Mr. E.

I have finally seen (even if it’s late) the need for blogs and wikis in the elementary classroom. Back in my student-teaching days, schools prided themselves on actual “publishing” room where students were able to type their reports and stories on computers and construct a book cover of some sort. Now that anyone can publish on the internet, it’s even easier. Blogs can be places for students to post daily thoughts and observations for others to comment. Wikis can take the classroom conversation to a whole new place and make students construct their own meanings to be revised as their knowledge grows.

I have an interview with an organization that brings technology-based inquiry to the classroom. In addition, through my partner, I know several rhet-comp faculty that utilize digital media in their work. Through this (possible) job opportunity and my connections to the academy, I hope to help students realize a new digital world of publications that they will create.

I have been blogging for about a year and have become pretty adept at posting once or twice every week. My posts have primarily been about music with some personal woes mixed in, but now I want to fully bring my professional life in to meet my blogging life.

Wikis are new to me. Sure, I use Wikipedia every day. Of course I realize the limitations of a website that provides its information from any and all comers, but there is something revolutionary about the average Joe having a part in the creation of knowledge. Michael on the Office put it best, though, when he said something to the effect of “anyone from anywhere in the world can say whatever they want about any subject so you know you are getting the best information.”

My next step beyond blogging and wikis is to figure out podcasting. I’ve been playing around with Garage Band on my Mac and really want to begin posting my podcats alongside my blog posts. However, I haven’t quite figured this out. Maybe when my coding catches up with my imagination…