Thinking Outside the Inbox Collaboration Using Wikispaces Elfy Horne Jenelle Wingfield-Smith

 Collaboration  1 : to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor  Collaboration is working with another or receiving assistance from someone to complete coursework.  Collaborating can be with a classmate, friend, parent co-worker, in person or by electronic media.

 Can be simple  Two teachers informally discussing a student’s progress and potential projects  “Hey that was a great project you did, can I borrow the handout?”  Can be complex  Long-term, regularly scheduled meetings  Comprehensive inter-disciplinary assignments and/or projects  Complete overhaul to curricula Collaboration: What is It?

 Allows teachers to:  Strengthen professional practices and deepen understanding of teaching  Review and revitalize one’s own professional goals  Maintain an ongoing support system and network  Develop communication skills  Experience supportive professional relationships and positive reflective practice

 Teacher Collaboration is only successful if it is based on the principles of:  Mutual respect,  Noncompetitive behavior, and  Supportive professional relationships

 Conventional  Peer Monitoring/Coaching: lifeline for a teacher new to the education field or to a new grade level or content area.  Collaborative Workshops: presenter acts as a facilitator to encourage groups to share their expertise regarding the topic(s) at hand.

 Technology Aided  contact: Educators can connect with peers from around the world.  Web Mentors: When a mentoring or coaching program in place, that instructor can turn to the internet to find an individual who is willing and able to give assistance.  Blogs and Wikispaces: allows educators to join preplanned discussions or lead chat groups, and collaborate with peers outside the office.

 What is a wikispace?  The simplest collaborative content management system  A website where users can add, remove, and edit every page using a web browser

 Good for writing down quick ideas or longer ones.  Instantly collaborative without ing documents, keeping the group in sync. ing  Accessible from anywhere with a web connection.  Easy archive, every page revision is saved.



Resources  tion  wiki.htm  /07/what-is-a-wiki.html?page=1   Morgan, B., Smith, R.D.. (2008). A wiki for classroom writing. The Reading Teacher, 62(1),