Schoology vs Wikispace

 

This week was very exhausting for me.After a discussion with Dee, we decided to prepare presentations on the pedagogical strategies of web 1.0 and web 2.0.As I joined the class quite late, Dee told me that pedagogy 1 means pedagogical strategies used in Web 1.0 while pedagogy 2 would mean the pedagogy used in we 2.0. So I ended up browsing all the presentations of my friends in spectrum so that I have a better understanding of web 1.0 and web 2.0. On the eve of the presentation day, both of us ended up burning the midnight oil.

Unfortunately, when we met Madam Ng in the morning before the presentation, we were surprised that 1 means part1 and same goes with 2..Waaaaaaaaa

Madam Ng decided that I should not be presenting and Dee will be presenting alone. She captured everyone’s eyes when she brought  her ‘schoology’ in, a website which is not  new to me as I have come across it last year but was new to most of the ‘it savvy’ in the class.. At least now I feel I’m not that handicapped as before…..

Frankly speaking, schoology is more user friendly compared to wikispace or facebook,two websites which are popular among the educators. Here are the strengths of schoology that I found in the net.

• Free
  Easy to use as the format is the basically the same as Facebook
  Easy to manage your course and calendar
  Allow schedule any assignments or answer any questions at any time
  Give students spaces communicate on academic areas
  Supports many media forms including audio, video and images
  Several ways to communicate with each other and clarify misconceptions
  Combining social networking with learning managements
  Adjust private settings for all users or create groups/ class by yourself

  but there are also the weaknesses
• Need to be frequently checked for the updates
  Students could misunderstand teacher's post
  Student might lead one and other through posts
  Time wasting with add-on applications

and here are some ideas that a teacher can use in the classroom

• Teacher can use the site to post classroom news letters, assignments and any comments
  Teachers can post recourse for students use at home
  Safe place for students to learn about social networking
  Create different pages/groups for different projects in classroom for the students to be able to utilize
  Create Lounge rooms for teachers and parents' communication

http://wikiatuni.wikispaces.com/Advantages+and+Disadvantages+of+Wiki

http://teachweb2.wikispaces.com/schoology

My question for this week is how are we going to make sure that we choose the right platform for our students if we as educators are still juggling with the platform? Is trial and error the answer ? Are we willing to risks the students time especially when the education in Malaysia is so exam-oriented?

Lecture 8 : Today I Learn, Today I Question

 

I was very tired with the materials to be read for this week as they were all too ‘heavy’ for me. It was very difficult for me to digest and then to reproduce the readings in a layman words.  I entered the class late today (almost 8.00 pm) because I was busy trying to understand the materials that was posted by Madam Ng.

But then, when she recapped or should I say summarised it, the only thing that came into my mind was ..Oh, now I know what does ADDIE stands for. Phew. Finally on my 4th class , then only I know that ADDIE is a model and it is an acronym for Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate.

What I could say is that for a teacher or educator to design a web based learning, he or she needs to do the analysis first. And the best part is there are many small ADDIE in the major ADDIE. There are many processes of designing and redesigning before a web based is created.

On the second part of the lesson, when Jessica presented, I on the other hand was trying to relate what she has done to what Madam Ng has mentioned for. And at the same time, I was trying to relate whether our group assignment has all the criteria mentioned by Madam Ng. Oh my..pity the brain..too much of information processing.

I felt relieved when Madam Ng suddenly asked all of us to summarised all that we have learnt for the past 8 weeks into a graphic. For me it was just four weeks. hu hu. We had some discussion and finally managed to come up with this chart..

We believe that in order for PLE to take place, aspects of web based learning and ADDIE need to  work hand in hand to support TPACK, theories and model of learning in engagement .

My question is : Are we teachers well equipped with all these weapons (the knowledge and also the ability to provide PLE)?

 

shakieera