Hello all!  I was already using wikis, podcasts, and blogs but iTeach helped me refine and crystallize my thinking about how to use them.  I was able to work with a science methods instructor to create her first experience with a wiki this fall. We used wikispaces because it has a user friendly interface and it provided a tool for the students to use once they leave their UAS courses. The students used the wiki for a collaborative writing experience, to share resources, and to upload their lesson plans. It was a learning experience for most of the students and and the instructor was delighted.

I also decided to try the UASOnline wiki with a faculty workgroup.  I set up a wiki for one of our accreditation teams to share resources and write collaboratively.  This was really a challenge but everyone is now on the wiki and some are even sharing ideas about how we could use it. I’m not to the point that I’d call this one a tremendous success yet but now we have several faculty members use the wiki who hadn’t used one before. I’ve attached graphics of both wikis.

I’m continuing my podcasts for my graduate classes each week. My biggest challenge has been to find copyright free graphics for the enhanced podcasts. I asked my students to evaluate the use of podcasts and they overwhelming liked having them and wanted the enhanced podcasts with graphics/photos to help them focus their attention.  I have ended up purchasing some graphics and photos because I just don’t have the time to search for copyright free ones. This year, I’m embedding the enhanced podcasts in my UASOnline courses instead of posting them at my personal Website. But I posted two examples for this sharing event (one an orientation to the course and the other a podcast on the digital divide) at http://uashome.alaska.edu/~magladhart/ED635_Fall08/ED635_Podcasts/ED635_Podcasts.html

I’m also finding and using podcasts from other resources instead of doing my own each week. That gives the students a break from my voice and has been a great way for me to keep up with what others are saying about a topic.

I’ll stop there but I loved all the gadgets and goodies shared at iTeach and continue to explore and experiment when I can.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 14th, 2008 at 10:30 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.