Advice to Baruch College

If hired by Baruch to improve the college using new media, I would suggest a wiki addition to each class, in addition to Blackboard. I think a class Wiki would be useful. Professors could use it as a tool to teach as well as a tool to disseminate information. A wiki can be a teaching tool by having students research and incorporate class content to the site. Students can cross check each other while the Professor can review and point out any corrections. Deadlines can be kept for certain assignments while others can be left to students to complete at will, as long as it is before the end of the semester. This may encourage learning if students can complete assignments at their own pace due to varying schedules. Professors could also use this wiki to post up certain information. For example, a Professor could start an assignment by first posting some information on the topic. The class could then sign on to read this information and complete the remainder of the assignment on their own. I don't think a class wiki should replace Blackboard though. For example, the "My Grades" tool in Blackboard is important and cannot be replaced by posting grades on a wiki.