Allissa Barthuly

270- Elizabeth Beese

Wiki facilitated how my assigned tool, blogging, was reported and studied in a couple of
different ways. It allowed us to compile all of our information and knowledge into one specific
location, allowing for organization through a questions portion and also, a chart to contrast the
views of students and teachers on the subject of blogging. Wiki also allowed for each student in
my group along with all other groups studying blogging to type in their opinions, facts, and ideas
into the document. We could then see what the other groups wrote and either build off of the
information they included, delete it, or re-state it in a clearer manner. This can allow for creativity
as new and innovative ideas are generated. Wiki also allowed us to focus specifically on certain
topics within blogging. For example the template given to us, forced us to find information on the
purpose, strengths, weaknesses, and a persons perspective of blogging. Wiki inhibited how we
reported our information on blogging because only one person from all blogging groups could
edit the document at a time, otherwise if both simultaneously were working on it, one persons
data might be deleted. This would be frustrating and waste precious time.
Wiki could facilitate learning as students are able to use their digital literacy and 21st
century skills. If they are using Wiki as a place to share research, students must be able to find,
evaluate, use, and share their information with other group members apart of the Wiki group. It
gives students a place where they can practice their collaboration skills with other members in
virtual spaces. They can develop a better understanding of how to communicate their ideas in
different multimedia formats such as inserting graphics, images, text, and other helpful materials.
It will also enhance learning, as students can make changes and add information to another
students work. Ideas are then bounced off of each other and as a result, more reliable and credible
information is entered. Wiki could also allow for teacher/student interaction as teachers could post
homework questions and students could answer. Teachers could then grade directly on the
document, make comments, and give helpful advice.
Under Standard 3 titled Model digital age work and learning of the Teacher ISTE
standards, teachers must be able to communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to
students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats. This can be done
through blogging as teachers can write out the activities done in class to keep parents and absent
students informed, post reminders and schedules, communicate information to the whole class
outside of the classroom, and give feedback on work. Similarly, students must learn to use digital
media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at distance, to
support individual learning and contribute to the learning of other, according to standard 2 of the
ISTE student standards. Students can reach this standard through blogging. They can talk virtually
with other students, ask their teacher questions, share information, and engage with multiple
audiences. Students can also use their critical thinking skills as they must evaluate, compare, and
contrast their peers work to that of reliable and credible sources.
Yes, our suggested activities and examples align with the ISTE standards. For example, in
many categories of our chart we state that teachers must be able to communicate, create innovative
ideas, and manage information that is being introduced to the students. All of these lead to teachers
exhibiting knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a
global and digital society which is a goal and standard of ISTE. Our examples for blogging also
align with the ISTE standards as for example, we state that students must conduct research, create
and discuss posts and journal entries, and collaborate during group projects. This matches up with
standard 1 Creativity and innovation, standard 2 communication and collaboration, and
standard 3 research and information fluency, along with a few other ISTE student standards.