Communication

Communication

Communication is different from collaboration in the sense that communication may just be an exchange of information or ideas, wheras collaboration is when the exchange of ideas and information are to be used for an end product, project or to solve a problem. The communication gets folded into the collaboration when the students are working on something together. The wiki gives students a place to work together, for others to see their work as well as to implement a variety of technologies within the wiki. Once the information is on the wiki the students can share their work with few limitations. Using the wiki the students can share their thoughts, work and comment on each other's work (thoughtfully and respectfully I hope). However, I do think that access to technology may be an issue for some of our students.

My blog that I set up for week 6, assignment 3 is :Kumarbiologyblog

One way I might use a blog with my students is to maybe as a place for them to comment on articles that I have them read, or other readings, or as a place for students to meet, virtually that they can discuss assignments or post questions to each other with student responses posted as well as mine. I think that the strength of any online communication tool is that students or staff can go to the source (blog, pirate pad, email etc) when it is convenient for the individual, however, this also poses a weakness, as I have email communcation with my students and sometimes I don't check my email early enough, or often enough (or late at night when students email) in time to get back to a student who may need help. This is a reason why I think a class blog for some classes might be a good thing. I have considered in the past having a blog for my assignments, readings and extra resources but was afraid that it would be too difficult to set up. This wasn't that hard at all and I may still consider putting something together (for maybe next year!).
 * How can a blog be used by your students?
 * What strengths and weaknesses does blogging have as an effective method of online communication?

and so I don't lose it-the link for my piratepad is here: [|mitochondria article]