on Wikipedia, I may end up reading propaganda instead of facts. Open source education is messy. Wikis have given a voice to the silent majority--for better or worse.
I look forward to contributing to the conversation--on a new Mac!
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3 comments:
I'm thinking I deserve a mac, too. I could also relate to your questions/concerns regarding wikis and their pitfalls. However, I have been surprised at my students' ability to identify contradictory and questionable information and approach me with questions about what they should do. This gives us the opportunity to discuss ways to verify information and the importance of using multiple resources.
I have not been convinced by Wiki encyclopedias yet. I have seen students use it in different classrooms but if we (LAUSD) students and staff have access to tons of legitimate resources why take a chance with Wikis when you are researching a topic.
On the other hand, I do believe in
Wikis if they are used as collaborative efforts to write a paper or to distribute work equally.
I completely agree with you about having certain concerns about the pitfalls of wikis. Being interactive has its pros and cons as you mention, and it seems to me that wikis might not be the best choice for something that should be about accuracy, like encyclopedias. Then again, I don't want to shut off the possibilities that come with letting anyone edit and post at will. It should be interesting to see how wikis continue to grow and change.
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