Utilizing+Emerging+Technology+to+Improve+Learning

=Welcome to the ED530 section of the site = = =

= Delicious Account = = =  Educational Theorist: Lev Vygotsky

Vygotsky was a Russian theorist who founded the Zone of Proximal Development. His research is geared toward the study of language and the importance it has in a child's development.

="Wide Open Spaces" and Wikipedia Thoughts = = = The only information that I had prior to reading the article was on the website Wikipedia. I knew that anyone could post information on the website and anyone could edit information as well. After reading the article, I learned a lot about wiki’s that I did not know before. There are wiki’s that require a login and it made for only authorized users, which is great for educational resources. There are also different types of security: soft and hard. To be honest, I think that a majority of wiki’s should have hard security. I understand that an open environment encourages participation, but I would be nervous that someone had a negative attitude toward the subject and was changing information.

My district does not have a policy pertaining to Wikipedia, but I think it should. After reading the article, I am not opposed to wiki’s in a classroom environment, but I am opposed to Wikipedia. If a student is searching for information, why not just search the encyclopedia online or the almanac? Or how about a regular accredited website? Now, I do agree with specified wiki’s to be used in the classroom. A wiki that requires a login is acceptable for students. I do think that the wiki will still promote an active participation, but at least you know that only registered users are entering and sharing information on the wiki page. =Best Practices and Lesson Activities = = =