Well, I see that I posted on the wrong topic so let me begin again.
Wikis....
I can easily see how they can be used in a classroom. I can see my students using a wiki for several purposes. One way I think they could be used is by assigning groups of students to create a wiki on a particular topic and having the other students respond to it. For example, for the Colonies, one group of students could be responsible for creating a wiki page or subpage on Plymouth and they would have to research Plymouth and put information out there for others in there class to learn from. Another group could do Jamestown, etc.
I also like the idea of students doing research to contribute to a wiki that already exists on wikipedia. I think that would help students realize they can contribute to something that others use while simultaneaously showing them that "anybody" can change the wiki so everyone must be critical of the information available on a wikipedia site.
I think it would have been a pretty awesome experience as a elementary student to say you've contributed to a wikipedia wiki. AND have it be accurate and beneficial information. That would put so much ownership on the students learning the information and provide them with a lot of intrinsic motivation to do research. I never really knew much about wikis 'til taking this class. Your future students would be one step ahead of so many other people in the world!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with having students do a project on a wiki and doing research. I would have my students do that right now, we are learning about Jamestown and the colonies now. I have high achieving students in my class that would love to be able to work on a computer and write their information on a wiki that they discovered.
ReplyDeleteI think your wiki ideas would really motivate students to be more enthusiastic and engaged to their assignment since they are informed of its practicality. To be able to post research on Wikipedia would let students know that not only is their assignment not only for a grade, but a helpful resource for anyone else researching the same topic. I can easily remember a few poster projects I had to create in 6th grade that got handed back to me and my group once it was presented and graded; it always felt like our work was worthless.
ReplyDeleteAnother positive aspect of your idea is that parents will be able to follow their child's wiki contribution in case they are curious about the work being done in class. For parents wanting to stay in the know, providing them with a URL may possibly eliminate constant emails and questions about what students are learning in a particular subject.