Actually Using Technology

Thanks to my technology class I've decided to venture out of my comfort zone. I've required students enrolled in my Practicum courses to keep a journal of their clinical experiences. Originally the idea was to give them an opportunity to reflect back on their semester of both didactic and clinical education. However, I realized that students could assist one another with their education by making suggestions and reading about other students' experiences. So, I decided to create a wiki for the class using the college's Angel Learning Management System. It was actually quite easy to do, and I was able to limit it to the members of the course (thanks to Angel).
Yesterday I spoke to the students about confidentiality and how I did not want to see any names of patients, coaches, or fellow students in their posts...however, I do want to read about their impressions/feelings of situations they encounter. I also encouraged them to make suggestions to each other in regards to treatments, rehabilitations, and injury evaluation methods.
I required each student to post a weekly reflection of their clinical experience as well as a comment about how they revisited the upcoming week's topic of discussion prior to class on Thursday. (The practicum courses are designed to reiterate information discussed in a formal setting earlier in the students' academic career.)
It is my hope that the students will gain a greater sense of the profession through their dialog...and perhaps the best part of the wiki is that each student will be able to reflect back on their own experience as well as the comments made by their classmates and myself.
Throughout the semester I will keep you abreast of how my weekly wiki impacts/changes the course. If you have any suggestions...let me know.