Wikis as a Tool in the Classroom.

For this week's assignment I decided to create a wiki on one of my favorite topics in the english/literature field that I am studying: poetry. I tried to push forth the idea of why some people get started in poetry and I posted some resources that may help students begin writing. The first website I posted is full of scholarly articles, famous poets, and other useful tools that can used in research or for personal growth in the subject. The other site I posted is a commonly used site that can be posted on by any aspiring poet. It gives people the chance to share their poetry with others that are in the same position. It also gives everyone the opportunity to read and critique other's poetry. From there I posted some of my favorite poetry through videos and text. I tried to find videos that exemplified the way that you can combine poetry with other areas such as art and music.
I can see how a wiki could be an incredibly useful classroom tool. For one, unlike a blog, everyone in the classroom could contribute to the wiki directly. Sure, people can comment on my blog but they are not adding directly to the page and making it a more useful page for the next person that visits it. Perhaps there are some things on my poetry wiki that I didn't include and others might think that it would be helpful to add some stuff. This interactive site allows somebody to add on and improve the site at the click of a button.
The list of uses for the wikis really inspired me to think about how I could apply these tools to my future classroom. I specifically love the idea of having mock debates, dong literature circles, creating a class newspaper, and multi author stories. These are all assignments that I have done throughout my school career but adding the technology aspect prepares students through English education and keeps them up to date on the current technology, which is one of the most important things in today's fast changing world. Before this assignment I had never worked with wikis before but finding out how much fun I could have with them makes me realize how much fun my future students would have using them. It is much easier for students to learn if they are engaged and having a good time while learning.