Wikis, Blogs, and Web Publishing

By: Mark Curtis

Wikis and Blogs

Wikis Blogs• Web based programs • Can be collaborative• Share work and ideas, pictures

and links, videos and media• Invite others to view and

contribute to pages• Lock personal pages from view• Multiple pages creates more of a

magazine or a web site format• Many free hosting sites

• Web based programs• A web log for a single user to post

ideas, pictures, links, videos and media

• Interactivity is limited to comments from viewers of the blog

• Posts are recorded and listed in date sequence

• Comments may be visible to other viewers

• Tag words serve as links to similar posts by the blog author

MCurtis6231 Blog

This blog was created to assist my colleagues in their efforts to integrate technology in their daily instructional practices. Teachers can track these posts through an aggregator like Google Reader to view articles as they are posted to my this site. In this manner, teachers can keep track of new information that is delivered in small doses. Teachers can also provide feedback to give me direction.

The next page is a screen shot of my blog.

http://mcurtis6231.blogspot.com/

Curtis Project Wiki

This wiki was created to provide greater depth of instruction on a variety of tools for teachers to incorporate In their lessons. Teachers are able to add resources to this site to expand our library.

The following page is a screenshot of my wiki.

http://curtisproject.wikispaces.com/

Google Reader

Google Reader is a feed aggregator software that allows you to tag the RSS feeds from various sites and display them for you to read. – Displays all tagged web sites.– Indicates sites that have articles not read.– Information more manageable to process.– Promotes staying current with sites of interest .– Websites can easily be added or deleted.– Websites can be organized into folders.

Additional Web 2.0 Sites

• Weebly .com - A free website that uses the Weebly domain. Teachers can easily import graphics, videos, text, calendars, and other widgets to create a class website. I think this is an extremely helpful site for facilitating communication between the teacher and the student’s home. Adding a blog adds the option for feedback as well.

Weebly.com

Different Pages

Animation Web 2.0 Sites

• Voki – Create a text to speech character. (60 sec. monolog)

• Go Animate – Create a 20 line animated video with dialog

Interactive Poster Site

Glogster.com

Reflection

It is hard to determine which type of communication program is better than another as each has its own distinct purpose in spite of the overlap that exists between programs.Weebly allows me to post information much like an online bulletin board resource. Blogger gives me access to post information to be sorted by date and category.Wikispaces can be used like a website, but there is more versatility for collaboration.

The value of Google Reader, Google Docs, and many of the Web 2.0 tools is directly proportional to the way I am able to integrate them in my instruction or in the instruction of those I coach. It was good for me to become much more familiar with the Terms of Use conditions for each of the sites I explored. I did not realize the restricted use conditions of some sites.

This course has helped me to use wiki’s and blogs much more effectively than I had known how to do before. I am looking forward to finding more applications for the tools that I now know how to use. I am also challenged through the blogs that I am now following to incorporate new Web 2.0 in my lessons.

I can’t wait to share with my students and colleagues.