Wallwisher

Wallwisher is basically a virtual message/cork/dry-erase board. You create a "board" (OK, a page with a colorful background) through your free account. You can post whatever you'd like to the wall, and others can post on it, as well (so, I guess it's like Facebook in this respect). You can delete any comments you have on your board that you don't like, and no one but you can edit comments on your own wall. You can basically post whatever you want on the board (media included), so it's nice in that respect.

 I heard about Wallwisher on Twitter and tried it out a few months ago. I created a test wall and posted one item to it, but lost interest quickly. I just couldn't see the need for it, especially since I have a classroom blog, as well. My principal e-mailed me a link a couple weeks ago that, upon closer inspection, looked suspiciously like Wallwisher to me. I was motivated to re-try Wallwisher, and to brainstorm some ways in which to use it in the classroom. I edited my wall once, but still haven't gotten into the swing of things.

So I did some research.

This link is a Wallwisher wall with ideas of how to use it in the classroom. The way I gather, educators from all over have contributed to this message board, much like the Tom Barrett "Interesting Ways" posts I was talking about earlier. Still, though, I keep thinking these ideas could be utilized with a simple classroom blog, without the need to incorporate yet another website into our classrooms. (Because, let's face it: technology is a beautiful thing and can help in the classroom, but there IS such a thing as overkill!) The only I see that this differs from a blog post is that Wallwisher posters are only allowed 160 characters/post that they make (is this bringing back memories of my Twitter post?).

This link gives 5 ways to use Wallwisher in the classroom...all of which I think simple classroom blogging and Twitter usage pretty much cove, but Wallwisher does offer an innovative way to do something when classroom routines get a little ho-hum. 

I do like some of the ideas in this link's list, particularly the one about using Wallwisher as an exit ticket activity. (I love exit tickets!) This, of course, means that all students must have access to Wallwisher during class (individual laptops?), but it's something to think about.

This post has an informative video over Wallwisher and what all it entails.

And here's Tom Barrett's take,

All in all, I wish I could give Wallwisher a chance. I really do. I think it could be a useful component for those that are not using classroom blogs, Twitter, or other survey-taking components. But for those of us that ARE using all those things....this site may not be that helpful.

Here's a very small snippet of a Wallwisher wall:

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