art ed + web 2.0 + [e]merging media blog

How could a group of adults (grad students, teachers, etc.) use a wiki?

Maybe by developing lessons in a more student-centered manner. Lessons could be discussed and then edited by all the students until getting o a consensus. Also, when presenting new material about painters, for example, students could enter their own knowledge and experiences about the subject.

How could students use a wiki?

Typically when students are asked to create web sites as part of a class project, they have to rely on the chance that someone in a group knows how to make a web site, or that some sort of training is available. The wiki eliminates both obstacles, because it provides a ready to use site with a simple user interface, ability to easily add pages, and simple navigation structure. Also instigate communication, interactivity, and better understanding between them.

How could museums use a wiki?

Maybe the same way as blogs do, by exploring interactivity and knowledge sharing.

Do you think it would/could be useful to use a wiki to understand older or newer forms of art?

I am not sure about understanding, but definitely to get to know better works of art and by sharing knowledge maybe understanding could make life easier.

Grad students could use a wiki to create a collective block of knowledge. I can see something for example, sone by the research class on arts-based research. Or something about a National Conference or exhibition or artist where each classmember contributes their knowledge. This could also work with K-12 teachers in that they could collect information for interdisciplinary lessons together.

Students could use a wiki to show what they are researching in relation to a topic for class. But they could also use wikis to indicate what their level of experience and knowledge of a particular subject is so that the teacher knows what to spend more time on in class.

Museums could use wikis as a way to start discussions comparing contemporary works or to begin dialogue about older works. It could be really useful for the museums to, like VMFA is doing with the podcasts and other information in Rule Britannia!, incorporate voices other than those expert in the subject. As a museum goer, I usually get turned off by the lengthy wall panels. I would rather learn something in a more casual context than a lecture or fact based style. I think that's why our podcasts will work because they are conversational and comfortable. A wiki could do the same sort of thing but be an ongoing and evolving text about the work. The museum would have to pay someone to check it frequently to make sure that there is no blaringly incorrect or offensive material up on the site.

I find the idea of studying art history using wikis to be intriguing. Textbooks tend to be very linear and I don't think that way. A wiki can have tons of links to other information and can incorporate many layers of meaning so it caters to a different learning style.

WIKI USE

Grad students using wikis….

I would have loved to have seen our first research class here at VCU use a Wiki. As a new graduate student who had not written anything scholarly in some time, I found research daunting…a group assignment where folks collectively assembled a body of research knowledge and tips for doing research would have been tremendous…(OK, so would have working on a halfway interesting topic, but I digress….)
I would think that approaching research in this manner might alleviate some of the stress and apprehension that comes with entry to academia.

Teachers using wikis…

For lesson planning, I would think would be of great help. Teachers do not have to feel alone in their own classroom or quest to assemble information about a particular topic, artist or technique. Also, teachers benefit from multiple perspectives as other educators can weigh in an make corrections to erroneous information, provide additional resources, give advice as to best practices, etc….

Student teachers and wikis…

Community lesson plans could cut down on time spent individually researching artists, etc… I see so many of the student teachers having to teach classroom lessons on techniques and artists they are unfamiliar with. For instance, a double major art ed and sculpture student might not have experience with encaustic or weaving. Community wikis among student teachers might help efficiently solve this problem????? This might work best if started in the practicum courses….. Just a thought…

Museums and wikis…

This one is more difficult. I liked what Katie said about learning info in a more informal manner and not from a placard. It seems that museums might use a wiki to collaborate in exhibition planning by sharing knowledge to produce a page on a particular painting or show that really gives a tremendously thorough background and links. A computer might be available at the end of the exhibit for visitor use if someone is struck by a detail or piece. I know I would have appreciated one site that had comprehensive information on the artworks that Shannon and I chose for our podcasts.

One of the problems that I see with using wikis with teachers is that there is such a discrepancy between teaching practices. I mean I actually heard a teacher complain in a session at NEAE that elements and principles were important parts of her curriculum that she was not about to give up. And she just wouldn't hear that no one was asking her to pitch them out, just to shift the focus to something that had more meaning and relevance to the students and their lives. For the curriki for example, I wonder who will contribute and if the voices like ours would be drowned out. I am reminded of what Elizabeth has been confronted with in her painting class wherein local art teachers are really negative towards her ideas about using technology in the classroom. They say that the technology is unavailable and thus it is rediculous to train preservice teachers to use it. They say that the grad students are full of highfaluting ideas that are impractical in the real world of schools. I'm glad I'm not in that class. They wouldn't care for me I don't think!

I think Jan's idea of using wikis with practicum students is excellent!

I see museums having a potential problem with letting go of the control of information for a show...

I can envision Elizabeth's painting class and the fact that she has met some relectance to using technology. I am familiar with the Herico laptop initiative and have visited some websites, both personal and departmental. Many teachers embrace technology and may do with it what they can given the confines in which they work. Still, I am sure some are stuck using websites for simply posting info and assignments, powerpoints for display and the internet as a means to do research or get imagery.
I thought the article from E. Delacruz really summed up some of the frustrations that teachers deal with in regards to technology. (The Unmet Promise of Technology) Couple lack of IT support, time for training, inaccessible software, and limited or no support from administration with all the responsibilities and shows asked of them and I can see where they might slide technology to the back burner. Did they really target graduate students as having "high-falutin'" ideas that are impractical? Hee hee. I wonder if that is how they truly feel or if it is more of a reaction to new ideas that may be, as of yet, untested....or perhaps there is another reason....

Comments on Comments
"One of the problems that I see with using wikis with teachers is that there is such a discrepancy between teaching practices." Of course there are discrepancies...that is what I think would make use of a wiki an exciting thing. Community knowledge that is not really absolute. There is no ONE correct way to teach oil painting. But I can see where folks may need to learn to accpet that.

"For the curriki for example, I wonder who will contribute and if the voices like ours would be drowned out." Do you mean voices of grad students or supporters for technology? I would love to see an interactive in-service day at the county level. Sit all art teahers of elementary students in one lab or two and lead them through using a wiki. Then let tehm in groups work on contructing a wiki about...who knows...abstraction....complete with artists, techniques etc.... Then leave another 20 minutes for everyone to read the other wikis and make changes. I have NEVER sat through an in-service training session or workshop that really did mush with collaboration, save my own.

I'm sure the comments made were in reference to Elizabeth's research and whether it is practical for classroom teachers or just an idea some grad student who has her head in the theory clouds has. People are defensive because our ideas differ from what they learned and they assume we're trying to make enormous change. :)

I think Jan's ideas about wiki use in an in-service day are great! Is there a computer lab big enough to actually do it? Someone could do this as a thesis project if they got IRB approval no?