Wikispaces

For the last few days we have been exploring wikispaces. We have never visited wiki world prior to this. We liked it and we will be back! We have created our own wikispaces and completed a wiki tutorial. We have learnt how to create spaces, add pictures and add files. We have not linked our blog page to it as yet. We have had a few attempts....
After some playing and exploring we think that wikis could be a very useful platform that we would be able to incorporate into our learning environment. We will now go on to explore other wiki resource........

You can visit Wikispaces to: http://platforms.wikispaces.com/

What is it that we like about this platform?
They look user friendly, most importantly this space, platform encourages collaboration, students could use this platform as a meeting place to share information, evaluate and reflect on practices, happenings and events in the simulated work environment or classroom. This platform would facilitate the sharing of information and ideas. It could also possible for our students to complete planning and programming tasks related to the simulated work environment. Most importantly members are able to contribute to and create their own learning space.

What Next ? Exploring other wikis and identifying user friendly aspects.

What should we be looking for in a wiki?
Affordable = FREE
Easy step to create your own wiki
For the platform to be secure

Before using a wiki we must make sure that we have appropriate knowledge and skills to monitor and mange the wiki professionally.

Application Sent ........What Space ? Myspace, Ourspace, Yourspace

Today our team got to chat and reflect face to face, not via email. We devised our hit list of things to do.
Yes, we sent our application to Edna to have our own group. But most importantly we started in setting up a sandpit. We sent our application to: sandpit@edna.edu.au. After much discussion we also decided on a name. We reflected on the 70's, 80's and 90's, and thought about fashion and many different types of platforms......! However we got back on track and decided on:
Name: Exploring Platforms
Description: Research and identify suitable platform for use with students who participate in a simulated workplace.

Platforms !!!! Our discussion on fashion and platforms extended to students, that is students in 2007, the "Y" generation. Whilst on extended I was put into the world of teenagers and 20 years +. I came to the following conclusions:

Just like many of the students at TAFE they were accessing and using Myspace. The youngest and oldest of the group were using Myspace to communicate with friends, share pictures and information. I asked, "What does Myspace Offer?" Responses, "Lots, it's awsome" was one " "don't you have a profile?" was another. The 23 year old looked at me and said, "do you use Facebook?" I thought, Face what! I faced up to it, and was feeling just a little old .
After a little research and discussion we came to the conclusion that Myspace is huge in the world of websites and the lives of young people.

So, what does this mean for our project, education and for us as teachers and educators?
We tried not to enter the debate about the suitability of this type of platform for teenagers and young people. This is a separate issue. However we are convinced that this type of platform is used by many teenagers, young people and others to share information about their lives, share photo's and chat. We asked, what has changed? A lot. As we were reading different profiles it was most evident that people were sharing detailed information about themselves, likes and what they were looking for or up to. Most importantly it was interactive and engaging.

After we checked it out at: Myspace: http://www.myspace.com
We learnt a little about my Myspace. We also came to some conclusion inregards to whay it is so, so popular? It's interactive and engaging, and it is about you. You get to create it. My space allows you to :
create a profile
add pictures
email
add movies
stay in touch with friends
post blogs
have instant messages
add comments

We don't aim to use Myspace as an education tool. However, we do see the value in creating and having a platform where students can be interactive in their learning and communicate with each other.
As educators we hope to be able to identify what it is about these types of websites that is attracting many people and incorporate aspects of this into learning and learning resources. Change has already happened in communities due to technology we want to make sure that we reflect this change in out teaching. The sandpit is looking very inviting!

Back To Edna....... Sandpit

For the past four weeks one of our team has been on extended leave, playing in the sand. It was no surprise she demonstrated interest in the sandpit ! We have been catching up via email.

As we both have had plenty of experience building castles we thought we would explore in the sandpit. Yes.... we could use this tool as a place to explore and discover and develop new skills.

So, what is in the sandpit ? The good news it's free, the sandpit it provided by edna as a play space to road test emerging teaching and learning resources. Just what we need.

Examples of uses:
Moodle
Podcasting
Personal space for learning (elgg)
Web Conferencing (Live Classroom)

We are both interested in exploring moodle, personal space for learning and web conferencing.

Where to next? Moodle.......sounds interesting...... web spaces, forums, instant messaging, wikis, surveys, quiz and file sharing. Wikis, what could that be ? I'm sure we will find out soon.

Our holidays have come to an end, we are looking forward to becoming an owner and member in sandpit soon.

Other Areas To Explore

Mid February 2007

The whole ipod experience was a little off putting. We put our heads together to see if there were other areas worth exploring. We were teaching the same content matter to separate groups of students and realised that we wanted some way of sharing information with students. Some electronic place where students could access links, resources, photos for reflection and other useful information to assist students to meet competency.

We started asking around our esteemed colleagues. Words such as sharepoint, blogs, Edna, jetty, platforms, breeze were bandied about.... just to name a few.

We had heard of blogs and had a brief peek at sharepoint.

A Different Journey......

February o7

Back at work after a relaxing break. E-learn mentoring program is mentioned again. We had really learned so much and enjoyed participating in the last project that we'd thought we'd like to do it again.

Ipods, irivers, PDA's seemed to be the hot topics. Julie happened to get hold of an IPOD to play with. She had been entrusted with another person's device. This could be fun and interesting. Interesting ? YES, but not in the anticipated way.

" Somehow I managed to jam the ipod or have it freeze with the do not disconnect display on the screen, I tried the 5 R's recommended in the manual. Back to the L Plates, nothing I did seemed work. Even the user manual said that I now had to disconnect it! I then got to the point of having the online manual tell me I would have to take it to ipod service centre and conveniently popped up the locations in the web browser for me. My computer wouldn't recognise the devise - it said it was corrupt! My laptop said the same thing!

At this stage I couldn't even turn it off. I had to let it just run out of battery. I connected to the computer the next day hoping it would start, but no, same deal. Same do not disconnect screen with the charging icon.

No, I will not be beaten such a small box. To recharge the ipod you have to connect it to your computer or a laptop connected to the power supply (the computer battery apparently is not good enough) What if I connected it to the power supply, and not a computer to recharge?

Correct !!!!!!!!!

Ta Daaah! Ipod was back and functioning as if nothing had happened! Phew! I wasn't looking forward to returning the ipod and telling them I blew it up !