All The World's Indeed A Wiki

In my new position as Classrooms for the Future Tech Coach, I have spent a lot of time doing research for Web 2.0 resources. Obviously, wikis make up a large chunk of web 2.0. I have seen the word 'wiki' used as a prefix, suffix, and sometimes stuffed between a pre-existing word.

Mathematics can lay claim to a good number of content-specific wikis. There is Geowiki, Calcuwiki, and Trigiwiki.

In Language Arts, I have come across Lord of the Wikis, One Flew Over the Wiki's Nest, and one still waiting for an entry, Ulysses.

Social Studies wikis are popping up all over, fertile grounds for historians of every age. Wikigate, Pickett's Wiki, The Revolutionary Wiki, and the questionable Monica Lewiki.

Health teachers, at least those at my high school, have been resistant to utilizing wikis in their classes, but thanks to some already out there, I am excited to introduce them to Ickywikigerms, sexually-transmitted wikis, and the awkward to discuss, wikidreams.

A Puppy Mill?

Protesters gather outside of a pet store in my neighborhood on weekends, waving signs, decrying the unjust and unethical acquisition and treatment of the animals within the store.

They chant: "Say no to puppy mills!"

I went in to the store tonight to visit the puppies.

They appear sedate, lethargic, and bored.

They live in sterile square boxes.

There is nothing connecting them to the outside world except a plexiglass window.

Where was I?

A pet store?

A classroom?

Soon enough, protestors may plant themselves in front of our schools.

all squares are rectangles

Kristin Hokanson's presentation at PETE&C was informative and inspiring. The world of education is lucky to have someone of her energy, knowledge, and tech prowess.

Near the end of her session, an attendee asked if wikis had the ability for maintaining a blog.

Kristin's response: 'all wikis can blog'.

I turned, immediately bemused, to Jim Gates, and joked, 'but not all blogs can wiki'.

Dope-ler Radar

Having just returned from PETE&C (Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo & Conference), I find myself watching snowflakes fall and marvel over the uncertainty of weather reporting.

Just 24 hours ago, well-dressed weather-tainers reported with smiling certainty that 6+ inches would fall here in southeastern, PA. Now, 1 inch max.

Just 24 hours ago, a conference center full of tech educators and administrators shared a vision about the future of education. Over and over, I heard that today's students need to be educated for jobs that do not even exist. These jobs could be at least a decade away.

So I'm wondering: why is the 10 year forecast for education more accurate than a day away weather prediction?

And better yet, why do I believe the outlook for education and disgregard the weather