Wikis

I am very proud of myself for being able to participate in a wiki with my comments! I agree with Tony's concern about who/what is/are the gatekeepers and with Erica in cautioning my students about the reliability/authority of Wikipedia - I do not accept Wikipedia as a 'citable' source in any paper. Guess the "openness" of the wiki is a bit unsettling. Google docs do allow limitations on access - the paranoid portion of my cranium is concerned that I have no "wall against my back" with a wiki. At this time, I am not certain how I could use wikis in my writing courses

Google docs

These exercises are great - I had never really understood how a google doc differed from my docs until I began working on our step #2. I'm still not certain my doc is working quite the way I expected, but I did create and send a google doc to coordinate responses regarding the best time for a department meeting. The process made me realize that I need more practice with google simply to eliminate insecurities about mechanical workings. Some of my colleagues were not very familiar with google docs - their insecurities offered me an insight into how students might feel/behave when working with new web applications.

What interests me about Web 2.0?

Web 2.0: "web applications that facilitate interactive information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and collaboration on the World Wide Web..." (Wikipedia).
The sources for news, information, and advertising have shifted away from traditional news media to the vast array of options available on the web. Individuals who are unable to access and nimbly navigate the web are increasingly being left out of the information cycle. In order to prepare our students to most effectively gather and synthesize necessary and appropriate information, we ourselves must possess and demonstrate that ability.

Why join the "13-step" program?

Historically, I have not been very tech-savvy. In fact, I am generally considered a bit slow when dealing with tech projects from setting VCR clocks to posting on Moodle. This 13-step program promises to help me join my students in the 21st century. Thanks Lisa!