April 18

I spent this weekend with my daughter and her family. I know that seems to have very little to do with media (and truly it was 95% pure grandmother time), but both my daughter and her husband are teachers and that is where the other 5% comes in. Amanda teaches at the Medical University of SC; Ryan is a middle school history teacher. Both were interested in wikis so I got another shot at teaching the art of the wiki. Amanda liked the idea of using these for a sort of "web 2.0 evaluation chart for the students to use" - the students now carry clipboards and often have to work in groups for this excercise. The idea of a central location for information may work well for them. Ryan wants to use his wiki for the expected - homework charts, class updates and group projects, but he also wants to use it as a way for his students to get some well deserved recognition. His homeroom is collecting clothing, shoes, toiletries, etc. for an organization that works with the homeless. He would like to create a page that would be a place for students to note a general list of the things they had collected. I also showed him Animoto and suggested he create a digital story to go along with the list. He believes this will give them a much better sense of accomplishment than simply turning in a box of clothing, etc. - plus it would be used as an introductory lesson on how to use the wiki.