Comments+from+professional+friends

Hello! This is a second attempt at a wiki site for an introductory education class EDU 215 that includes a lot of time spent visiting schools.

I always struggle with getting students to communicate about what they see -- especially because I want them to go beyond initial observations (aka knee-jerk reactions). I also don't want them getting themselves (and me) in trouble by inadvertantly slandering a teacher or classrom (or students!). So the first time we used a wiki in this class, it was password protected.

Here are some examples of student writings from last time. If you're interested, I can let you on to the site (but if you reveal what some of the students said ..... you see the problem).

==So What I Hope To Do: ...is do more to have the students create pages about the schools, as they visit them. For instance, after giving them appropriate warnings about privacy and other issues, I am thinking I will send them with cameras. In other words, I want them to use the wiki to construct their knowledge (and thus spur their reflections) about their classroom observations.==

(as well as any comments about how a classroom teacher might feel about being the subject of a wiki like this....)
This page is great, I think that the students adding information would be a great tool. Well done!!

Laura - I think this site is very usable by your students. Great links to other sites.

What a great idea to have student teachers comment about their expeirences here. Privacy is super important like not naming schools, students and teachers. I'm sure you could find articles about teachers who got fired for having a blog about their displeasures with their schools. I think one happened in the chicago area but can't think of what school.Are you from Chicago too? Where abouts? -Joanna M

From Dianna- Thanks for the ideas for Balderdash! Keep them coming! :)