Introduction to Wikispaces, a web-based collaborative writing tool or Wiki

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 Wikispaces  for both individual, group and classroom collaborative writing and for creating new knowledge products such as documents and other files that you want to modify that are on your computer.

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 Wikispaces 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: Wikispaces can also be used in a face to face classroom without adding the online component.

What Is Wikispaces?

Wikispaces is a wiki. According to Wikipedia a wiki is a website that allows the easy creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser.  

Click here and see this YouTube explaining the wiki. 

Where is Wikispaces located on the web? 

It is here.

How can Wikispaces be utilized to enhance instruction in  a Judaic Studies blended learning classroom ?

Wikispaces can be used for collaborative writing in a Judaic Studies blended learning classroom or for mentoring and training pre-service and in-service Jewish educators.

On the next post we will share a video tutorial I made on how to utilize Wikispaces in a Judaic Studies blended learning classroom or for staff development.