Article Link

For the series of podcasts on "8 Play Based Strategies to Engage Youth in Learning", here is the link to the article in case anyone is interested to read about the article:

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/play-based-strategies-engage-leaning-susan-ragsdale

Play Based Strategies Series Podcast 3

Play Based Strategies Podcast 2

Play Based Strategies Series - Podcast 1

Small Steps: Gaming in Classrooms!

To everyone who is interested in introducing games in their classroom, here are a few useful resources:

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/small-safe-steps-introducing-games-andrew-miller

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/06/surprising-insights-how-teachers-use-games-in-the-classroom/

How/What would a wiki add to my class?

Being an online educator, I definitely see myself using Wiki as one of the collaborative methods. I always try to incorporate group learning activities in my lesson plans. I believe students learn best from each other. In an online environment, it is  difficult to implement collaborative/group learning strategies - especially when students would be in different locations across the globe. For writing assignments or group projects, where students need to collaborate, Wiki is definitely an effective tool. The available file on Wiki would always be updated and ready for the group members to use. Group members can edit and work on the files as per their convenience. I could also use Wiki for administrative purposes - to get course feedback from students, to create a calendar of events and assignment due dates etc.

Interesting Wiki Classrooms

Here are a few examples of how wikis have been used in these classrooms:

1. Mrs Maine Biology Classroom
https://mrsmaine.wikispaces.com/Bio+notes#DNA%20Replication

In this Science classroom, apart from using wiki to give instructions regarding assignments and homework, wiki has also been used to upload class notes which students can refer to whenever they want to.

2. Roosevelt5th
https://roosevelt5th.wikispaces.com/Astronomy

This wiki is a good example to show how to introduce wiki in classrooms. In this classroom, wiki has been used in a basic but engaging activity to introduce wiki to the students.


3. Wikis for Classroom Administration- Mrs.Bergmann's Wiki
http://bergmannvikings.wikispaces.com/6th%2520Grade%2520Geography

In this classroom, apart from classroom notes, the teacher provides a calendar of events so that parents can monitor classroom activities and also students knows what they missed if they were absent in class. This is a good example to showcase the use of wiki in classroom administrative purposes.

Reflection:

In my classroom, I would take the best from the above examples. I would use it to plan my calendar for the parent's view, share classroom notes, provide instructions for assignments, showcase students' work/projects, use wiki as a tool for students to collaborate in assignments etc. Wiki has a wide range of advantages, but at the same time students should be educated about  appropriate internet etiquette, copyright policies etc.
 

More on Wikis

Looking for help to incorporate wikis into classroom? Here are a few resources:

1. http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Examples+of+educational+wikis

This wikispace provides a repertoire of different kinds of useful links ranging from wiki classrooms to teacher collaboration wikis. A useful resource!

2. http://greetingsfromtheworld.wikispaces.com/

A peek into how wiki can become an open classroom- any student in the world can contribute to this wiki. A wiki that helps showcase a student's projects specifically posters about their respective countries. A travel wiki for students to overcome cultural and border barriers and get an insight into the world.

3. http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=7237

An example of teachers sharing ideas, resources and activities through wiki - a great repertoire for new teachers. It gives an idea about what other teachers are doing in their classrooms, also you can share your ideas and collaborate with other teachers across the globe.

Wikis and Learning!

It is so interesting to see the different ways in which wikis can be used in the classroom. There are quite a few examples of such classroom wikis in the book 'Using Web 2.0 and Social Networking Tools in the K-12 Classroom' by B.E.Crane. Of the few examples, I like the 'Creative Cougars' wiki the most. It describes the 50 states of America in a fun, creative way. Here is the link to this wiki : http://creative50states.wikispaces.com/. The book trailers on Readers wiki was definitely a creative way to imbibe the habit of reading in students and also helps students to understand the genre of books they prefer reading. The wikis on Science are a fantastic way to keep records of experiments in a collaborative manner.

I definitely look forward to using Wiki in my online Classrooms in a variety of ways. I can see my self using Wikis for individual as well as group activities - Course Feedback, Collaborative assignments, Fun, creative Projects etc.

Internet connectivity is definitely an important factor when we decide to use Wikis in classroom. Since I would be an online educator, I assume that my online students would have access to internet most of the time. But there are many countries where students do not have access to internet all the time. Being sensitive and aware of this issue is important when creating activities and projects in which students have to collaborate through an internet connection.

Also, educating students about copyrights, school policies regarding the usage of internet, safeguarding identity, proper guidelines on internet etiquette and guidelines on using wiki for projects is essential.

Walking for Creativity!

A recent study has shown that walking improves creative thoughts. Sometimes, I do find myself pacing back and forth while doing my assignments. Somehow, it just felt like it was the right thing to do to build ideas!
Here is the entire article : http://news.stanford.edu/news/2014/april/walking-vs-sitting-042414.html

An Interesting Feature!

An an online educator, I am always trying to create opportunities for students to interact and connect with each other, especially in distance education where the students are from different parts of the world. I was browsing through one of the courses on Coursera. I liked this feature on Coursera, where,as part of introductions, a student had to map his/her location. The instructor has to set up this feature. These mapped pins would be available for all participants to see. It gives an idea about the location and background of classmates - an important factor in online education. Here is a snapshot!