Analysis+and+Reflection,+Sadaf


 * __Analysis and Reflections on Use of Wikispaces__**


 * __Reflection__**

When this project was assigned I must admit I was quite apprehensive and intimidated by the assignment. I have never used this type of collaborative online “Wikispace” website and was unsure that I would adjust easily to the uses of it. However once I decided to go online and register, I allowed myself to explore about freely and was pleasantly surprised. The wikispace website as a whole was extremely user friendly and did not require extensive measures for one to get use to the tools offered. I found the process of making your own space, editing others spaces and adding additional content allowed users to learn how to communicate in an organized online community very effectively. I specifically enjoyed the freedom of this assignment. Unlike many assignments in University, the guidelines were very flexible and provided students with a host of options of how to navigate through this website and allowed students to have independence on what do contribute (provided it was course related). Wikispaces also permit those students that would not necessarily speak up during class discussions, to have a voice, state their opinions and share course related knowledge. Students were allowed to do this without feeling apprehensive of how their opinions will be evaluated in front of the entire class. Wikispaces also encourages students to build a knowledge community and express their thoughts about current course related topics from which other students can benefit greatly. However, I did find a few unappealing aspects about this online collaborative project that I did notice along the way. Among the few negative aspects, was the fact that while contributing to wikispaces it became quite difficult to write about a topic that had not already been thoroughly covered. In addition, I found working on the wikispaces often became very time consuming and it was easy to lose track of how much time I spent working on only on one of my pages. In addition, the assignment was intimidated for many and should have been more thoroughly and clearly discussed. Perhaps in the future, a clear outline of the assignment can be provided early on to give students an early start. Overall, I was very happy about the opportunity to work in an online community and contribute valuable and well referenced information as well as being able to learn about various course related topics through making use of others contributions.


 * Contributions:**

The following is a brief summary of my contributions on wikispaces through out the course of the assignment. The contributions are listed in chronological order dating from the oldest to the newest postings. Also, the following list does not include all of my contributions, since limited space is a factor. In addition, the italicized and bolded titles are pages that were created solely by me.

__Feb 17th, 2006__

“**Test One feedback**” – added my thoughts and suggestions about the test. “**//Cyber Geography//**” – created website on the topic and added many visual images, referenced source used. “**Superpanopticon**” - added to the bulk of the content and referenced source used. “**Canada****’s Best Employer**” – added actual chart of the best employers in Canada, reference the source used.
 * “//Related Topics//” –** created own page and wrote on “public sphere” and referenced content..

__February 22, 2006__


 * “//Web Accessibility for the Disabled//” –** created own page, added images, and referenced source used.
 * “//Preventing Identity theft//” –** created own page on Identity theft, added images, and lists, and referenced source used.

__February 24th, 2006__

“**Opinions”** –added my opinion towards violent video games. “**Wiki assignment feedback**” – added my personal feedback on assignment. “**Digital Divide.wikispaces.com**” added relevent content. “**Wikipedia”** – added content about topic.

__February 27th, 2006__


 * “Network Enterprise”-** added content, and referenced source.
 * “Metropolitan dualism”-** added content and referenced source.
 * //“Informated Organizations, Workplaces”-//** created own page with content from book (Information Society Reader), referenced source.
 * “//New Divisions of Learning”-//** created own page with content from book (Information Society Reader), referenced source.
 * “Panopticism”-** added content and referenced source.
 * “Social Exclusion”-** added content and referenced source.
 * “Fordism”** –added content and referenced source.
 * “Magazines**” – added opinion on use of magazines.
 * “Analysis and Reflections”** – added my own analysis and reflections.


 * Additional Contributions:**
 * Edited table of contents menu by adding pages and creating new spaces.
 * Added links within web pages, either mine or those of other students.
 * Posted message on message board
 * Edited spelling and grammatical errors on other students pages
 * Added name under “Aliases”
 * Replied to messages etc.


 * Summary and Suggestions**

This project has made me explore an interactive side of me that I did not know existed. I was very apprehensive about using this online collaborative website; however it was fast and easy to learn how to navigate through the website and contribute content. Wikispaces enables students to contribute course related content and see how other students added to their content. This allows one to become a better and more engaged writer as well as researcher. Wikispaces has provided me with the confidence to work in an online community while being a resourceful and valuable member. I strongly urge more CCIT course professors and those in other faculties to initiate and encourage the use of Wikispaces websites and wikis. Overall, using Wikispaces, editing others contents and adding my own has been an incredibly enriching and rewarding learning experience and I hope that more students are given the opportunity to partake in a similar online project.