Weekly Report and Reflection Post #8

   I will begin by saying I hope everyone’s digital experience to this point has been as educational as mine has!  I’m not quite there yet... but getting close to digital information overload.  However just as Salha pointed out in her blog, I am also so excited that this term is almost over and summer is on the way. J

   Once again our lesson was concentrating on an influential, teaching collaboration tool. So this week’s reflection blog will focus around the word “Wiki”.  I have never actually thought about what the word “Wiki” means, nevertheless during this week’s learning activities I discovered this term or expression originated from the Hawaiian language and refers to “fast” or “quick” (TeachersFirst. 2008-2013).  A wiki is a website that will allow any guest to become a contributor or editor of the work.  One very well known wiki is “Wikipedia”.  Currently, this tool is so well liked in the world that it managed to earn a spot on the top 100 websites list.  The actual concept behind this idea is that a person, who has a computer as well as access to the Internet, can create a document regarding any subject matter and edit it whenever they wish.  A wiki just doesn’t have one author it has many authors!  This is an open platform system that basically has limitless opportunities.  Many skills can be learned and promoted by using a tool like wiki.  For instance group collaborations, learning with equal contribution by all, critical thinking, and even the benefit of gaining knowledge socially (TeachersFirst. 2008-2013).  

     Now could I see myself using a wiki?  First of all, I really enjoyed the video in our learning guide called Wikis in Plain English (Lefever, L. 2005).  It was an insightful short explanation about how wikis in fact work and are utilized. I could relate to this video because I thoroughly enjoyed camping with my family as a child, and secondly because I never realized that this 2.0 web technology and collaboration tool could be used in this manner.  I have always just thought a wiki was for informing the general public of knowledge known about any subject matter.  I might see myself using wiki for small assignments or maybe using it with fellow students to collaborate a web page in regards to an assigned project topic.  However, I think I would still prefer using Google Docs because I am comfortable with this system, I have had prior experience with it, and it seems a little more private.  On the other hand, sometimes we just stick with what we know... and sometimes we miss great opportunities by doing so! 

Reilly, A. (2013)

     Google Docs and Wikis certainly have some similar features.  Google Docs and Wikipedia both have online systems that allow for collaboration and sharing.  Additionally, wikis are generally made public and usually can be edited by everyone, however it could depend on how the original author authorizes the setting.  This is slightly contrasting to Google Docs, as they must be shared in order to correct or add any changes to the article, document, or assignment.  Both can revert back to previously saved history and both can embed pictures, videos, or links.  Now as for Evernote I think this tool is more for curating, note taking, storing great articles, building on knowledge, and sharing with others.  When comparing a “Blog” to these tools, most of the time a blog post only consists of one author who is expressing his or her opinions and usually allows comments to be posted.  No one is able to edit or change a person’s posted blog; only the owner of the blog can do this.  A Blog is a form of expression that is much more controlled and conservative.  Since this  lesson has focused on “Wikis” I am sharing a link to an interesting read about the Ten things you may not know about Wikipedia.  It sure cleared up some questionable knowledge I had towards this 2.0 web based tool! 

   Last but not least, here is an exciting article from The Brock News fed about the appearance of Bryan Giordano and the Biological Science Department of Brock being broadcasted on CBC Marketplace.  The show is titled Drugstore Remedies: Licence to Deceive!  They have tested a "so called" natural mosquito repellent that is taken orally and was showcased on Dragons Den.  I think you may be shocked when witnessing the results.  It aired on March 13^th at 8:00pm around the 10 minute mark in the program, however you may even want to watch the whole show because it is rather interesting.  Best of all you will get to see our famous university on TV.  Way to go Brock University and the Biological Lab Department!!

Take care everyone,

Alex

Lefever, L. (2005). Wikis in Plain English. Retrieved from https://www.commoncraft.com/video/wikis

Market Place (2015). Drugstore Remedies: Licence to Deceive. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/

Reilly, A. (2013, November 6). Creating a Wiki, or Sticking with a Blog? Wiki [Online Image] Retrieved from http://allisonmidorireilly.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/creating-a-wiki.jpg

Aziz, S. (2015) Weekly Report & Reflection Post #8. Retrieved from http://themamadiariesbysalha.blogspot.ca

TeachersFirst. (2008-2013). Wiki Walkthrough Step-by-Step. Retrieved from http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/wikistep2.cfm

The Brock News (2015). Retrieved from  http://www.brocku.ca/brock-news/?p=32832

Wikipedia (2015). Retrieved from http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page