Hello, here is the link to our updated version of the Wiki assignment. Thank you to all of you who gave us feedback! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oFwdSUVKwUgKqxGMKP2r7VR8OIEESdJYF6RU5nD8MuE/edit

As we have discussed open access resources in both semesters of the program, I have been pondering how educators who seek the professoriate will prepare ourselves differently in order to enter the academy. Much importance has been placed on publishing and ownership of  materials and the academy seems to be somewhat reluctant to make a concerted effort to switch. Those of us who are thinking of open source as a positive movement still seem like interlopers

I am just starting to understand the ways in which this softening of the lines may help me to work and publish. I am wondering whether the shift to open source digital authorship will happen in a way that will help or hurt those seeking entrance during the shift. Once the shift happens, those coming behind it will be fine but there are those in power who are a bit behind the divide. Where do they stand on seeing open source as a viable road to authorship?  It represents in my opinion a real paradigm shift  for the powers that be in the preparation for entry into higher education. It is hard to know in the next 5 years what that shift will look like.

Motivation:

1) What are some of the ways in which Open source authorship will change the rigor of preparing for the professoriate?

2) Will open source allow for better access to higher levels of academe or will the perceived threat disallow for serious use in prestigious journals?

Wikipedia assignment-

Sorry for the lateness. We do Easter in a big way at my house.

I have been pondering the intersection between pedagogy and technology  for quite a while. Long before I started my doctoral studies I noticed that students were using technology socially  but as per the Department of Education were forbidden to use their technology in the classrooms. I started thinking then about all of the ways that I observed them using their technology and how I could use my observations to create solid learning experiences as well as alternative modes of assessments that spoke to the subject matter although they were non-traditional. Now, my work in induction mirrors that goal as I prepare teachers for the classroom using the same methods. This week’s readings touch on the place where the creation of assignments and the use of technology meet.

Jade Davis illustrates for us how the clear structure of her projects help students with process oriented thinking as well as her clear goals and check points keeps student on track. The structure of her projects create strong communication between her and her students and help to facilitate student voice as well. I agree with her assertion that her assignment structure is nearly fool proof if her students follow her instructions. If they don’t her check point catch wayward students and put them on track.

Matt Barton speaks about the suspicion with which his colleagues view wikipedia, imagining it to be an unsupervised landscape where anyone can write anything unchecked and calling into question the validity of the information found there.  He spoke of  the inclusive nature of wikipedia calling it neutral but I am not so sure I agree with his or Lessig’s assertions that this is so.

Like Davis, Barton, and Konieczny, I think that Wikipedia can open up new ways to examine pedagogy. It adds a n element of collaboration and ownership that a lot of students don’t usually have. It can also bring a global focus to their work that is usually missing from assignments. I am constantly surprised that more programs don’t use wiki or other technology platforms in their classes.

Motivations:

1. What do you think are some of the impediments to using Wikipedia and other technological platforms for assignments in the classroom?
2. How can we truly make the wiki space more inclusive? There are a few voices that are underrepresented due to both content and knowledge base.

Hi, for my project I am thinking of a academic/professional hub for teaching residents, teachers in the induction phase of teacher education, and novice teachers. So often students in teacher education programs as well as new teachers in the classroom feel alone and overwhelmed. This hub will be a place where residents can read or post article, share lesson plans and content information. They can post job opportunities, blog about experiences and post job opportunities.
I originally started using Google + as a classroom hub and then expanded the community to include former students that were either still in Induction or novice teachers. I am thinking of perhaps using perhaps Commons in a Box but am open to suggestions for other platforms.