Learning, especially in the design areas of the curriculum, is all about trying new things, making mistakes, reflecting on and improving our outcomes. What better way to learn about digital technologies available for use in the 21st Century classroom than to navigate the web and use them. That is exactly what the next few weeks are all about in my Digital Pedagogy course, searching web tools and platforms, having a look and giving them a go.

Everyone that knows me will tell you that I love to talk legal jargon and will also tell you if there are any legal implications to think about when looking at options or ideas. Just recently in fact I posted on the Food Technology's, Yarning Up Space about GST and the impacts on the hospitality classroom. In case, like me, the idea of reading up on tax legislation or impacts takes your fancy, I have included screen shots of my post.

So firstly, some advice for evaluating each digital platform or tool you may want to use in the classroom. As teachers we are all personally responsible for providing a safe environment (Australian Teaching Standard 4.4) for our students and this includes in any digital environment too. It is therefore, very important to consider privacy on student information and work when giving students access to online tools. Please be aware of the rules of you employing body (such as Education Queensland) and make sure that the strictest privacy settings are followed when it comes to students names and other vital information.

WIKIS

Using wikis, in the learning environment, are great for content that will either remain the same or is adaptable. Whether it be in the classroom or amongst a cohort of same grade, subject teachers preparing assessment or other tasks to be taught across multiple classes. Glossaries would be great kept in wikis and could be used by the students in class or even utilised as exit tickets or other activities by the teacher. I have included my new wiki set up on PBWorks as an example. I plan on creating a glossary of terms for my four subjects for the semester using the wiki. 

In deciding what wiki space to use, Bill Ferriter had recommended PBWorks (previously PBWiki) as a safe and popular platform for use by educators. After following his link, I found the space to be user friendly and PBWorks has a number of other tools, such as EduHub, that I would be interested to try in the future. There are also lots of great examples of educational wikis on their site.

Green and Maxwell's article also has a wide variety of uses for Wiki's in the learning environment. It is well worth a read. One "Key Take-Away" from their article is the benefit using Wiki's have for collaboration with their fellow students, which is a vital skill they will need in their future workplaces.

WEBSITES

Throughout my education degree, I have completed a number of courses with each requiring the use of different forms of Web 2.0 tools and other digital platforms and media. To collate all this information into one location I have used a website. You can visit my website here: https://mefortheworldtosee.org/.  In the same way, websites could be created by the classroom teacher or even better, by students as a launchpad to online digital technology they have used in their classrooms. 

Thinking of student privacy, a number of website platforms have options that do not have to be published to the public. Google Sites and Go Daddy are two options that I had looked at that have that option. In using Go Daddy, the templates and set up system make creating a professional looking website very easy. With a past course I also set up a Weebly for education site with blog pages attached for my Textile Technology and Food Technology courses.

http://mrsmorrisonhomeeconomist.weebly.com/