I have to say I truly struggle with technology. Every week we get these assignments and every week I feel as if I am going to die. In all honestly, I go through the five stages of death and dying in about two hours. At first I go through denial – “I don’t know how to do this stuff.” This quickly fades and anger shows his ugly head. I find myself yelling and swearing at the computer (usually the log in screen when I have tried in various combinations one of the many usernames and passwords that I have through various organizations). Anger tends to stay for the majority of this weekly process. Then I’m bargaining….well sort of - I more or less ask God to get me through this class. Depression follows, usually in the form of me eating various junk foods. Then finally I accept that this is indeed happening and I will get it done.
As far as wikis go, I think that they were easy to use once I figured out how to log in. I did feel as though there were similarities between blogs and wikis. I personally see myself using wikis for group projects. This past week I assigned my students a timeline. Students were asked to create a timeline of events that happened pre-and-post-civil war. They had to research 27 events, put them in chronological order, find a picture to illustrate the event, and give a brief description of each event. Students had to print pictures, pour through books and class notes (none of the student computers were working last week), buy poster board and flashcards, use messy glue sticks, and put it all together. All of this creates quite a mess in the classroom. In the future, I will have students work in groups and put together a pre-and post- civil war timeline wiki. They will have many of the same requirements except students will be required to add links where the visitors could read or learn more about that particular event.
I am very excited to put this wonderful technology into use in my classroom.
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4 comments:
I am glad to hear that, although technology can be a struggle to get used to, you are making progress. There are new advancements made every day, and new things to learn all the time... but giving it your best effort, and helping your students to do so as well, can only help in the long run. ...glad to hear that you would encourage your students to learn about/use Wikis in the future!
Boy do I feel your pain. Now I know what process I am going through. I thought it was just a panic attack.
Rick
It is not nice to laugh at others' pain, but your posting was the absolute truth! Especially the part about the numerous logins and passwords. If I don't add my sites/links to my favorites, I would have a hard time keeping track of where I am supposed to be next . . . At school, I have a mobile classroom, my 3-tiered cart. I travel to four classrooms during the day, a total of three different ones. I log onto four different computers during the day and sometimes hope that I can get some things done for Western. Our network prohibits me from logging into Blackboard and my Western e-mail, so I have creatively found other ways to get there; talk about a list of FAVORITES. And mind you, I teach technology! So, it seems as though you have a good grip on what to expect each week and I am proud of you! You are a cat, with nine lives, just enough to get you through Thanksgiving! Great idea on how to use a wiki for your upcoming projects. Thanks for making me laugh too!
Rick,
I think your idea for using wikis to do the Civil War timeline is brilliant. When I was younger, I didn't really love history. It was memorizing all of those dates. But with what you thought up to do with the dates and the wiki sounds like a lot of fun. I am a visual learner. I could get so much more out of looking at a picture or a chart than I could reading a long, date filled chapter. I have grown and matured (academically) and I now appreciate the written word. (I have to, I'm an English teacher.)But, I still enjoy looking at the pictures. Using a Wiki to group the written and the visual together to explain history is something I would enjoy. Now that I'm older, I am very much interested in history because I am the family's next generation genealogist, after my 96 yr. old grandmother. I think I will take your suggestion and create a family Wiki time like linked to historical documents and uploaded photographs. It's something I would enjoy and I know my grandma would get a kick out of it. I think your kids will have a great time working on this project. (I hope your school computers are working.) You have inspired me to try a historical time line for my English class to help set the tone for Tom Sawyer, which we read in the spring.
On a personal note. I get flustered every time I hear a new tech assignment, too. I guess I just close my eyes, plug my ears, take a deep breath and mess up. So is the way with all new things. Basically I know how you feel. Keep truckin'. Here's some advice I got and I should really take it myself before giving it out. Write down all of your web sites and matching log in and passwords in the cover of your book (if your going to keep it) or an index card taped to your computer. It lesses the frustration. (I had to call and get a new password for the WMU sign in 4 TIMES.)
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