In Process
Rita is still in intensive care, but there are indications that she is on the upswing. Thank you, readers, for thinking of her. I miss her very much.
My students and I are experimenting with building a collaborative class website through pbwiki. It’s fun. I created a main page that introduces the course theme: imagination. That page also includes links to assignments and to students. Branching out from that main page, students are building their own “homes” from which they can link their individual work. On each page, there is a comment function, so that students and I can go in and converse.
The whole process is opening my mind and eyes to possibilities.
And with this website, the class will be virtually paperless. All handouts appear there, and I can put them up on a screen in class or students can visit those pages at their convenience. Students will draft their work on the wiki, and when a piece is ready to be graded, they will submit it to Blackboard (a web based educational platform developed for colleges), where only I can see it and make final assessments.
So far, our imagination wiki is only available to members of my two sections—but toward the end of the semester, if it seems fitting, students can invite friends and family to visit.
Comments
It’s a great experiment. And pretty simple. I’m still sorting it out, but the students seem engaged. At some point, if it “goes public” I’ll share it with you.
Jan Sep 29, 08:34
RE: Rita—
She’s getting better day by day. But from what I understand, it’s a slow and laborious process, getting her breath back. I’m sure she appreciates your well wishes!
Jan Sep 29, 08:48
Commenting is closed for this article.
Stay strong, Rita!
Your website sounds so perfect. I could really use something like that. I’ll check back and see how it’s going and maybe, who knows, I’ll try it out with one of my classes. Thanks, Jan.
Anita Sep 28, 19:37