Collaborative Writing:
Consider the role collaboration plays in the wiki. How might building collaboration into your course as an integral part, rather than an add on, change your pedagogy?

Also consider the public nature of writing. How might making all course writing public change what students write?

What other reflections on technology and literacy do you have so far?

1. By building a collaborative wiki into the course as an integral part instead of an add on I would completely revolutionize my teaching style. At present, my courses consist of lecture, class discussion, essay writing, and group work. However, by making the wiki an integral part of the class, I would change my class from teacher centered to student centered. This would allow all students to become a part of the course and its central make-up. They would be able to change and add things to the syllabus and assignments. This would also address their many different learning styles as most are prone to use technology anyway. Using wikis throughout the course would allow for more collaboration between students and their peers and would teach them to work with others in the professional setting. However, it might be hard for some students to accept a collaboration grade. For most, they need to earn an individual grade and do not wish to rely on the work of others to earn said grade. Therefore, some might initially revolt at the idea of collaboration through technology.

2. When considering the public nature of writing, I am not sure that wikis would affect what students write. Our students live in a world obsessed with technology and sharing one's every moment via Facebook. Therefore, I believe a classroom wiki would simply add to their need to share everything they are thinking. I will say, however, that there would be some students who felt nervous about posting assignments in a place where everyone could see them. These same students would be afraid of judgment and persecution from their peers about their writing abilities. This might cause some students to hold back or alter their writing to fit certain perceptions.

3. Reflections-So far, my reflection on technology is to be amazed at the virtual possibilities that more technology could bring to a composition or literature class. There are endless possibilities to utilizing the tools in technology that we have covered so far in this class. By bringing these tools into our classrooms, we could completely revamp our pedagogy and begin enticing students to learn at a different pace and in many different ways. I have also learned a lot more about literacy and its many diverse forms. As teachers, I think it is important that we understand the many different types of literacy and the literacy discourses of our students. By understanding, we can become much more effective in the classroom.