Cyberspace

=ANGEL and other Web-based Classrooms=

One of the standard web-based classroom management systems that Michigan State uses is ANGEL. This system allows for mass communication as well as communication to the individual students or members. Among other things, this system offers areas for content, where course readings, assignment prompts, assignment drop-boxes, and quizzes/exams can be placed. I find ANGEL to be very instructor centered, often allowing the students only the ability to publish their own thoughts and ideas through a widgets called blog or wiki (although I cannot tell the difference between the two). There is no search function for articles or documents. ANGEL is commonly used throughout the College of Education to manage the course.

As I have been exposed to other technologies that are available, I begin to wonder about the use of ANGEL for course management. For example, I consider what is possible through the use of this wiki just to annotate a syllabus. As I have been annotating this syllabus, I have been able to open pages that contain all the readings in one place, links to the assignments, and explanations or clarifications. There are discussion tabs on each page, allowing greater access for the user and me to communicate. There is also the potential for group members to edit and help to make this a thriving community instead of an imperial space. Consider how this could be implemented in a classroom setting for interns. The interns would have access to the readings and the materials and could upload materials that are beneficial to them. The discussion space would allow for students to interact, question, and seek resolutions together. Students would be in a position to edit and comment instead of relying on the instructor to make changes.

I think of social networking sites (such as facebook.com and myspace.com) that allow for interactions and postings. I am not if there are similar situations that could host classrooms or not but find the prospect intriguing. I think that a blog or a wikispace is an appropriate attempt to challenge the participation structures and allow more space for students to engage in learning, to allow for more voices in the classroom discourse community.