A critique and summary of: Why Wikis?Virginia Launches K-12 iTunes U PortalsLearning with No Boundaries

ByAdriana Perez

Article Summary: Why Wikis? Article Summary : Why Wikis? Continued Reflection: Why Wikis? Article Summary: Virginia Launches K-12

iTunes Portals Reflection: Virginia Launches K-12 iTunes

Portals Article Summary: Learning With No

Boundaries Virginia Tech and Radford University

Reflection: Learning with No Boundaries Virginia Tech and Radford University

Conclusion

•In this article, author Ruth Reynard Ph. D, emphasizes how Wikis are essential in classrooms to get students involved in learning and participating. A wiki is defined as webpage that allows the posting of documents that are available to the use of the classroom or large groups, in which editing access is on hand. Wikis allow for editing, annotating, and feedback environments every idea can be captured, reviewed, and assimilated into the progressing document. Reynard states “that by utilizing wiki, students are invited to participate at a level of input that will contribute to the understanding and application of information shared.” This increased learning can be carried out through a document or media project posted through a wiki.

COMMUNICATION CAPTURING THE KNOWLEDGE

Students must be capable of understanding what they have heard, read or experienced, so that they may integrate this new knowledge into their own “structure of knowing.” This can then later be remembered and applied to situations that require this knowledge. A wiki aids in easing the process of learning development in many various ways. Ruth Reynard, Ph.D., "Why Wikis?," T.H.E. Journal, 4/15/2009, http://www.thejournal.com/articles/24279

From personal first-hand experience utilizing the wiki, I found it incredibly useful when working in large groups. It provides easy methods of communication, and creation of projects. In my opinion, it works in much the same way as e-mail, but it provides users with direct contact to one another, thus making the thinking and creating process much easier.

The Virginia government is making a massive effort to increase the availability of education to all of its students and teachers. The do this through what is called iTunes U, providing free access to educational material utilized in university, college, and K-12 settings. According to the Virginia Department of Education, “the portal is part of a larger effort to harness the power of digital media and mobile devices to expand and supplement classroom-based education.“

Dave Nagel, "Virginia Launches K-12 iTunes U Portal," T.H.E. Journal, 4/9/2009, http://www.thejournal.com/articles/24255

DOING THE RIGHT THING MORE THAN LEARNING

In my opinion, the government should have become involved in educational programs like this along time ago. These portals not only provide for an increased ability to learn, but also aid in student/teacher understanding of each other, and of the material provided to them. These methods should be further expanded on a national front to strengthen the educational front.

This is an experiment that was launched by the Virginia Commonwealth, through the use of iTunes U portals. This is done through the use of such devices as the iPod touch and GPS devices. The experiment involves students in elementary schools learning about Native American culture, language, and rituals through a game type setting.

http://www.lwbva.org/

I believe that the use of a game system works very well in aiding the educational and cultural enrichment of younger students. This works well because the students are having fun while gaining knowledge in the learning environment. This also provides the ability to learn in an outdoors setting, not just the typical classroom atmosphere.

TECHNOLOGY HELPING KIDS LEARN

THE NEW CLASSROOM SETTING

I was very excited to be expose to the different ways technology is being part of the education and classroom setting. It was amazing to perceive how students are learning about cultural, science, history and demographics through a GPS system. It is overwhelming to see how technology is starting to change education for ever.