Meeting Words- Work Sample #5

       

                                             Work Sample #5
                                                                 

Meeting Words

Summary

The technology presented by the work sample is Meeting Words. Meeting words is a simple text editing program that allows real-time collaboration between people. It involves a simple shared note space, which is on the left hand side taking up the majority of the screen and a chat window on the right. MeetingWords is community supported, and is run by a minority of staff as a free service to the internet community. (Meeting Words, 2010)

MeetingWords is web based, and therefore can be accessed from any device with internet by typing http://meetingwords.com in the address bar, or just simply searching 'Meeting Words' in any search engine (i.e Google, Yahoo).  

MeetingWords is easy to use, its free and can be used without any sign-up. One must firstly create a pad where they can then create a web address of their choice, ideally relating to what will be in the contents of the pad (http://meetingwords.com/LLIDWLINKS).  Next, the creator must invite people to use the pad-up to 32 people can type on the pad at the same time. Each participant must type their name in the right hand tab, where they will be assigned a colour to give a visual representation of what they have contributed to the pad. Each text can be edited (overwritten, replaced, deleted, etc) by other participants. These changes will appear in real time, immediately reflected on all screens for every participant to see. 

http://meetingwords.com/LLIDWMON12

Reflection 

MeetingWords in an example of many concepts that we have learnt in Living and Learning in the Digital World, some of these include;

• Technology enhanced learning (TEL). Its fast, effiecent and enhances learning through the use of technology. 
• Community of practice (CoP).  As it is a process of social leaning when a group of people have common interests on a particular subject and collaborate over an extended period of time. 
• Computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL). CSCL as it is a pedagogical approach where learning takes place via social interaction using a computer or through the internet. 

(Howell. J, Teaching with ICT, 2012).

Advantages in incorporating MeetingWords in the classroom would be that it is great way to do interactive, shared or modelled writing with a group of students (meeting notes, brainstorming, homework, team programming, group projects est). Teachers can easily assist by adding in comments, helping make revisions or using the chat window to suggest ways to improve. Meeting Words is perfect for taking notes collaboratively instead of relying on one person to  catch every piece of information. (Cameron Hocking, Bright Ideas, 2010). Disadvantages include that it is a public space on the internet, so any one could access and easily edit information, for example adding inappropriate contributions or completely erasing all progress.