Queensborough CC, Molloy College, School of Professional Studies
Iannotti wiki 05
1. MAKING WIKIS WORK FOR YOUR PROGRAM: BRIDGING ADMINISTRATION AND INSTRUCTIONVICTORIA BADALAMENTI, DIRECTORLIZ IANNOTTI, ASSOCIATE DIRECTORHEATHER BARIKMO, INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY COORDINATORTHE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTER AT LAGUARDIA COMMUNITY COLLEGECUNY IT ConferenceDecember 4, 2009
2. The English Language Center The English Language Center (TELC) is the non-credit ESL program housed in the Division of Adult & Continuing Education at LaGuardia Community College. Our Programs Intensive (academic) and non-intensive English Focus on all four language skills Specialized workshops (i.e., TOEFL, Business English)
3. The English Language Center Our Administration Eight full-time administrators Four also instructors Our Faculty 80-90 part-time adjunct faculty per semester Most adjuncts count TELC as just one of their teaching locations Our Students 1400-1600 international and immigrant students per semester Many transition to credit programs throughout CUNY
4. Administrative and Instructional Concerns How can we streamline administrative tasks? How can we successfully keep administrators abreast of changes in technology and their effects on classroom instruction? How can administrators best support a large and busy adjunct pool? How can we best influence the use of technology in our classes?
6. Wikis Defined What is a wiki? A wiki is a website that allows users to add and update content using their local web browsers. Wikis are created by a collaborative effort of the site visitors. Examples: Wikipedia, Wiktionary Platforms: PBWorks, Wetpaint, MediaWiki, Wikispaces How we learned about wikis LaGuardia Center for Teaching and Learning Web 2.0 Seminar
7. The English Language Center Anticipated Benefits Foster collaboration Build over time, new leaders emerge Allow participants to construct needs, directions, knowledge Build content progressively and incrementally; process-oriented Save time
8. The English Language Center Three types of wikis Administrative (Task-based) TELC Admin Wiki Administration to Faculty (Practice-based) Media Center Wiki Instructional (Knowledge-based) Class Wikis
10. TELC Administrative Wiki Purpose Create an online collaborative environment Streamline document drafting and management Provide asynchronous meeting space to reduce need for real-time meetings Encourage all staff to take role as project managers Save time
11. TELC Administrative Wiki Implementation Started with one small project Invited staff, everyone signed in Color coded comments (key on each page) A sample page…
12. TELC Administrative Wiki Successes Reduced need for real-time meeting Reduced need to stay abreast of long email chains All administrators could post to site (bypass of webmaster) Starting small helped with comfort level
13. TELC Administrative Wiki Limitations Confusion about accessing the wiki Reluctance to use it as a drafting space Lingering preference for email chains Blocking of co-editors Editing challenges Ability to overwrite one another Email comes to you, you must go to wiki.
15. TELC Media Center Wiki Purpose The TELC Media Center Improve communication with enormous adjunct faculty Support faculty with guidance and training Provide specialized faculty development opportunities Create a repository of resources Share best teaching practices
16. TELC Media Center Wiki Implementation Created Media Center wiki Posted resources and invited faculty via e-mail Used it to facilitate workshops Publicized through e-mails, memos A sample page…
17. TELC Media Center Wiki Successes Reduced need for real-time training Reduced need to respond directly to individual faculty requests Ease of maintenance vs. traditional website (bypass of webmaster) Faculty can post their own materials Faculty can respond to postings and engage with site
18. TELC Media Center Wiki Limitations Faculty confusion about accessing the wiki Faculty reluctance to use it as a collaborative space Increased demand for materials Faculty report time limitations
20. Class Wikis Purpose Develop language skills, both productive and receptive Create collaborative community Employ connectivist approach to learning Make it fun and interesting for students (break up the routine)
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22. Faculty now use Media Center wiki for collaboration, sharing resources, natural to use with classesNatural progression: wiki participant wiki facilitator
27. Class Wikis Anticipated Limitations Tech learning curve (instructors and students) Some students “turned off” by too much technology in their ESL class Editing and locking page concerns Evaluation of language development
35. Your Turn With two colleagues, discuss a project in your office or classroom for which you might use a wiki. Consider these questions: What is the goal of the project? How many participants would be working on it? How would you encourage them to use the wiki? What guidelines would you set? How much time would it take?
36. Contact Us Liz Iannotti eiannotti@lagcc.cuny.edu Heather Barikmo hbarikmo@lagcc.cuny.edu
