Journal #10 Mixed Ink gives voice to the Crowd-Nets 2 & 5

Figal, D. (2010). Mixed ink gives voice to the crowd. International Society for Technology & Education, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=March_April_No_6_1&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4516&ContentID=25511&DirectListComboInd=DT

This article was all about a free website that you can collaboratively create a document. This allows you and partner or several to create documents in which the others may edit or add a draft to your idea. If they add a draft from your original idea then the author gets credit on the top of the draft. Although this sounds a lot like other programs that are out there, including google docs this one is pretty interesting because when your done writing then you can rate the piece. The one with the highest rating at the end is the final document and that's how it differs from the rest. I think programs are becoming more popular as time goes on because of the demand of busy life and it just allows people to work together virtually when they can't physically work together.

#1 How would you incorporate this in your class? I think that I would have my students use this program and although the editing is a nice tool I might just allow the them to rate each others writing, so that they have a chance to read other students writing and also get feed back from their peers at the same time. I think reading others work gives you ideas you might not have thought about and is therefore a learning opportunity.

#2 What are other good aspects about using google docs or the newest Mixed ink?

The one thing that keeps popping into my mind is that we are starting to become so "green" and plant friendly and this is just one of those steps in the right direction. Instead of having every student write and the print their own papers, they can write them and then read them straight from the computer! I think going green is good and these new technology advances are even better for our students.