Reflection on this weeks Wiki activity

This weeks task was to participate in a wiki concerning the use of mobile phones in the classroom. Although I sort of knew about wiki's this was my first time in actually participating in the editing side of one.  While using it I thought it was an interesting idea but now reflecting on it, I realised how perfect an example it was of all we have been learning, including the four dimensions of productive pedagogies, Bloom's taxonomy, TPACK and of course learning theories.  I also thought how perfectly technology can be integrated to enhance the learning outcome.   

The focus of the Wiki was to use  De Bono's 6 hats activity in order to think about all the different aspects of the use of mobile phones in classrooms.  I think the activiy really showcased the four  dimensions of productive pedagogy. 

• Intellectual quality enabled,  we the students to use higher order thinking and have a deep understanding of the topic. 
•  Connectedness as it linked a real world problem to us as future teachers. 
•  Recognition of differences by having all students participate (inclusivity and active citizenship) and finally
• supportive classroom environment was included using the scaffolding techniques to help students better understand and directed learning outcomes.

I believe that also through this wiki two of the learning theories were supported, that of constructivism and connectivism.  Constructivism learning theory is all about students being active in their learning and creating understanding for themselves. The characteristics in this activity that I believe showed the constructivism learning theory included:-

•  The collaborative nature of the activity to actively involve students
• the learning was interactive to help students build on what they already know
• students constructing their own understanding and knowledge based on their experience through the activity; and
• the teacher scaffolding the activity with questions to ensure students were reflective in nature

Even this blog reflection is part of constuctivism learning theory, as the teacher is assessing me as a student to ensure I understand.   

The second theory that was covered was that of connectivism.  Connectivism is about networking and colloborating.  We as students were encouraged to look further a field and find resources relating to all we are learning about and for this activity in particular what other people have said about it. In search result it is evident that there is much debate about this topic but an intersting page I came across called Cellphones in the Classroom certainly helped me to start thinking more positively about mobiles in classrooms.   This is one of the characteristics of connectivism, where learning happens in many different ways, so not only through this course but through our interactions with the world around us be it conversations, web searchs or perhaps reading other peoples blogs. 

One of the problems I came across for this activiy though was I came a little later and numerous people had already commented. In one way this was good as reading other peoples ideas helped give either different perspectives or confirm my own thought. On the other hand however, I felt that maybe this could influence  people when it came to putting their own ideas up,  because perhaps everything they wanted to say was already there or they were reluctant to share their own ideas . I felt  it was a good way to collaborate with others about an interesting topic. iI think it could possibly encourage those who are normally hesitant in participating in class a way to participate. ANd for those reflective learners it gives them time to reflect and participate. 

I think in this case both the wiki and the activity used (De Bono's 6 hats) were great tools that could be used in any class.  Wiki's are a great way to have all students contribute, it also allows a permanent text based record of  the way students think as it is visible and could be used in a the future for other activities.  While De Bono's activity is a great way to incorporate the different dimensions of productive pedagogy.