Tuesday, February 14, 2012

I like-a Wiki, do you like-a Wiki?

I really like the idea of making a class wiki for my classes. I am not quite sure how exactly to do it, but I think it could go really well if I can get it together before next fall. I'm thinking though, that I'll probably just use ELC, and wait til I'm a real professor to use the 'crazy' new-fangled technology kids these days use. But I think I'll use it well, not just let it sit there all semester like some of my technology-afraid professors (though they are lovely people, and great professors!). I'm not sure about the discussion section for anything grade related. I am currently TAing for a professor that requires weekly posting and commenting on the posts of others. I dislike it being a requirement, or at least not so important a requirement. Maybe posting two to three times during the semester, but I don't really want to have to grade that, so I can't imagine that I really would do it. 

Also, I'm seriously considering using clickers. I think they could be really useful in keeping attendance, of course, but also in giving the students a bit of a heads-up on the things I think are important for them to learn. I will be testing them, but I am more concerned with them truly learning to understand that all people are different, and that is not a bad thing. That it is quite wonderful, in fact! My main concern is the cost. I know they are not cheap, so I would need to use them quite regularly so my students would not feel like they wasted their money. I suppose I'll have to get the software to work on my computer first. Once that is taken care of, I think the decision will be easier.

2 comments:

  1. Have you had any luck running the software from a USB drive? I hope that helps!

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  2. Hey Spitfyre, I like the idea of writing a grant for (or somehow funding) the purchase of a set of clickers for whatever class I decide to use them in (say, a class size restricted to about 30). This would avoid the cost burden on the students, and give me a chance to develop some clicker techniques on a small-sized class before I start requiring clicker purchase by students in large classes. What do you think?

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