Blog Activity #2: How to Use Wikis in the Classroom

Wiki definition:

Wiki is defined as an "online application that allows users to contribute to or edit its content" (Pappas,2022). 

Discuss the advantages of Wikis:

Wiki is known for allowing its users to contribute and have a voice in the discussion that is taking place. There is no one in particular that is in charge or the head of the Wiki, thus it allows everyone to add and contribute. Wiki is a great resource for encouraging group work and collaboration within the classroom. These are foundational skills needed in everyday life and Wiki is a great resource to use to kickstart collaboration exercises within small-group or whole-group settings.

Explain ways that Wikis can be used in your classroom:

Wiki allows students to take on a different position within the classroom. They are allowed to produce and have more of a direction with their ideas, rather than listening to teachers or soaking up knowledge in that manner. In return, this creates a more engaging and rich environment for students to build lasting memorable connections to the content that is being explored. Additionally, there are several Wiki websites for teachers to explore and find that best suits their needs and expectations within their own classroom. Wikis can be used for class discussion boards, group projects, book reviews, and collaborative writing as well. As with anything new in the classroom, it is important to set expectations for students and break down what you expect the outcome to be, as well as provide an example. Overall, Wikis have many positive advantages and appeal to several learning styles as well. 

Pappas, C. (2022, July 21). How to Use Wiki in the Classroom. eLearning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/how-to-use-wiki-in-the-classroom

Blog Activity #1

     Hi, my name is Caroline Hargrave and I am a recent graduate of Louisiana State University. I received my bachelor of science degree in Early Childhood Education in May of 2023 and I currently am pursuing my master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Additionally, I also currently work in the early childhood field at a preschool and work with children in pre-k 4. My goal as an educator is to instill in children a love of learning at a young age to build a firm foundation for future academic success. 

    This blog was curated for families of future students. The goal would be to have this blog serve as a form of communication between families and myself. Here the families could read about what the students are learning about, as well as view pictures from the week. Announcements could also be posted here and a calendar as well. Ideally, this would help bridge the gap between families and the teacher by providing a source of constant communication surrounding the students and their development within the classroom.