Introduction to Wallwisher, a web-based collaborative writing tool for both the Judaic blended learning classroom, mentoring and staff development

When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices, and demonstrate how these best practices can be applied in the real (i.e. physical) and virtual (online) classroom for both teaching and teacher training. The combination of face to face instruction in a physical setting and online learning is called blended learning. In this section of the blog we will describe how the internet can serve as a supplemental resource for instruction and the mentoring of pre-service and in-service Jewish educators. In this post we will begin our discussion on how  students in a Judaic Studies blended learning classroom can use Wallwisher  for both individual, group and classroom collaborative writing and for creating new knowledge products such as documents, powerpoints,

Assumption: The teacher or mentor teacher has a interactive white board (i.e. SMART Board, Promethean, etc.), a Tablet PC (also called a Slate or Blade), a computer presenter or computer with internet access attached to an LCD projector in the classroom. It would be ideal if students or mentees had access to their own laptop computers as well.

Note: Although Wallwisher can be applied in the Judaic Studies blended learning classroom, it can be also be used for training pre-service and in-service Jewish educators for professional or staff development. It is our hope that Jewish educators around the globe will form an online community of practice, a CoP, a group of people who share an interest, a craft, and/or a profession, to enhance the delivery of instruction and training of Jewish educators.

Note: Wallwisher can also be used as a face to face classroom learning activity without adding the online component.

What is Wallwisher?

According to makeuseof.com, "Wallwisher is an online notice board maker where a group of people can easily communicate with each other by sticking virtual notes. These notes can have text, images or include online videos such as from Youtube."

Click here and see a  explanation and elaboration of  Wallwisher on YouTube.

Where is Wallwisher located on the internet?

 This is the web address of Wallwisher: http://www.wallwisher.com/

On the next post we will discuss applications of Wallwisher in the classroom.