Writing Collaboratively in a Wiki and Improving the Process

The process of writing collaboratively, although it allows for sharing of ideas, will always meet obstacles because it is really hard to get all the people working at the same time on a document. People will always come at different times. The issue of being on the internet at the same time is difficult as each individual moves at their own pace. This prevents effective contribution and exchanging of ideas.
May be once a task is set, a particular time could be set where all learners are expected to be online. Something within hours and not a whole day should be decided upon, to ensure that they are all there at that time. Anybody that fails to be there at the given time has already missed the chance to share and contribute to that task. Apart from that, in order to ensure that no body dodges deliberately, it should also be allocated marks. Then the participants would know that there is something to lose if they don’t appear at that time.
MANAGING THE WARMWARE
Managing the warmware is a key issue to learning.  Know when the learners are to use which tools, where to access the tools, ensuring that learners do not make off with any of the tools, keeping them at the right place where their safety is assured and keeping them in good condition. The teacher  also has to be in control to see that the learners are not distracted in the course of using the tech tools. In order to do this, there are a number of issues that the teacher would need to work upon and put in place. It is not a matter of doing something. There are ground rules that must be set and put in place for that to happen. The learners should also participate in setting these rules. Other things to consider would include;
·         Have clear established routines
·         Get everyone's attention
·         State the learning objectives clearly and leave something to be discovered
·         Be prepared
·         Positive classroom environment
·         Give credit where it is due
·         Use positive criticism as well as negative criticism
·         Know the learners
·         Keep it real.
So far in my classes, to some extent I have practiced a bit of each one of the stated points above. I only need to introduce the use of technology tools to them. But this is still a big milestone I am yet to defeat. There are several things to take into consideration here. Amongst the most important ones are;
·         The availability of the Net
·         The learners' access to the technology tools
·         The nature of the curriculum. etc.

 

Designing Learning Spaces

There is no need to stick to the four walls in the learning process. There are so many spaces that one could make use of and that are effective depending on the technology tools they want the learners to use. The teacher does not have to be the centre of knowledge. He can just be a guide and let the learners direct their own learning.

My idea of learning space is the ability to study anywhere. It should not be confined to the four walls. In the various groups and numbers, learners can still collaborate, do research, share knowledge out in the open; in the fields, at home, in the confines of their bedrooms, at the sidewalks, as they are traveling, name it. Although some technology tools dictate where they can be used e.g Desktops and projectors.

Therefore, when designing learning, a teacher can think of using any available place outside and inside Classrooms without regret. Let the learners enjoy their learning in different environments at different times.