Thing 17

Wikis versus Blogs:
Wikis like blogs are collaborative websites and are accessible from any computer with Internet access. When setting up a wiki, you must choose an option: public, protected, or private. If you choose public, everyone can view and edit. The protected option allows everyone to see but only members can edit. The private option allows only wiki members to view and edit.
To protect information on a wiki, users must first log in. At that point, they are then able to add to and edit the wiki. A wiki provides users with both author and editor privileges. Unlike a blog, a wiki can have several pages, so the students can have several pages to work on, either individually, or in groups. The history feature allows you to easily keep up on what was changed and by whom. Wikis are able to incorporate sounds, movies, and pictures.
Wikis are a great tool to use in the classroom. Once you have signed up for a wiki, they do take a lot of time to set up. Once you have it established though, it is pretty easy to keep up and add different features. I love my wiki and use it everyday. It is a great communication tool!
A blog is an online journal which alerts those who have subscribed to the blogs content. Visitors can read postings and submit comments. Bloggers are able to edit or delete posts.
The wiki discussion tab would be great for answering questions about projects that the students are working on as well as letting the teacher know of any problems they are having. Class time is limited and this would solve the problems while still answering the students comments and questions.. Students could check the wiki to communicate with the teacher. I am thinking of using this when my sixth grade students work on the Science Olympiad, The wiki would also be nice to brainstorms ideas and create study guides. Each student could contribute to the study guide. Notes could also be put on the wiki. I have used literature circles in my classroom which might also work well on the wiki.
I think blogs would be good for classroom book discussions. I could ask questions from the story as well as asking how the story relates to their own life. I would ask how different sections of the story are related/connected to each other. Many students read the story but miss the meaning the author intended to convey. By asking students what the author intended to convey in certain paragraphs, the students who understood could help other students.
Wikis must be monitored often so inappropriate content is not allowed. This could be very time consuming. Members must be added to the wiki so they are allowed to add/modify content. Rules must be discussed before allowing students to use the wiki. It may be difficult to get all students to participate but once they do,all students have a voice in the classroom. Students could be taken to the schools computer lab so the teacher can monitor their progress.