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

3.  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.

4.  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?

5.  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

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

7.  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.

8.  Technology Aided  Email 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.

9.  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

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

11.  www.wikispaces.com

12. Resources  http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/Teacher_Collabora tion  http://webtrends.about.com/od/wiki/a/what_is_a_ wiki.htm  http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/network/2006/07 /07/what-is-a-wiki.html?page=1  http://www.wikispaces.com/  Morgan, B., Smith, R.D.. (2008). A wiki for classroom writing. The Reading Teacher, 62(1), 80-82.